Advantage Finance is a British subprime lender and a registered Consumer Credit Act (CCA) lender that specializes in providing loans for individuals with irregular or substandard credit histories. The firm offers financial assistance to customers who suffer from a poor credit rating, whether due to bankruptcy, missed payments, or County Court Judgments (CCJs).
Despite offering loans to those with poor credit scores, Advantage Finance claims to have strict affordability and lending criteria, which it uses to ensure that customers don’t overstretch themselves financially. However, in recent years, the company has come under fire for its high-interest rates and aggressive collections practices.
Here we take a closer look at what Advantage Finance claims to offer and the controversies surrounding this lender.
Advantage Finance’s Claims
Advantage Finance claims to offer several benefits to borrowers that make it stand out from its competitors. For example, the company says that it can take less than an hour to process a loan application, and the funds can be in the customer’s account within 24 hours of approval.
The lender also claims to be transparent with its fees and charges by providing customers with an annual percentage rate (APR) upfront. It says that it charges 68.7% APR on average for loans of up to £2,000 repayable over 18 months, although this changes depending on the customer’s individual circumstances.
Advantage Finance also claims to be a responsible lender that considers the affordability of the loan for the borrowers. To do this, it will assess customers’ income and expenditure, credit report, and other financial obligations, such as rent or utility bills.
The company says that it has a strict policy of assessing each applicant’s affordability to ensure that the loan repayments are affordable over the loan term.
Problems with Advantage Finance
Despite Advantage Finance’s claims of being a responsible lender, it has received criticism for its high-interest rates, aggressive collections practices, and failing to meet its obligations under the Consumer Credit Act.
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), which regulates consumer credit in the UK, has investigated Advantage Finance several times over the years. In 2020, the FCA fined the company £3.3 million for not complying with the CCA’s requirements for assessing borrowers’ affordability.
The regulator found that Advantage Finance failed to conduct proper affordability checks on customers, leading to many taking out loans that they could not afford to repay. This put significant financial pressure on these borrowers resulting in many incurring additional fees and charges.
The FCA’s investigation also revealed that Advantage Finance did not provide enough information about potential additional charges, leading to many customers being caught out by hidden fees.
In 2017, the company was also criticized for its collections practices. Advantage Finance was accused of using aggressive tactics, such as sending threatening letters and phoning customers at their workplace, to recover debt. The firm was ordered to pay compensation to several customers as a result of these practices.
Conclusion
Advantage Finance claims to be a responsible lender that considers the affordability of the loan when assessing customers’ applications. However, its reputation has been tarnished by the high-interest rates it charges, its aggressive collections practices, and its failure to meet its obligations under the Consumer Credit Act.
If you are thinking of applying for a loan with Advantage Finance or any other subprime lender, it’s crucial to take the time to read the terms and conditions in detail, so you know precisely what you are getting into. You may want to consider seeking financial advice and exploring other options, such as credit unions or peer-to-peer lending platforms, before borrowing money from a subprime lender.
While Advantage Finance and other subprime lenders can help those with poor credit histories access finance, it is essential to bear in mind the high costs involved and the potential consequences of defaulting on the loan.
Ultimately, the decision to borrow money from a subprime lender is one that should not be taken lightly, and it’s crucial to fully understand what you are signing up for and ensure that you can meet the repayments comfortably.