Former BrightHouse Warehouse Manchester
Brighthouse was founded by Thorn EMI in April 1994 as Crazy George, and intended to be a sister company to Radio Rentals. Crazy George was rebranded as BrightHouse in 2002
The company was bought by Vision Capital in July 2007. It was later sold to Apollo Management in December 2017.
Caversham Finance Limited, trading as BrightHouse, was the largest rent-to-own company in the United Kingdom, with 240 stores. It was a national chain that provided home electronics, domestic appliances, household furniture and related products on a hire purchase arrangement. Cash loans were offered towards the end of the company's life cycle.
The company charged interest of between 69.9% and 99.9% APR
An investigation by the BBC's Victoria Derbyshire programme in 2016 cited an example of a washing machine costing £358, with a £55 delivery and installation charge and compulsory £136 warranty. The total cost of the appliance was £1,092 at Brighthouse's typical interest rate of 69.9%
The Queen once owned shares.
