Microsoft is under fire from users after announcing plans for a built-in "buy now, pay later" functionality in the Edge web browser.
Such schemes allow buyers to break down payments into smaller pieces over time - but they have been criticized for the risk of users getting into debt.
Microsoft has added one provider to the checkout page of shopping sites as the default payment option.
But users accused Microsoft of greed and a "cash grab" mentality.
Thanks to the user-based tag system, these accusations have been turned into tags in the official announcement.
As a result, the Microsoft blog post now features tags such as “weak leadership,” “exploitative,” “garbage,” and “embarrassment.”
"Shameful Money"
Microsoft says it "does not collect a fee for connecting users to loan providers" and it's not clear what benefit the company gets from the deal with payment provider Zip.
However, users accused Microsoft of trying to make money.
One commenter wrote: "Please stop inflating your browser with these gains." "It's like you're summarizing the worst [Internet Explorer] browser extensions from the 90s/2000s and installing them by default."
Screenshot showing tags on the post announcing the new Microsoft feature
Image source, Microsoft
comment on the photo,
Examples of tags appearing in a Microsoft post about the new feature
Another wrote: "This is horrible bloatware baked right in the browser."
A third user said: "It's not like Microsoft needs money to fund development of the browser."
The highest-rated response calls it a "horrific idea that will only be seen as a shameful confiscation of cash" by the media. "The negative pressure this feature will receive is not worth it," she said.
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Microsoft says the new feature lists a "browser-wide" payment option - showing as a payment method next to the credit card field at checkout.
Integrates with Zip's payment system to allow any purchase between $35 and $1,000 (£26 - £750) to be split into four payments over six weeks, subject to approval.
It is planned to be released to "all users" in a future update.
Microsoft said the new feature is being marketed as allowing "shoppers to get their purchases up front, rather than having to wait for them to be paid in full."
Since the option is hidden in the browser, it is placed on websites without the permission of the site owner. The only way to opt out is to contact Microsoft and inquire.
missed payments
While the buy now and pay later features are very popular among shoppers, the industry is not without controversy.
In the UK, Citizens Advice has warned users to spend more than they can truly afford, and to make sure they understand what they are getting into. The Treasury and the Financial Conduct Authority are considering additional regulation of the industry.
Over 17 million people have used Buy Now, Pay Later
Buy now, pay later: 'I'm stressed out by debt'
In the US, a study by personal finance company Credit Karma reports that more than a third (34%) of people who use such plans have defaulted on payments, and 72% of those who missed a single payment believe it has hit their credit score.
Against this background, Microsoft's introduction of the feature as a heavily advertised payment option in the mainstream web browser has rubbed many the wrong way.
The browser comes pre-installed with Windows, and the setup process for the latest version - Windows 11 - strongly encourages users to stick with Edge over competitors like Chrome or Firefox.
Despite this, Microsoft failed to regain the large percentage of the web browser market it held at the turn of the millennium. Recent estimates suggest it has less than 10% of the desktop web browser market, missing out on Chrome and Safari.
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