As the economy opens up again, the pandemic has hit small businesses the hardest.

Even before the virus, banks would shun them and they'd have to look elsewhere for financing.

I've spoken to moms who struggle to feed their kids because of the very high cost of repayments.

I've spoken to elderly people who become very withdrawn and often say they've actually

become ill as a result of the stress of these loans.

One credit firm is offering instant loans of up to 500,000 pounds.

It's called nationwide corporate finance,

and for the last few years, they've been making a killing.

He flies the sales team out to Monaco or Spain for Christmas parties every year and seems to live quite a nice life, as does his father who posts pictures online of him next to fancy cars in Monaco. But for the borrowers at the other end of the bargain it's a very

different story. I've just kind of stuck in the middle.

I'm 76 now and I can't stand it any longer.

He's taking his toll.

A year-long Sunday Times investigation has found that

Nationwide Corporate Finance is accused by its customers of using aggressive sales

tactics that are putting borrower's homes at risk.

You're listening to stories of our times from the Times and the Sunday Times.

I'm Manveen Rana.

Today, the house hustlers. If you're enjoying this podcast, then you might want to know that if you're a time subscriber you can

now access bonus episodes of stories of our times every week via Apple Podcasts.

If you have an iPhone, head to Apple.co

forward slash Stories of Our Times to connect your time subscription

and I'll see you on Saturday for an extra behind the scenes chat. My daughter said to me,

...