The following letter was submitted to The Leader Publications on Thursday, March 20, 2025. It has not yet been selected for publication.

There was a recent headline detailing a chilling new partnership between DoorDash and Klarna, a company which gives out short-term loans to low-credit buyers who want to “buy now and pay later”. Let’s unpack this news. 

Firstly, let’s think of DoorDash’s customer base. These users are unable to drive or just don’t feel like it. Offering convenience for a fee is the backbone of the service market, and this on its own isn’t an issue. 

Next, Klarna gives quick loans to people with bad credit or little credit history. In a world where most people live paycheck to paycheck, loans are sometimes necessary to buy large-scale purchases. While I might not agree with their motives, these loans can sometimes be a necessary thing. 

The real danger is when you combine the two. What kind of person can’t drive and doesn’t have the money to pay for food? Unhoused people or people in serious financial distress.

Do you think those groups should be allowed to be targeted by DoorDash and Klarna as customers? The two companies are likely betting on the fact that their customers can’t repay their McDonald’s fry loan and have to start paying interest after the interest-free period is over.

Imagine getting a threatening collection call for a missed installment payment on a milkshake you drank 6 weeks ago. That’s the world we live in.