Prosecutions of street traders otherwise known as "clothing trucks" will spark tentative relief for those who've had to battle almost alone to block a wave of personal and family financial calamity across some of our less privileged communities over the years.
The situation should have been tidied-up a long timeago. The Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Act, after all, dates back to 2003, and really, when tightened laws were introduced last year the trucks had pretty much bolted, we hope.
A consequence has been the prosecution of Goodring, Betterlife and Ace Marketing, names which weren't so familiar in the Bay. They've all pleaded guilty, as did another trader, Flexi Buy, which in February was fined $50,000 for a series of offences around the North Island, including Hawke's Bay. Flexi Buy's offences included not providing the electronic and household goods it sold door-to-door on credit.
But the thing is, by the time the hammer went down in Auckland District Court, they were no longer trading, and while it's not clear they may have attained the best credit deal of all. Would Flexi Buy ever have to pay? And what will befall the three operators now waiting for their comeuppance, also in Auckland?
Not all of the traders are dodgy, but whether individually earned or not, the stench lingers around every truck coming down the road, as the operators - the companies - stretch their claws out into vulnerable communities.
It's a crying shame when there are kids involved as well.
Thus it's tantalising for the struggling and impoverished parent to be able to provide at what seems such minimal cost, the weekly or monthly payment, until penalties start to close-off the end of the tunnel by which the sum might have been paid.
Perhaps we could demand a dam is built in its place.
