President’s dig at Leo

Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro has accused actor Leonardo Dicaprio of funding non-profit groups which he blames for devastating fires in the Amazon rainforest.

Mr Bolsonaro’s remarks, which were not backed up with proof, were part of a wider government campaign against environmental non-profit groups operating in Brazil.

“Dicaprio is a cool guy, isn’t he? Giving money to set the Amazon on fire,” the president said to supporters in Brasilia.

Mr Dicaprio’s environmental organisation, Earth Alliance, has pledged £3.8 million to help protect the Amazon after a surge in fires destroyed large parts of the rainforest in July and August.

Rather than paying for things up front, buy now, pay later users repay the cost over a set period. Klarna allows shoppers to pay for an order 14 or 30 days after shipping through its Pay Later service. There are no interest fees, surcharges or late payment penalties – but non-payment will affect your credit score. Other pay later services offer a promotional period during which consumers are not charged interest, but if they fail to clear their balance in that time, expensive charges can accrue. along with credit cards and store card credit.

“Yet deferring payments into the future can encourage people to buy more – which is exactly why retailers are increasingly offering these options, under the guise of convenience to consumers.

“Last year, we helped 30,000 people in Scotland with their debts, and this year the number is likely to be higher.”

Instalment schemes are now booming, with customers attracted by offers to spread out payments without using a credit card.

Buy now, pay later firms allow people to pay for their online shopping in a number of instalments spread over several weeks or months, or in one payment at a later date.

One of these companies, Klarna, only conducts a limited credit check on potential customers.

The firm, based in Sweden, is valued at £4.5 billion and has more than 4,500 retail partners worldwide.

The company tells customers on its website: “A soft credit check does not affect your credit score/ rating and is strictly between you and us; this is not visible to other lenders.”

However, there are fears that people who may not be in a position to afford goods are being tempted to make purchases as they can defer final payments until payday. Jane Tully, director of external