If you ask me, there are few industries more predatory than the payday loan industry, and I'll be very pleased should it one day disappear.
Payday loans, for those who don't know, are relatively small loans that are lent at a high rate of interest on the agreement that they will be repaid when the borrower receives their next paycheck.
As you might imagine, the industry disproportionately impacts the poor, and the National Association of Consumer Advocates (NACA) notes that they "are typically predatory in nature."
The organization points out that payday loans are expensive, can damage your credit, require you to hand out your bank information, and can lead to debt collection issues.
Yeah... plenty of people won't miss this industry should it disappear.
It turns out I'm not the only one with such strongly-held opinions. For that, we can thank Redditor DemonDoggo99, who asked the online community,
"What's an industry you won't miss if it dies out?"
"Then they would..."
"Telemarketing."
"I had a customer service job where people would call about their vision plan. Apparently, it was a s***** plan and people were always mad at me because they couldn't get glasses that they wanted."
"Then they would be like I want to change it, which I couldn't do so then they get even angrier. I eventually just stopped taking calls and milking my last two weeks before they fired me. Customer service sucks."
karmagod1300
My soul used to die inside every single time I received another phone call. Now I just don't answer the phone if there's a number I don't recognize.
"They have artificially inflated the price of tickets..."
"Ticket scalping and ticket services like Ticketmaster. They have artificially inflated the price of tickets to a ridiculous extent and effectively priced out countless fans."
weinerdog12345
These are the worst (and probably the biggest reason why I have not been to as many concerts as I'd like).
"Seriously..."
"Fast fashion. Seriously, I enjoy having options but the impact on the Earth is crazy."
tellmeaboutyourselfu
The quality of clothing has gone down so much since I was a kid. The number of jeans I've had to replace over the years is too damn high.
"I have a relative..."
"Timeshares."
"I have a relative that has owned four weeks at one for over 20 years. Last time I heard, he's paying over $5000/year total in 'maintenance fees' whether he uses it or not. He's used it a handful of times."
HandyDrunkard
A former friend got roped into one. So thankful I never got involved in that.
"I'm a teacher and the number of students who put little to no effort..."
"Influencers."
"I'm a teacher and the number of students who put little to no effort into their education because they think they will just immediately become a famous influencer when they leave school is beyond ridiculous."
"I personally find a lot of influencers annoying but clearly, they are providing entertainment, it's just a shame the influence they are having on school kids is overly negative."
Raiseyourspoonforwar
I recently learned that Kylie Jenner is the most followed woman on Instagram.
Do with that what you will.
"Now, truthfully, it's been a while..."
"Mega-churches. Now, truthfully, it's been a while since I read the old good book. But I'm fairly certain this was the very thing Jesus was preaching against."
wolfeyes555
Remember when Joel Osteen wouldn't let victims of Hurricane Harvey into his mega church?
Pepperidge Farm remembers.
"The health insurance industry as it currently exists in the US."
"It's nothing but a barbaric, extortionist system that exists to deny people care, f**** with people endlessly before and during access to care, and squeezes people as hard as possible financially."
"It's indefensible and it kills thousands of people every year."
NYArtFan1
I went years without insurance and know the consequences. Frightening.
"The government knows..."
"In the U.S. for context. Tax Preparation Companies like TurboTax and H&R Block."
"The government knows how much I owe so this entire industry is unnecessary and could very easily not exist if they just told me how much I have to pay."
LeopoldIsNotMe
The lobbyists really did a number on us there, didn't they?
"It's straight-up extortion."
"The wedding industry. It's straight-up extortion. It also keeps creating more things to pay for, like half the stuff my friends and cousins are doing our parents have never heard of."
QueenTzahra
That would not be me.
I can't imagine justifying such a huge expense, especially when that money could go to a downpayment on a home.
"If you're in politics..."
"Political profit."
"If you're in politics and hold some significant position, you should make enough money to live a decent life, maybe $100k a year in current dollars if we're being generous, but literally nothing more."
"No donations, no side hustles. if you want to be a politician? Better be for a genuine reason."
One-Angry-Goose
Hate to say it, but there are tons of predatory industries out there, so perhaps it's just best if we toss them all out and start all over again.
What do you say?
Feel like there are some industries you hate that aren't mentioned here? Feel free to vent in the comments below!
Want to "know" more?
Sign up for the Knowable newsletter here.
Never miss another big, odd, funny, or heartbreaking moment again.
Governor Jared Polis/Facebook
