Digitalisation: Unlocking The Potential Of SMEs In Malaysia
- By CompareHero.my
- April 30, 2021
Going digital is no longer just a buzzword, but it’s also a way of life for many businesses.
With half of the world population being active internet users, it’s no surprise why businesses are pushing to digitize their operations.
SME Corp targets the digitalisation of all SMEs
Currently, only 32% of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the country have embraced digitalisation in their business operations. SME Corporation Malaysia (SME Corp) aims to digitalise all SMEs by 2024.
“We have met with 10 service providers who can assist the SMEs in digitalisation. In this digital era, we want the sector to embark on using digital technologies, at least a cloud-based service or point-of-sale system, which would enable them to store customer data and do analyses,” SME Corp Chief Executive Officer Noor Azmi Mat said during a media briefing on the Entrepreneurship and SME Week 2019.
The digitisation of all SMEs makes sense considering that they contributed RM521.7 billion of the nation’s gross domestic product (GDP) and provided 5.7 million jobs to 70% of Malaysia’s workforce, according to a recent statement by the Malaysia-China Chamber of Commerce (MCCC) president Tan Yew Sing.
Did you know?
SMEs make up 98.5% of all business establishments in 2018
Why is it important for you to digitise your business?
Digital technologies have not only influenced business activities but also increased efficiency.
Amid globalisation and technological advances, businesses that embrace digital technologies will be in a better position to enhance their competitiveness, their flexibility, and create new sources of value.
It also increases connectivity and personalisation, unlocks new opportunities for businesses, introduces new markets and ultimately, could be the deciding factor that brings in revenue.
Besides, digital initiatives are necessary for industries to keep up with an increasing demand of customers who expect services and products to be delivered fast and efficiently. Going digital also helps companies reduce costs and improve productivity.
Some businesses are just starting out by going paperless, other more advanced startups have relied heavily on new emerging technology such as VR and blockchain. Regardless, the goal is to simply make an enterprise more streamlined and introduce new quality of customer experience.
Some of the most notable brands are digital innovators like PayPal, Uber and Airbnb. These companies disrupted their industries by incorporating innovation and digitalisation into their businesses. On the other hand, businesses that don’t embrace digitalisation either become on the verge of extinction or vanish into the unknown.
But does going techno sound complicated for your business? It doesn’t have to be! There are many softwares that can help SMEs stay on the same page with global tendencies and help them transform the way they operate and deliver value to their customers. But with so many options to choose from, how do SMEs decide who to turn to?
CIMB is the SME partner of choice
If you are looking to digitise your business, CIMB is a great resource for all the relevant solutions such as payment & collections, marketing, digital solutions, connectivity, insurance solutions, and more.
Thanks to CIMB’s one-stop digitisation solution, SME can enjoy great services from notable business solution providers such as EasyParcel, iPay88, Exabytes, EasyStore, Shopmatic, BusinessHR and Berjaya Sompo Insurance Berhad.
You can now begin your digitalization journey with just a few clicks! Existing CIMB Business Current Account/-i holders get to enjoy these partner solutions at a discounted rate. If you’re not already a CIMB Business Current Account/-i holder, why wait? Click here to sign up now
What services are offered by CIMB’s SME partners?
| Digital & E-Commerce Solutions | |||
| Business | EasyStore | Shopmatic | Exabytes |
| Who are they? | Enhance your digital store with unlimited omnichannel extensions. Sell your products anywhere online via Shopee, Lazada, Facebook LIVE, WhatsApp, Google Shopping, and more! | New to e-Commerce? Start selling online now on Shopmatic as low as RM3/month. They also include free webinar sessions on how to build your online store in 30 minutes. | This all-in-one solution offers many affordable services to grow your business online such as web hosting, domain name registration, server, website design and digital marketing services to businesses. Your business can go live within seven days! |
| What do you get? | Enjoy 50% OFF all subscription packages. | Enjoy 30% off on all subscription packages. | Build your corporate or e-commerce website with any Instant Website Design plans and enjoy a waiver of RM500 on one-time setup fee. |
| Payment, Collection & Courier Services | |||
| Business | Business HR | EasyParcel | iPay88 |
| Who are they? | Among BusinessHR’s key features include 24/7 access, cloud-based security, easy to use, built in compliance, seamless and digital and dedicated management reports. | With online booking platform EasyParcel, you can find and book a courier service at the best rate! | With the rise in contactless and cashless digital payments, iPay88 is a great secure and safe way to move your money around. |
| What do you get? | Up to three months fee waiver worth RM360 awaits you. | Sign up and top up a minimum of RM20 to get up to 25% off on delivery rates. | Set up a payment solution with iPay88 and enjoy annual maintenance fee waiver or savings up to 50% on subscription plans. |
| Insurance solutions | |
| Business | Berjaya Sompo Insurance Berhad |
| Who are they? | Have peace of mind knowing that you are insured by one of the leading general insurance companies in Malaysia. The Sompo Group boasts a global business network encompassing 218 cities in 30 countries and regions, including Europe, the Middle East, North America, Central and South America, Asia, Oceania and Africa. |
| What do you get? | Log on to SecureMotor and convert your Motor Insurance Premium into a 6 or 12 months 0% Instalment Plan with CIMB Platinum BusinessCard. |
Since everything is at the tip of your fingers, so should your business!
No industry in the modern market is immune from disruption. Almost all business owners have had to invest into finding a strategy that involves adopting technology. So, time to get your SME’s digitisation journey started today!
Eligibility:
Open to both new Business Current Account/-i and Existing Business Current Account/-i customers.
Like what you hear? Head over to CIMB SME partners to choose your desired solutions partner and redeem your rewards!
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Know The Difference Between Good Debt and Bad Debt
- By CompareHero.my
- April 28, 2021
The term ‘debt’ is mostly associated with negativity. However, like many things in life, there’s always a good side.
While some loans are usually detrimental to your financial standing from the get go (such as overspending on shopping and travelling expenses, etc.) there is another end of the spectrum with ‘good’ loans that actually add value, likened to the old adage “it takes money to make money.”
However, even the best of debts with the initial intention of growing wealth might quickly turn into bad debts – it all really depends on where you draw the line. Read on to learn more about good debts, and how they can turn into nasty ones if you’re not careful.
What is a good debt?
Good debts: Making sure it’s really ‘good’
So here’s the concept of good debts: If the loan will help increase your net worth or generate more income, it’s GOOD. However, things will never be as simple as it seems, so let’s dive in deeper with a list of debts identified as ‘good’ – as well as the slippery slopes you should take note of:
Higher education
It is no secret that with more education, a person’s future income will be more likely improved and secured. To maximize the ‘good’ value of this particular debt, one should weigh the pros and cons in degrees of interest. If there’s a lack of demand for your degree of choice, this good debt can quickly turn into a BAD one.
For example, it was found that Actuarial Science students are highly sought after, with an average starting pay of $60,000. On the flip side, Fine Arts degree students face an unemployment rate of 12% and earns an average starting pay of $30,000.
Unsure which degree to go for? You can always start by picking the right pre-university programme to explore the options.
SME ownership
This is literally making money with money. As compared to education loans, this is riskier and might turn bad as well. Therefore it is important to start with a business that is an area of your expertise, driven by passion.
It’s also important to do thorough research about funding that business idea of yours.
Related: Starting A Business In Today’s COVID-19 World – Yay Or Nay?
Real estate
Between 2016 and 2017, there’s an average growth of 2 real estate billionaires EVERY week. Therefore, it’s not a surprise that many people are rushing into real estate investment.
However, if you’re a novice investor without the skills or knowledge, taking a loan for this purpose might turn into a bad debt quickly. Therefore it’s imperative that you know the basic tenets of property investment:
Last Resort: Ask for help
Regardless, it’s always easier said than done, especially when it comes to money matters. Therefore, if you ever find yourself going down that slippery slope of debts, always seek for help!
You can do so in two ways:
- Contact your loan provider/bank immediately for negotiations. Most of them are willing to negotiate terms that will allow you to repay the loan reasonably.
- Contact Bank Negara Malaysia’s Agensi Kaunselling dan Pengurusan Kredit (AKPK), which is the Credit Counselling and Debt Management Agency. They offer FREE counselling and will assist you with debt problems personally. More info on AKPK here.
If you need more help determining which loan suits you best, here’s a tool developed by CompareHero.my that compares loans and interest rates from numerous banks:
What is a bad debt?
Bad debt is characterized as a type of debt that does not add any financial value to your life. Aside from that, bad debt can also be one that costs you more money in the long run. Other characteristics of bad debts include:
- Buying items that depreciate over time, such as a car
- Unpaid credit card debts
- High-interest loans
Credit card debt
A credit card can be a powerful financial tool if used correctly. However, it can turn into a bad debt when you use it to make large purchases but only make the minimum payment each month – or worse, pay it AFTER the due date. These will incur unnecessarily high charges and interest, not to mention risking a bad score on your credit report.
Relate: What Happens If You Make Late Credit Card Payments
How to pay off debts
Even if it’s good debts, they’re supposed to be paid off. What’s the smartest way to pay off debts?
The ‘snowball’ method: Researchers at Harvard Business Review discovered this method to be the most effective strategy in paying off debts.
Quoting the researchers, “Focusing on paying down the account with the smallest balance tends to have the most powerful effect on people’s sense of progress — and therefore their motivation to continue paying down their debts.”
Read more: 7 Strategies To Get Out Of Debt Fast During The COVID-19 Pandemic
Key takeaway
At the end of the day, it takes good judgement and proper planning to prevent good debts from becoming bad ones. And the same also applies to paying off debts on your plate. Be smart about it, make it work for you!
Before taking up a loan, compare loans from banks as this can help you to get the best interest rates. You can skip most of the hassle using the tools like the free personal loan comparison tool from CompareHero.my.
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7 Common Things Malaysians Don’t Realise Are A Waste Of Money
- By CompareHero.my
We have all made impulse purchases at some point. If we learn to control impulse spending, we would have much more cash to spend on the things that we actually need. Below are habitual, money-wasting purchases that Malaysians should stop making.
1. Paying high interest rates
Many Malaysians continue to service their existing loans without considering refinancing the loans which can allow them to pay lower interest. These individuals will be on the losing end because they waste tremendous amounts of money that way. Refinancing can actually help you pay off your loan faster, and at the same time reduce the amount of interest you are paying.
For example, if you have an existing RM5,000 credit card debt at 18% per annum, there is actually a simple way to reduce that interest. You could look for a low-interest personal instalment loan, borrow RM5,000, and then use the money to pay off your card. You will then need to repay the loan but at a reduced interest rate than 18%.
Secondly, you can opt for a balance transfer loan to effectively reduce the interest you are paying on your credit card debt. However, you must make sure that this is an option you can afford because balance transfers offer a shorter time frame for repayment.
Related: The Best Balance Transfer Plans in Malaysia
For example, the Balance Transfer offered by Maybank offers a 0% interest rate, but it has a 12-month tenure period with a minimum transfer of RM1,000. Aside from that, there is also a one-time fee of 3% within the balance transfer plan. Consider all these conditions before you apply for a balance transfer.
2. Buying consumables in small packages
Do you consume a lot of jam or peanut butter? Or how about cooking oil? If your household regularly uses certain items, stop buying them on an ad hoc basis. In other words, don’t keep going to the supermarket because you always buy the small pack.
The price of small or a single-serve packed items can be up to 50 percent higher when compared to buying in bulk. Did you know you can save up to 18% on your grocery bills when you buy them in bulk? When you buy larger quantities of a product, the price will be cheaper per volume.
For example, Milo’s 1 kg soft pack is sold for RM 19.99, while a 2 kg soft pack is sold for RM 29.99 which means you save around 33% by buying it in bulk. So rather than buy two small packages of the same product, buy one larger package to save yourself more money.
3. Credit card fees
You might be paying for credit card annual fees without knowing you could negotiate for it to be removed. For example, if you have been a good paymaster, you can actually negotiate with your credit card issuing bank to do away with the credit card annual fee.
You will get to save money by doing so, especially if you have multiple credit cards. Annual fees for a credit card can start from RM68 and go up to RM600 for a single card. If you can negotiate to do away with the annual fee for a credit card that costs RM250, you would have saved RM1,250 in 5 years. And that’s only for one card, imagine the money you could save if you negotiate to have all your credit card annual fees removed.
If not, you can opt to do away with a high annual fee credit card which you don’t really use, and instead get a no annual fee credit card so you will still have a few credit cards to balance out your purchases.
Related: How Much Does It Cost To Get A Credit Card? Credit Card Fees Explained!
4. Last minute travel insurance
Malaysians are known for the last-minute syndrome, but it’s not something to be proud of especially if it is costing you money.
Travel insurance not only protects you against accidents, but it can also cover trip cancellation or postponements. But in order to enjoy those benefits, you need to already have travel insurance coverage before such an event.
For example, if you buy travel insurance today and two weeks later your trip is cancelled due to natural disasters, you can submit a claim. But if you delayed buying it and the flight gets cancelled the money you have paid for the flight tickets would be burned.
Remember, part of the premium you pay is meant to cover you in the event of a cancelled trip, not just during your trip. So it is wise to buy travel insurance once you’ve decided to go on a trip. Better yet, you should consider buying an annual plan if you are an avid traveller.
Related: 5 Steps for Picking Your Travel Insurance
5. Loading up on supplements
Most Malaysians are becoming more health-conscious these days, especially with the increasing cost of healthcare. However, in doing so some may tend to go overboard with the supplements. Did you know that if you take too many, your body cannot process it and will flush it out? This is because once your body has enough of a particular vitamin, it will naturally reject anymore.
So there is no point to overload yourself with all kinds of supplements as it will literally go down the drain. You can also save money by getting nutrition from their natural sources such as fresh fruits and vegetables.
6. Expensive drinks
Have you noticed that when at home, we usually opt for plain water to drink? Sure some of us will drink coffee, tea, and other types of beverages, but most of the time we drink the good old H20. But why is it that when we dine out, whether eating at a mamak or a restaurant, Malaysians always tend to order sugary drinks? Not only is it bad for you, in the long run, it is also overpriced.
A glass of teh o ais can cost up to RM2.80 versus plain water that would be served free at some restaurants or. Even if there is a charge for plain water it would not cost more than RM1.00. Unless you opt for bottled mineral water, which would then be about RM2.00. Anything more than that would be overpriced mineral water, and you should ask for plain warm water instead for a healthier and lower cost drink.
Related: Ten Overpriced Foods You Should Stop Buying
7.Paying for cable TV packages
A subscription to a television package can cost up to RM150 per month or more depending on the package you have. But let’s be honest, how many channels do you really watch? When it comes to television packages, most Malaysians are likely to sign up for a bundle TV package because they think it gives them more value. Don’t be fooled by the number of channels included in the bundle.
When it comes down to it, if you only watch the movie channels and television series most of the time, you are better off with a streaming subscription. For example, a basic Netflix plan only costs RM33 per month which gets you access to unlimited movies and TV shows, plus you won’t be tied to any contract which means you can cancel anytime.
So if you are still subscribed to cable television channels, ask yourself if you really do watch all of the channels. If services like Netflix, iflix or Tonton already have the shows you want, you can save up to RM1,800 in a year by unsubscribing from cable TV packages.
Related: Streaming Services In Malaysia: Compare Packages And Pricing
In the end, the cost of all of the items mentioned above will eventually add up. The money spent could have gotten you a sizeable amount of savings, or put you to better use. If you’ve been guilty of making purchases such as above, it’s time to put a stop to it!
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How Do You Survive From Bankruptcy?
- By CompareHero.my
- April 27, 2021
If you are one of the unfortunate bankrupts in Malaysia, this is not the end of the world. Some even find relief from declaring bankruptcy since they can get proper help from the authorities such as The Credit Counselling and Debt Management Agency (AKPK) and own up the responsibilities to repay their debts under the governance of the Director General of Insolvency (DGI).
There are a few questions you might be asking when you are declared bankrupt. For starters, what will happen to your assets and property if you become bankrupt?
Well, when a person becomes bankrupt, his/her assets will be placed in the hands of the DGI. The DGI will then administer the bankrupt’s assets and sell or dispose them to repay the outstanding debts.
Business bankruptcy is not the same as individual bankruptcy
Before going into details on how to survive bankruptcy, let’s get one thing clear. A bankrupt business and bankrupt individual are two entirely different things.
A private limited company (Syarikat Sendirian Berhad) is by definition, a separate legal entity from the owner of the company. This means the debts incurred by the company are completely not liable on the owner of the company and does not even affect the owner’s credit score.
For example, say you own 100% of Kaki Lima Sdn. Bhd., a logistics company. After 15 years of business, things went downhill and the company owes a whopping RM12 million. If you declare the company bankrupt, the banks that loaned money to the company, and the investors who bought S$3 million worth of corporate bonds won’t be getting their repayments, the airline companies that provided the planes won’t be paid, and so forth.
However, this does not affect the owner at all. This is why some infamous rich people (no fingers pointed) have cheated their way out of this mess: they set up a company using borrowed money, pay themselves a high salary, and then allow the company to go bankrupt.
How you can recover from bankruptcy
Three main ways how a bankrupt can be discharged from bankruptcy status:
- Apply for the Court’s order to be void – The Court will grant an annulment of the bankruptcy order given they are of the view that the bankrupt should not have been deemed as a bankrupt or where the debts of the bankrupt have been paid in full.
- Apply for a court discharge – The Bankrupt must get a report from the Insolvency Department emphasizing the conduct and the cooperation of the bankrupt. Only the people with a good conduct record are eligible to apply for a court discharge.
- Apply to the DGI – This application can only be made if 5 years has elapsed from the date the bankruptcy order was made. This is up to the discretion of the DGI and they will take into consideration various factors such as the cause of bankruptcy, the age of the bankrupt, assets of the bankrupt, and his conduct.
Good conduct means:
- Good co-operation as and when required by any officer of Malaysia Department of Insolvency (MDI).
- Upon being adjudged a bankrupt, he will attend to the MDI’s office immediately when required to do so.
- Have submitted a complete Statement of Affairs within a stipulated time given by MDI.
- Regularity in making payments or monthly contribution.
- Compliance with the DGI’s and Court order.
- Compliance with all the restrictions under section 38 of Bankruptcy Act 1967.
- Submitting an Income and Expenditure Statements every six months.
- Informing the Department of any changes of address and income.
- Did not make any direct payment to the creditors.
- Declaration of the dividend.
Some may ask that if he or she inherited an amount of money after they were declared bankrupt, will they be able to make direct payment to settle the debt. The answer is, a bankrupt is not allowed to make direct payment to the creditor and all payment has to be made through the DGI.
With that, the payment made by the bankrupt will be credited into the estate account by the DGI and distributed to the creditors who have filed in Proof of Debt according to priority.
Some people may even try to transfer their property to spouses or family members to save their assets. However, under the Bankruptcy Act, any settlement or transfer of property shall be void against the DGI if the settler becomes a bankrupt within 2 years after the date of settlement.
This means if the settler becomes bankrupt within 5 years after the date of settlement, the settlement or transfer of property will be void unless the parties can show that the settler was able to pay all his debts at the time of making the settlement without the aid of the property.
Nonetheless, there are two exceptions to this situation where:
- The settlement was made before or in consideration of marriage.
- If the settlement was made to a purchaser in good faith and for valuable consideration.
See also: What You Must Know About Bankruptcy in Malaysia
According to Malaysia Financial Planning Council (MFPC)’s certified trainer, Desmond Chong, each bankrupt is subjected to submit annual account details to the DGI and the latter will advise the former on expenses, income, and debt repayment accordingly.
Though it may differ accordingly across cases, there are some ground rules you need to comply with during the entire period under bankruptcy status.
Things you will need to comply with when you are bankrupt
- You will need to surrender your passport. However, you may still apply to travel overseas under special circumstances (eg: medical condition, performing haj etc).
- You are disqualified from being a director of a company or corporation and you cannot engage in the management of any business or trade run by your spouse, children or relatives.
- You can only open a bank account with the approval of the Official Assignee for crediting your monthly income.
- The Insolvency Department will administer all your assets, trace and monitor your conduct. You need to submit an account of your income and expenditure once every six months and report all monies or property exceeding RM500 that comes into your possession.
- You cannot commence any legal proceedings (other than an action for damages relating to personal injury) without the sanction of the DGI.
- You cannot be appointed as a Sessions Judge or Magistrate, be nominated or elected for the office of councilor of the local authority, be a trustee under any written law, or be a member of parliament.
- The court may order you to pay part of your wages or income to the DGI.
- You can only use your credit card up to a value of RM1,000.
Since Malaysian law doesn’t allow automatic discharge of bankruptcy, bankrupt has to make an application to be discharged. However, it is still the best option for you to avoid bankruptcy in the first place by recognising the red flags and also leverage on the best debt consolidation personal loan.
Related: What To Do When Debt Collection Agency Knocks On Your Door
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6 Sebab Mengapa Hutang Along Memudaratkan Kehidupan Anda
- By CompareHero.my
Along atau ‘Ah Long’ adalah terma yang merujuk kepada syarikat pinjaman wang yang tidak berlesen. Kebiasaannya, mereka yang terikat dengan pinjaman Along adalah daripada golongan yang berpendapatan rendah atau yang benar-benar terdesak dan memerlukan wang tunai dengan segera.
Situasi ini terjadi kerana pinjaman Along adalah lebih mudah, ringkas dan kebiasaannya tidak memerlukan sebarang pemeriksaan kredit berbanding dengan pinjaman bank atau syarikat pinjaman wang yang berlesen.
Walaupun tidak berlesen, iklan-iklan poster tentang pinjaman Along boleh dijumpai di sekitar kota bagi menarik perhatian orang ramai, dengan kata-kata manis yang memikat hati mereka yang memerlukan dan tidak menyedari bahaya membuat pinjaman daripada Along.
Wang yang dipinjam daripada Along didatangkan dengan faedah dan risiko yang tinggi. Ramai yang memandang rendah terhadap risiko meminjam wang daripada Along. Mereka berpendapat bahawa selagi jumlah wang yang dipinjam adalah kecil dan dibayar dalam tempoh sesingkat yang mungkin, urusan pinjaman wang daripada Along boleh berjalan dengan lancar tanpa sebarang masalah.
Namun hakikatnya berbeza sekali. Lihat 6 sebab mengapa berhutang dengan Along boleh memudaratkan kehidupan anda dan keluarga anda.
1. Kadar faedah yang tidak berkesudahan
Pernahkah anda mendengar terma ‘sepuluh-tiga’? Ianya merujuk kepada kadar faedah yang dikenakan ke atas peminjam. Kadar faedah sepuluh-tiga bermakna bagi setiap RM10 yang dipinjam, RM3 akan dikenakan sebagai faedah. Dalam kata lain, jumlah wang yang anda pinjam akan dikenakan faedah sebanyak 30% dalam hanya satu bulan!
Untuk memberikan gambaran yang lebih jelas tentang jumlah wang yang dibayar kembali jika anda membuat pinjaman kewangan daripada Along, lihat contoh di bawah:
Jumlah dipinjam: RM1,000
Faedah perlu dibayar (sebulan): RM300
Faedah untuk pinjaman 12 bulan: RM3,600
Jumlah keseluruhan yang perlu dibayar: RM4,600
Adakah anda masih berminat untuk membuat pinjaman kewangan daripada Along? Sepuluh -tiga bukanlan satu-satunya kadar faedah yang ditawarkan, walaupun jelas sekali ianya adalah sangat tinggi. Kadar faedah yang dtawarkan oleh Along juga termasuk sepuluh – empat dan sepuluh – lima, bergantung kepada jumlah pinjaman atau situasi kredit peminjam. Bayangkan betapa tingginya faedah yang perlu anda bayar jika jumlah pinjaman anda dikenakan kadar faedah sepuluh-lima!
Syarikat pinjaman wang tanpa lesen sangat licik dalam strategi pemasaran mereka. Mereka telah memperkenalkan konsep faedah harian ke atas pinjaman kecil – kebiasaannya diambil oleh golongan yang susah dan paling terdesak seperti pekerja buruh, petani dan juga penjaja kecil-kecilan. Pinjaman yang dikenakan faedah secara harian ini dikenali sebagai pinjaman ‘hari -hari’ dalam kalangan penduduk tempatan.
Peminjam faedah harian selalunya tertarik dengan proses permohonan pinjaman yang mudah dan pantas. Apa yang menariknya, mereka tidak perlu melawat Along untuk membuat bayaran harian mereka. Sebaliknya, pengutip hutang yang berkhidmat untuk Along akan membuat lawatan setiap hari untuk mengumpul pembayaran balik.
Bunyinya mudah bukan? Jangan lupa bahawa pinjaman wang yang dibuat akan dikenakan faedah yang akan menimbun setiap hari, dan pengutip hutang Along akan tetap menjalankan tugas sama ada anda mempunyai jumlah yang perlu dibayar kembali atau tidak. Lama-kelamaan, peminjam wang daripada Along hanya akan dibebani hutang yang bertimbun oleh kerana kadar faedah yang terlalu tinggi.
2. Kos dan terma yang tersembunyi
Tidak seperti bank dan institusi kewangan yang berlesen, Along tidak semestinya mempunyai terma dan syarat yang jelas dan terperinci sebelum anda menandatangani perjanjian pinjaman. Anda tidak akan pernah benar-benar pasti tentang kos tambahan dan caj yang mungkin dikenakan jika, katakan, anda terlepas satu pembayaran balik seperti yang dijadualkan. Sudah tentu mereka akan menjanjikan kata-kata manis kepada anda secara lisan sebelum anda menandatangani perjanjian peminjaman anda, seperti yuran dan caj adalah kecil, atau jadual pembayaran balik boleh sentiasa dibincangkan kembali.
Janji-janji lisan mereka jauh daripada realiti. Sama seperti bank, Along mengenakan kadar faedah penalti jika anda membayar lewat atau terlepas pembayaran. Namun kadar penalti yang dikenakan selalunya lebih tinggi daripada bank. Selain itu, selagi syarat-syarat tidak tertera secara hitam dan putih, Along boleh mengubah peraturan dan kadar faedah pada bila-bila masa tanpa sebarang halangan.
3. Dokumen peribadi penting diambil sebagai ‘deposit keselamatan’
Kad pengenalan, passport dan kad bank sering disimpan oleh Along sebagai ‘deposit keselamatan’ untuk memastikan pembayaran yang berterusan walaupun ianya menyalahi undang-undang. Ini adalah salah satu daripada taktik oleh Along bagi memastikan bahawa anda tidak akan melarikan diri sebelum menyelesaikan hutang anda.
Dokumen pengenalan diri anda adalah hak anda di sisi undang-undang , dan hanya boleh ditahan oleh penguatkuasa undang-undang bagi perkara-perkara rasmi sahaja. Maklumat peribadi anda perlu dilindungi mengelakkan kes-kes seperti kecurian identiti.
Menggadaikan pasport atau kad pengenalan anda untuk pinjaman wang sangatlah tidak berbaloi, kerana mereka boleh menyalahgunakan maklumat peribadi dengan mudah tanpa anda sedari.
4. Tiada pilihan untuk penyelesaian penuh
Along jarang membenarkan anda untuk menyelesaikan hutang anda secara sekaligus, walaupun wang tunai yang diperlukan sudah tersedia di tangan anda. Ini adalah untuk memastikan anda membayar faedah yang tinggi selama yang mungkin untuk keuntungan mereka.
5. Ditekan untuk mengambil pinjaman daripada Along lain untuk menyelesaikan hutang
Jika anda sukar untuk membayar balik pinjaman anda, mereka selalunya akan memberi tekanan kepada anda untuk mengambil pinjaman dari satu lagi Along untuk membayar balik sepenuhnya hutang pertama anda dengan alasan untuk menghindari anda daripada membayar lebih faedah dan caj dalam jangka masa panjang.
Jangan tertipu! Sebenarnya mereka mengumpan anda untuk terikat dengan hutang yang lebih besar dan faedah yang lebih tinggi.
6. Ganguan fizikal dan mental
Apabila anda tidak dapat membayar balik hutang anda, ianya bukan perkara yang luar biasa bagi mereka untuk memaksa anda membuat pembayaran melalui ancaman dan ugutan yang boleh membawa kepada keganasan. Apa yang lebih teruk, mereka tidak akan ragu-ragu melibatkan ahli keluarga anda untuk memaksa anda atau keluarga anda menyelesaikan hutang anda.
Pada bulan Januari 2016, sepasang suami-isteri yang berumur dilaporkan diganggu oleh Along secara berterusan untuk beberapa bulan kerana hutang anak perempuan mereka yang tidak diselesaikan. Malah, Along juga telah membakar pintu rumah pasangan itu bagi memaksa mereka membuat pembayaran. Liputan penuh berita itu boleh didapati di sini dalam Bahasa Inggeris.
Secara ringkasnya, cara terbaik untuk berurusan dengan Along adalah dengan tidak berurusan dengan mereka sama sekali. Cari syarikat pinjaman wang yang sah dan berlesen jika anda tidak boleh mendapatkan pinjaman daripada bank.
Jika anda bercadang untuk mendapatkan pinjaman untuk menyelesaikan masalah kewangan anda seperti hutang kad kredit atau pinjaman peribadi, hubungan badan penasihat. Bandingkan pinjaman peribadi yang terbaik di sini untuk menyelesaikan hutang anda di sini!
Juga lihat: Tip Luluskan Permohonan Pinjaman Wang Dengan Bank
Apakah pandangan anda? Kongsi pendapat dan cadangan tentang mengapa anda tidak patut mengambil pinjaman daripada mereka atau alternatif kepada Along di bahagian komen di bawah!
