A loan can help you if you borrow wisely. Use your rights to find a right loan and a right lender.⭐Know how⭐
Borrowing is the easiest way to manage your finances only if you borrow wisely. London has remained one of the most prominent trades and business centres for years. Since 2013, the financial service industry in the United Kingdom has witnessed considerable strategic challenges to the shape of regulation. With the abolition of the Financial Services Authority, a new Authority came into force on 1 April 2013 by the name of Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). Internal work cultures and business practices of many financial firms in the UK market need to be changed or rectified. The financial regulatory authority ensures that firms which are operating in the market put the customer at the center of everything. The new standards and policies set by the FCA are molding traditional finance practices to safeguard the interests of customers.
These changes which are implemented by the FCA have a major influence. Borrowers have certain rights while they are borrowing a loan from any broker, lender or credit union. The rights do not apply if an individual has chosen an illegal lender or broker for the loan borrowing process. When an individual opts for a loan, he is asked to enter into an agreement with the lender or broker which includes the legal or statutory rights under the Consumer Credit Act.
Representative Example If you borrow £20000 over 72 months, your representative APR will be 22.90% APR. Your monthly repayments will be £488.36 and the total amount repayable will be £35,161.92. Representative Example If you borrow £20000 over 72 months, your representative APR will be 22.90% APR. Your monthly repayments will be £488.36 and the total amount repayable will be £35,161.92. Representative Example: Loan Amount: £20950.00, Loan Term: 85 Months, Interest Rate: 23.00% PA Variable. Monthly Repayments: £537.44. Total Amount Repayable: £45,682.15. This example includes a Product Fee of £2,095.00 (10% of the loan amount) and a Lending Fee of £714.00 Representative Example: Loan Amount: £20950.00, Loan Term: 85 Months, Interest Rate: 23.00% PA Variable. Monthly Repayments: £537.44. Total Amount Repayable: £45,682.15. This example includes a Product Fee of £2,095.00 (10% of the loan amount) and a Lending Fee of £714.00 Representative example: If you borrow £3000 over 36 months at a Representative rate of 47.8% APR and an annual interest rate of 39.7%, you would pay 12 monthly installments of £143.84. The total charge for credit will be £2178.24 and the total amount payable will be £5178.24. Representative example: If you borrow £3000 over 36 months at a Representative rate of 47.8% APR and an annual interest rate of 39.7%, you would pay 12 monthly installments of £143.84. The total charge for credit will be £2178.24 and the total amount payable will be £5178.24.Maximise your options: Compare and apply for loans below with LoanTube
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Loan Amount
£4000 -
£20000
Norwich Trust
Loan Term
1 -
10 years
4.8/5
Representative APR
22.9%
Minimum Age
21 Years
4.8/5
Norwich Trust
Loan Amount
£4000 -
£20000
Loan Term
1 -
10 years
Representative APR
22.9%
Minimum Age
21 Years
Minimum Income
£2000 per month
Loan Amount
£5000 -
£100000
Evolution Money Loans
Loan Term
1 -
20 years
4.5/5
Representative APR
28.96%
Minimum Age
18 years
4.5/5
Evolution Money Loans
Loan Amount
£5000 -
£100000
Loan Term
1 -
20 years
Representative APR
28.96%
Minimum Age
18 years
Minimum Income
Not mentioned
Loan Amount
£1000 -
£10000
1Plus1 Guarantor Loans
Loan Term
1 -
5 years
4.4/5
Representative APR
47.80%
Minimum Age
18 years
4.4/5
1Plus1 Guarantor Loans
Loan Amount
£1000 -
£10000
Loan Term
1 -
5 years
Representative APR
47.80%
Minimum Age
18 years
Minimum Income
Not mentioned
Know your Rights! Your rights include:
- You must know all the information before and after signing up to a credit or loan agreement so that you understand the terms and conditions.
- Whether or not you can cancel the loan agreement, and, the procedure to cancel the agreement.
- You must know if you can pay off the loan amount early as promised in the agreement.
FCA authorized lenders or brokers should also be transparent in their dealings so as not to attract any penalties. Not being transparent to the customers may also lead to the cancellation of their license or authorization status. Brokers or lenders must ensure that their customers are given all the required information in the process.
What Information should be given to Borrowers?
Lenders or brokers should categorize their information into pre-contract information and post-contract information. It’s a legal document which needs thorough reading and analysis by the borrower and this may take some time. Information that should be given to individuals who have opted for loan includes:
- Information about your company or organization
- Details of the product or service which has been chosen by the borrower
- Credit amount chosen by the borrower and loan amount being provided to him
- The total interest rate levied on the loan amount
- Repayment modes
- Payment due date
- Statement generation date
All such information will help the borrower to plan and manage their loan in a swift and hassle-free manner. We suggest our readers to ask for this information before they enter into a loan agreement.
How to Protect Yourself
Customers should be given the highest priority but sometimes, mishaps take place. To know how to make your way out of problematic situations, you should be aware of your rights.
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Be Alert
Stay vigilant to fraud or scam. If you sense something wrong, contact your broker or lender for clarification on the matter. If at all, the answers don’t satisfy you and you want to go one step further. Reach out to not-for-profit organizations for free, impartial and confidential loan borrowing advice. The advice you receive will be unbiased and free.
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Check Your Statements
Make a habit of checking your statements regularly. Highlight any mistake in the statement immediately to the broker or lender for correction. If you do not get a satisfactory result, report it to the FCA.
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Be Aware of Scams
Keep an eye on any possibilities of scam. Be aware of scams and traps which may lead you deeper into your financial mess. Authorized brokers or lenders do not ask for any upfront fees. Scammers may even inform you that the fee is refundable but will suggest you to deal with FCA registered brokers and lenders who do not charge any upfront fees.
Check Whether a Financial Firm can Offer Loan or Not
As already mentioned above, the FCA has a consumer credit register listing that has financial firms operating in the market of the United Kingdom having an ‘interim permission’ to offer loans, credit, and other financial services and products to the consumers. To check whether or not a financial firm has interim permission from the FCA to conduct business or offer a loan, you need to have the details below:
- Name of the financial firm
- Postcode
- Firm Reference Number
Once you have this, you may visit www.fca.org.uk and check the consumer credit register to find out about the firm.
- Apart from this regular search, these details will also assist you to find out the contact details of the firm. You may also get to know the trading names or trading styles adopted by the firm. You may find these advantageous to know what types of activities are covered under the FCA authorization which will prove to be supportive in choosing your broker or lender.
- If you find any information missing or incorrect, you can report it or register a complaint with the Financial Ombudsman Service. This legal team has been set up by the Parliament to reconcile situations or disputes that arise between financial institutions and consumers.
- If you feel like canceling the agreement for any given reason, you can go ahead with the cancellation within 14 days of signing up. You do not have to state your reasons for the cancellation. You can send a notice to the lender or broker stating that you are no longer interested in the loan and would be canceling the agreement. A borrower doesn’t have a right to cancel an agreement if the loan amount is small i.e., £50 or less (except hire purchase or conditional sale agreements) or £35 or less where the agreement was made away from the lender’s offices.
Paying Off Early
- Paying off the loan early always works in your favor. Under the Consumer Credit Act, if an individual is paying off a loan early, then the person will get a rebate of any interest and charges that he has paid. To do this, you must write to the lender and ask the lender to inform you the total amount you need to pay to clear off the debt. The lender will have to answer that within 28 days of receiving your request. If the lender doesn’t send any response to your request, you are recommended to contact a specialist adviser immediately.
Failed Repayments
- If you fail to make repayments, you will receive an arrear notice from the lender which must include a Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) information sheet. The sheet will have all the necessary details about your rights which will help you to sort out the arrears.
- Always remember that if a lender doesn’t give you the right information, they are not allowed to take you to court.
- Take help in financial dealings from not-for-profit organizations such as Money Advice Service, Citizens Advice, FCA, etc.
