Deliveroo and Klarna have partnered up to offer customers a buy-now-pay-later option, which means you can order a takeaway and worry about the bill later.
Most online shoppers will have come across the payment option before (it opened up a whole world of ASOS for this writer), which allows you to make an order, receive it, then pay for whatever you keep within 30 days.
Klarna also allows people to spread the cost of their payments across a few instalments over a longer period of time.
But while a Deliveroo and Klarna collab may sound like good news for all of us desperate for a delicious delivered dinner just before payday, a certain Money Making Expert is not happy.
Martin Lewis has questioned whether ‘pumping debt as a way to pay for takeaways’ is really necessary.
ADVERTISEMENT
He also said that borrowing shouldn’t be used for a ‘cheeky Nando’s’.
Dear @Deliveroo do you really need pump debt as a way to pay for takeaways?
Buy Now Pay Later may seem innocuous but it is 1) Not yet regulated 2) Debt, even if done right its 0%
Borrowing should only be if NEEDED, for planned one off budgeted purchase, not a cheeky nandos.
Klarna has said that consumers have long been paying for takeaways with credit cards and overdrafts, and their interest-free payment methods offer a ‘healthier alternative’.
ADVERTISEMENT
Martin posted: “Dear @Deliveroo do you really need pump debt as a way to pay for takeaways?
“Buy Now Pay Later may seem innocuous but it is 1) Not yet regulated 2) Debt, even if done right its 0%.
“Borrowing should only be if NEEDED, for planned one off budgeted purchase, not a cheeky nandos.”
ADVERTISEMENT
A Klarna spokesperson said: “People have been paying for food deliveries with credit cards and overdrafts for decades but they’ve been stung by rip-off fees and extortionate interest so it’s time consumers had the choice of a healthier alternative where they only ever pay the original cost of the purchase.”
Deliveroo chief business officer Carlo Mocci said: “Millions of people are already choosing Klarna and we’re giving customers more choice and more flexibility with a safe, secure way to pay online.”
You can now order a Deliveroo using Klarna. Credit: Klarna
Deliveroo customers will see Klarna as an additional payment option when they check-out, where they’ll be able to choose one of three payment options:
Pay Now, to pay the full amount immediately;
Pay in 30, to pay the full amount within 30 days; and
Pay in 3, to pay in three equal installments, spread over 60 days.
Reaction on social media has been typically mixed.
One person wrote: “Klarna on deliveroo?? Yh my broke ass gonna eat good now”
Another said: “Klarna on deliveroo is the answer to my cost of living prayers.”
But someone else wrote: “Why is Klarna on Deliveroo? Imagine Bailiffs kicking down your door because you missed your monthly payment on 6 wings and chips.”
And someone else commented: “i’ve just seen that you can klarna deliveroo now… how absolutely horrific.”
Arrest made after 14-year-old boy found in critical condition on Market Street
Daisy Jackson
An arrest has been made after a teenage boy was found unresponsive on Market Street in Manchester city centre.
Detectives believe that the boy, 14, was approached by seven males who stole a designer jacket from him.
Following the altercation, he went into cardiac arrest and was rushed to hospital in a critical condition.
Thankfully, the teenager is continuing to recover well.
Detectives from Manchester City Centre Criminal Investigation Department confirmed that an 18-year-old male was arrested yesterday, Thursday 20 February.
He has been arrested on suspicion of robbery and remains in police custody.
Detective Inspector Mark Astbury of GMP’s City Centre Criminal Investigation Department, said: “We hope the victim can continue his recovery following what must have been a terrifying ordeal for him.
“Officers are fully investigating all aspects of this shocking incident that has left a man with serious injuries in hospital.
“Our work doesn’t stop here, we are continuing to investigate this incident and information from the public plays an incredibly important role in our investigations and I ask that the community keep talking to us and keep sharing their concerns with us so our teams can act.”
If you have any information, contact GMP 101 or 0161 856 4305 quoting log 2854 of 16/2/25.
Comedy is being prescribed instead of antidepressants as part of UK trials
Emily Sergeant
Trials are currently underway to see if comedy could be an alternative to antidepressants as a way to reduce NHS costs.
UK tech company Craic Health has secured important funding for its ‘comedy on prescription’ project that’s aimed at helping the Government work with the comedy industry, communities, and organisations on comedy-based social prescriptions in the hope that they can solve financial struggles within the NHS.
The groundbreaking scheme uses stand-up shows and workshops to help people who are isolated, lonely, and vulnerable.
Craic believes comedy is an ‘untapped opportunity’ to improve health and wellbeing, and has a goal to make comedy easier to access, so that it can help communities experience its mental health and social benefits.
To achieve this, the company has started trialling Comedy-on-Prescription experiences in the UK – starting in London, with the potential for expansion – which includes things like curated comedy panel game show events and workshops, and general stand-up comedy shows at some of the capital’s world-famous venues.
Comedy is being prescribed instead of antidepressants as part of UK trials / Credit: Wikimedia Commons
“Mental health issues like loneliness, isolation, and stress are more common than ever,” the company explains.
“So much so that it’s projected that by 2030, mental health problems, particularly depression, will be the leading cause of mortality and morbidity globally, [but] in this challenging world, comedy stands out as a universal language that breaks barriers.
“Research shows that comedy and laughter have powerful effects – they bring people together, create positive connections, and make life more enjoyable.”
Craic Health says that social prescribing, of which Comedy-on-Prescription is a part of, is all about inclusivity, which makes it making it suitable for people of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities.
Its focus is on personalised support, tailored to individual needs and preferences.