It's not acceptable for children to be used in buy now pay later advertising.

If you agree, please join us in calling on Afterpay to stop running its ad that includes high profile actor Rebel Wilson saying to a small child, “if credit cards and cash had a baby you could pay it over time without ever paying interest”. 

Afterpay’s response to our recent Ad Standards complaint has been to make light of the advertising: “The scene that includes a child and parent is a humorous way for Afterpay to demonstrate the simplicity and transparency of our product”. 

Using children in an ad like this is no laughing matter, one financial counsellor told us, “my six-year-old daughter saw this ad the other night and suggested that I should be able to get her what she wants and not give the excuse that we can't afford something".

Buy now pay later is credit. Not only does it have the potential to cause financial harm – it does cause financial harm. 20% of buy now pay later users are experiencing financial stress.

These slick and expensive campaigns only serve to lull consumers into using buy now pay later more. There is a high risk of getting into debt, especially if you are using the product multiple times or have more than one account. 

Financial counsellors are seeing an increasing number of people with buy now pay later debt. People think they’re harmless, but the reality is they are a form of credit and should be regulated like all other credit products. At the moment, Buy Now Pay Later debt sits outside the National Credit Act. 

A 2020 report from the Australian Securities and Investments Commission found that 1 in 5 people are missing payments. It also found that, as a result, some people are cutting back or going without essentials such as food. 

If Ad Standards will not step in, it is up to the community to call on Afterpay to pull the advertisement. 

We urge you to sign the petition & share this with your friends and family.