keep seeing the adverts for buy as you view tvs etc. isnt it just like getting something on finance? or are you renting the tv? any ideas

You are buying the TV not renting, its fitted with a coin meter on back so that you have to keep putting pound coins in to keep watching the TV or it shuts off. Someone will come every so often to empty it and let you know whether your in arrears or advance as this is just like a type of payment plan to pay off your TV. Its done like this as people have to keep up the payments to watch the TV. You can buy other equipment through your TV meter tho too. However unless you desparate i wouldnt bother with it as they charge more than the TV etc is worth and i think there is a really high rate of interest on it too. My bf's mother had one and think it worked out that it would cost bout £700 by time payed it off for a TV that she could have bought for just over £400 from somewhere else.

hope this helps,
hazel x