Niknak, I'm not sure about your last thought re the banks obligation to refund you if the FTO goes bust. I think you will find that if they lend you the money which you then give to the FTO, that's your problem. The reason the credit card company thing works is becasue of the contractual relationship between the credit card company and the supplier. Any lawyers like to comment?
Custer, Am I missing something, surely the object of any business is to make money for its owners, not provide employment to staff or even services to punters. The services is the means to the end, and the staff merely tool to get there. If you think the outfit you work for are dodgy, or you don't like their style, why don't you leave and go and work somewhere else?
So we can all avoid it, perhaps you would like to tel us who this dodgy operator is?