Instalment traps push families to the edge

TDT | Manama

Email: mail@newsofbahrain.com

A growing number of Bahraini families are finding themselves buried in debt as concerns intensify over instalment sales practices in electronics shops. MPs warn that the issue is no longer purely commercial, but deeply social.

Action

MP Hamad Al Doy confirmed via a post on the social media platform " X " that a formal complaint will be filed with the Public Prosecution next week regarding an ongoing case linked to electronics instalment sales, stressing that the file remains open and continues to affect citizens.

He urged all those impacted to come forward without delay, highlighting that the scale of harm has moved beyond isolated incidents and now affects multiple households.

Impact

According to Al Doy, some individuals have lost their entire salaries trying to keep up with repayments, while others have seen debts accumulate to the point of losing their homes.

Behind each case, he noted, are families struggling to maintain stability, with financial pressure spilling into daily life and creating lasting emotional and social strain.

Concerns

The remarks come after Al Doy, alongside four MPs, tabled an urgent proposal calling for tighter oversight of instalment selling practices, particularly in electronics stores, and for legal action against violators.

He pointed to a rise in complaints involving unclear contracts, poor disclosure of the actual cash price compared with instalment costs, and confusion over profit rates, administrative fees and penalties for late payments.

Reality

Al Doy stressed that electronic devices are no longer luxury items, but essential tools for modern living, warning that weak regulation in this sector risks pushing ordinary citizens into financial commitments they cannot sustain.

He added that vague contract terms and poor transparency not only expose buyers to financial harm, but also open the door to disputes and erode trust in the market.

For many, what begins as a simple purchase is turning into a long-term burden, raising urgent questions over consumer protection and the safeguards needed to protect households from slipping further into debt.