Debt warning for teenagers

Monday 16th April 2007, 12:00AM BST.

TEENAGERS in Jersey schools will be taught about the dangers of getting into debt from next year.

In the buy-now-pay-later world of loans, credit cards and hire purchase, Jersey Consumer Council chairman Deputy Alan Breckon has persuaded the Education Department to start teaching year 11 students how to handle their money. He said that many teenagers were leaving school with little idea about the dangers of borrowing and some were taking out loans that they could not afford. Young people in their first jobs were being persuaded by seemingly ‘low interest agreements’, monthly payments for expensive goods and credit with shops but did not realise they would end up owing more. ‘It’s about raising awareness,’ Deputy Breckon said.

Read the full story in the Jersey Evening Post. Click here for subscription details. Individual editions are also available online.