Loan 377 (Bed and ....cough Breakfast loan)

I don't know about your last point. I'm not in genearal concerned about loans to offspring to buy out parents, though it does lead me to be a bit more 'enquiring'. But in this particular case I have serious questions about the wisdom of the son (and borrower) who has the stated qualifications that he does (ok, we don't know whether that is from Oxbridge or Trump University) running the business as he is now; and further more now taking on this debt to buy his father/parents out from a flea pit (Note: as stated by one TripAdvisor commentor, not my personal opinion, nor a statement of fact) ostensibly to help with their ability to exit the country. regardless of the deposit being 'gifted' to the borrower, I have serious doubts as to whether the borrower is doing this on pure business grounds or whether there are other factors involved. If I have a doubt as to whether the borrrower has a business head fully screwed on independently of other factors, then that is a concern. IN this case I feel like I'd rather like to take him to one side and say, "hoy, you know that 1st class degree you have in xxxxxxx, maybe you want to consider using to get employment that will a) likely provide a higher income and b) won't saddle you with debt". 

But what do I know.

Not even 7.5% .... it's 7.25%.  But you're right about having a laugh, it's a joke.

I reckon that given a decent cup of java, he could cobol something together, if you c what I mean. It's pretty basic.

Perhpas he can Ada extra dimension, and with a touch of better fortran turn it into a real perl of a place.

Loans to offspring?  Just a bit wary when the parent is hopping the country and the security is lousy (sic)

Cultural differences?  I am bemused by the fact that interest is a dirty, indeed forbidden, word in the Islamic faith, yet plenty of adherents are happy to pay or profit from it.  But then hypocrisy is common to all religions.

I am always wary of borrowers who have a bolt hole abroad, wherever it is.

But the real issue is whether the business is one I would want to support - and in view of the TA reviews there is no way I would want to encourage anyone to continue with this business.  It needs to be sold to an outsider who understands the industry and the standards that customers expect.  But then such a person would no doubt not be willing to pay the "price" the son is apparently willing to pay with the help of undiscerning AC investors.  I refuse to invest in Red**** for a similar reason - why would I want to encourage nuisance telephone calls? I actually had one from them yesterday.