Czuch: Because not everyone does something, and some companies (like paypal) can make it difficult to sort out matters. In our case, I had to look on the internet for a number I was told did not exist... ie the companies complaints dept number. I was told by all their customer care people I could not call them and would have to just communicate by mail.

They lied.

That's why we need governments to regulate and make laws to protect consumers. In the end paypal might be kicking itself in the bum, but it may take years before things change.

EG.... Our government and the expenses policy which has been going on since the Thatcher days and nobody has within the organisation has spoken up till recently.

Same with your medical system, the health companies are pretty much a law onto themselves... you lobbyist system is lining pockets, etc, etc .... and we have had more over here.

You want a totally free market with no government sticking it's oar in.... Then expect similar with every company. And I'd forget about taking medicines as no-one will be there to stop them marketing and selling rubbish.

Our 'free' market now is costing people lives.. Have you seen how people in India recycle computers? How sweat shops look?? How people earn peanuts, yet we get charged 1000 times more???

A shop I worked for sold one item for 99p some 15 years back... It cost them 6p even with being imported from India... how much do you think the workers earned per item?