Rip-off Republic Episode 4

Brendan Burgess

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Hi folks

Please restrict this thread to issues raised in Episode 4 only.

More general issues can be raised in any of the many other threads on the topic e.g. this one

Could we all make a special effort to make our point in a civilised manner. If someone breaches this, the post will be deleted. If someone does post a disruptive response, please ignore it - don't respond in kind. While I don't think anyone is intentionally trying to damage Askaboutmoney by disrupting the debate, the style of some posts has that effect.

In particular, can we all try to avoid sarcastic comments as these have a snowball effect.
 
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What a strange programme!

Did I miss a programme? Was there any mention anywhere of the genuine rip-offs by financial institutions?

He seemed to define rip-offs as win-lose situations. Now that's strange.

The programme definitely missed having someone there to challenge him. He seemed to say something along the lines that insurance brokers commission on insurance went up by 57%. But between when and when? But more importantly, why did they go up?

The insurance companies had a maximum commissions agreement cartel whereby they capped the commission at 20%. Eddie and the Consumers Association reckoned that this was price fixing and everyone paid 20% commission. So he complained to the Competition Authority or Director of Consumer Affairs who ordered the abolition of the agreement. The industry argued that removing the cap, would increase the commission paid to brokers and this is exactly what happened.

I am sure that Eddie would be able to put another side to this story, but the format of the programme did not allow him to be challenged.

Brendan
 
I agree that the programme was very strange last night, nothing new being told, or certainly nothing I didn't already know... It was more a humourous programme last night than anything else, with Eddie walking around the city of culture with a bow stuck to his head and a budgie in a cage. I don't think it told anything new really - the whole thrust of the programme last night seemed to centre around the case that if you had a weeks bad luck, you could easily end up sticking stuff on your cc to get by for that week. Overall, i felt it was very disappointing for the final episode.
 
I felt the series petered out, having lost direction and ideas.

Certain politicos will be delighted.
 
Brendan said:
I am sure that Eddie would be able to put another side to this story, but the format of the programme did not allow him to be challenged.
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So ideally (well I guess ideally we would have had a more 'balanced' programme to begin with) there is scope for someone to commission a programme to tell the other side of the story (if anyone wants to hear it..............).

I would have exopected the various govenment ministers to have written 'Letters to the Editor' etc. at this stage, but it's been fairly quiet on that front. I listened to and interview with An Taoiseach on the Sam Smyth Show on Sunday morning, and have to say he came across quite well, but didn't really go on the offensive . I guess they are hatching their strategy (likley to be dull and unimaginative if Eddie O'Sullivan is involved) in Cavan as we speak.
 
I watched most of it last night, and while it was funny in places, I thought it was poor.Likewise lisened to eddie on ryan tubby and thought he was strangly muted, not a bit like his normal interview self, with teh exception of saying some think along the lines of " If they dont sort it out I will be back. " very treathing , very big headed. I thought it was just strange.
 
I've only seen snippets of each of the two previous shows and again last night I tuned in for about 5 minutes to see Eddie with an arrow sticking out of his head.

The five minutes I saw were very poor and I found it quite embarrassing- so I turned it off.
 
I like Eddie, but found all episodes in this series had a huge 'cringe' factor. I much preferred the 'Show me the money' program, but I know that was along a different track altogether.

There was an ad on before the program last night to say Eddie will be on the Late Late show on Friday night, so I imagine there will be plenty of debate/questions fired at him then. Could be interesting.....
 
Think this was the weakest of the 4 programmes. It neither brought out any definite new direction of attack like the other 3, nor did it bring everything together in a summary.

It struck me afterwards that what he was trying to do was highlight the impact that the other 3 programmes would have on a "muddle class" family. So, if we're ripped off (not saying we are or we aren't) in the manner described in the other 3 programmes, then the impact of that on whatever money we have left is what he was trying to get across last night.

So, overall, a disappointing conclusion.

However, the interesting point for me was his call for people to contact the Competition Authority, and to photocopy evidence. Does anyone reckon that last night will create any whistle-blowers in this country? (Assuming we need any!!!)
 
Bluebean said:
There was an ad on before the program last night to say Eddie will be on the Late Late show on Friday night, so I imagine there will be plenty of debate/questions fired at him then. Could be interesting.....
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Anyone hear Eddie speak about this "alleged" appearance on the Late Late Show this morning on Eamonn Dunphy?

Didn't give the impression that he'd be getting involved in any debate. Said that any debate was "news to him".
 
Anyone who expects much of a debate on any topic on the Late Late nowadays is an optimist.
 
I also thought it lacked the punch of the other three episodes. It was more like a rounding up speech. However he did deliver one notable punch with regard to public service workers and benchmarking. The huge protections public service workers have in comparison to private sector workers and the fact that huge benchmarking payments were made without any regard to performance by individual workers. Public service workers in Ireland are the highest paid in europe yet we don't have the comparable services of other european countries. That was the main punch delivered in last nights episode. Another facet I see developing which was not addressed by Eddie is that our best students are being attracted into the public service because of the high pay and security. We will end up again a nation of civil servants with no enterprise culture or technical know how.
 

I'm not trying to nit pick or anything, but is there any evidence of this (anecdotal or otherwise)? I would be interested to know if this is the case. I don't think that many business graduates end up in the public sector?
 
I agree last nights programme was disappointing - I actually fell asleep during it!

I think Eddie is trying too hard to be funny (and not succeeding in my view) - using humour to make a point can be effective but a financial commentator who fancys himself as a comedian??? I dont think so....
 
Eddie, once again, spoke for me.
I couldn`t care less about the presentation.
Its the message that counts.
Targets were Public Sector, Business, government, professions and most of us...the Ripped Off... for putting up with it.
He has made a lot of enemies these past weeks.
No doubt there will be a drip ..drip ...drip of explanations over the next 21 months about how we`re the greatest little country in the world and its perfectly understandable and even good that we have among the highest prices in the world with the worst public services.
 
I think we are being ripped off - by RTE and Hobbs' production company. What he offered and the way he presented it was a complete serial anti-climax, in line with the rest of the garbage that RTE puts out. I can only describe his delivery as buttock clenching!

His 'facts' no doubt will be debated and disputed, someone will call for an inquiry, and in the meantime he walks unclenchingly all the way to the bank.
 
I'm afraid I also nodded off during this programme. I recall one comment made about planting? a seed of consumer awareness? However, if all this series accomplishes is to be a catalyst for a greater awareness of seeking value for money, in all sectors of the Irish economy, then I think that a start has been made.
 
Not an EH fan (as some of you will already know).

Last night was the first of the programmes I actually saw. Thought it was incredibly weak - arrow in head - walking around with a budgie in a cage, walking dogs in Cork - I actually felt embarrassed for him (and that's a first for me). Thought his messages got lost in all his 'acting', would have preferred to see him raise issues with people in a position to debate with him.

have to say if it was on again next week, I wouldn't bother watching it..........
 
I'd have to agree,

[eddie hobbs accent] I asked myself is Eddie Hobbs talking to me like a 10 year old, and then I had a look around and saw that he was talkingt to us all like 10 year olds [/eddie hobbs accent]
 
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