Warning: Late repayments can cause you serious money problems. For help, go to moneyhelper.org.uk. We are a broker not a lender.
Warning: Late repayments can cause you serious money problems. For help, go to moneyhelper.org.uk. We are a broker not a lender.
No, we are a credit broker and can introduce you to lenders.
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) regulates Smart Loans UK. We are listed on the FCA register at register.fca.org.uk/s/firm?id=001b000000R6r8ZAAR
Furthermore, the FCA regulates all of the lenders and brokers with which we use. The FCA governs the UK financial services industry. Its responsibilities include protecting customers, maintaining industry stability, and encouraging healthy competition among financial service providers.
To operate this service we receive commissions from the provider we refer you to. We are a broker not a lender. We use a unique process to match our customers' requirements to our lenders which is based on many of the features of the application details, applicant preferences, and the lender's product but does not include the commission paid by the lender to us.
We are a free online credit brokerage. We DO NOT charge our customers a fee for this service. No one from Smart Loans UK or any financial partner relations; including lenders; will ever contact you and request you to send money to them or buy products from them in advance of receiving your loan.
To learn more about dealing with cold-calls, refer back to our fraud protection guidance.
We do not charge any fees. There are no hidden costs for our customers. The commission we earn for connecting you to a lender has no impact on your loan. According to Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) standards, all loan fees should be clearly displayed on the website of the financial product to which we send you. Before determining whether to take out a loan, make sure you've read everything on their website.
You can apply if you are: 18 years of age or older, living in the UK (England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland), employed and receiving a regular weekly or monthly income which is paid into a valid bank account that accepts direct debits.
Before you take out or apply for any loan, you should consider whether you really need it. Can you save up for the thing that you want? If you can, you will save on interest payments. Taking out a loan to pay off other debt, will only lead to a debt spiral and financial hardship. Short term loans should also not be taken out to cover long term financial commitments.
If you are in any doubt or require any further information, speak to a not for profit organisation such as the Citizens Advice Bureau or Money Helper. See our Am I Eligible page for more information to see if you're eligible for a short term loan.
We will offer you the best product that we believe is appropriate for your needs. We use a unique process to match our customers' needs to our lender panel, which is based on the application information, applicant preferences, and the lender's product but does not include the commission paid to us by the lender.
It is important to note that our lender panel may not cover the entire market, so you may be able to find a better loan elsewhere. If a loan isn't right for you, we may direct you to non-profit advice agencies (like citizensadvice.org.uk or moneyhelper.org.uk) or credit education services.
We do not credit check our customers. However, when you submit your application you consent for our lenders to run a credit check to see if you're eligible.
We are a broker. When you submit your application, our panel of lenders will take a quick look at certain aspects of your credit report to determine your suitability, without reviewing your entire credit report. This is a "soft credit check" or "soft search". Soft searches are important because companies can't see them and they do not negatively impact your credit score or future credit approval.
Only you can see them on your credit report, and it doesn't matter how many there are. If a lender accepts your loan application in principle, we'll direct you to their website to finish your application. At this point, the lender may perform a "hard credit check" or "hard search" to obtain extra information from your credit report in order to determine whether or not to lend you money.
Each hard credit check is recorded on your credit report and any company searching it will be able to see that you've applied for credit. Too many hard credit checks in a short time can affect your credit score for six months, affecting your ability to get approved for credit in the future.
Yes, most of our lenders will work with people who don't have perfect credit. Most of our customers are people who can't get regular loans from a bank. The lenders we deal with tend to have higher APR than the general mainstream banks, however when you take a loan you can't be charged more than 0.8% per day in line with the FCA rules, so the quicker you pay off your loan the less interest it will cost you.
If we are unable to find you a loan you should not be offended as this means that the lenders are acting responsibly and it may be that you need to take alternative steps to address your current financial situation.
If you are in any doubt as to whether a loan is suitable for you, you should contact the Citizens Advice Bureau or Money Helper - free, impartial advice services which can help and support you.
We work with a range of lenders and brokers all of which have their own practices and distinct loan agreement terms and conditions. However, the consequences of non-payment can include:
So be sure to read carefully the terms outlined by the lender or broker you have been matched with. If you are likely to miss or have any problems making a payment you should contact the lender or broker directly.
Please try not to panic. Lenders are equipped to deal with these situations. If you think you are going to have a problem with your repayments you should contact your lender as soon as possible. The sooner they know there's a problem, the sooner they can start to help.
If you're worried about things and want more help and information, there are a number of free and independent organisations which can help.
If you need help finding your lenders contact details please contact us.
You can. One of the advantages of our service is that we provide consumers with access to a range of financial products who may not be able to obtain credit through traditional credit providers or banks. We do not do credit checks on our customers, and our services will not leave a mark on your credit report.
Most of our customers can't get a loan from a regular bank. Most of the lenders we work with have higher APRs than most major banks, but the FCA rules that you can't be charged more than 0.8% per day when you take out a loan. This means that the faster you pay off your loan, the less interest you'll have to pay.
Most of our customers are people who can't get regular loans from a bank. The lenders we deal with tend to have higher APR than the general mainstream banks however when you take a loan you can't be charged more than 0.8% per day in line with the FCA rules, so the quicker you pay off your loan the less interest it will cost you.
Since short-term loans are usually paid back in a shorter amount of time, the APR is not the best way to compare our rates to those of other lenders. The sum amount you pay back is more important to our lenders than the APR. APRs for longer term loans tend to be cheaper because the loan payments are spread out over a longer period of time.
We don't work with every UK lender, so you might find a cheaper loan somewhere else.
It is important that you understand the information before you make an application. You should either find an interpreter to help you understand. This could be a friend or family member. Or use your browser to translate the website.
Translating with Google Chrome
If you are struggling to understand our service we would suggest you ask a friend or family member who does to help you. It is important that you understand the information before you make an application.
Completing your loan application with Smart Loans UK shouldn't take too long. Leave about 30 minutes for the whole process.
Please note that the application process may take a while to complete. Please remain on the page until the application completes.
Is there something wrong with our application form, is something not working? There are a few things you could try before getting in touch with us.
If you feel that the application hasn't gone through, you can try getting in touch with us and we'd be more than happy to assist you with any potential concerns or problems.
If you wish to cancel your loan with Smart Loans UK please refer to the loan agreement that should've been sent to you by your loan lender.
Please note: Note: there may be some policies that apply to these conditions.