Personal Loans FAQs

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About Asda Personal Loans

Why choose a Personal Loan through Asda?

Asda Money provides customers with the ability to check your eligibility for a loan. Then you can view your loan options from a panel of carefully selected lenders. So, you can sit back and let us do the leg work. What’s more, when you search for a personal loan, you’ll only have a soft search on your credit history. This means you can check your eligibility without harming your credit score.

Once your loan is approved, you could receive your funds the same day.

Do you leave a credit footprint?

One of the best things about our service is you get to check your eligibility with an approved panel of trusted lenders and only leave a soft footprint on your credit profile which does not lower your chances of being approved for credit in the future.

How does it work?

Asda is in partnership with Aro which is a trading name of Freedom Finance Limited. Both Asda Money and Aro are credit brokers, not lenders. We offer our customers a different solution to borrowing money and finding a loan. We work alongside Aro so we can provide our customers with their very best loan offer from a panel of handpicked trusted lenders.

With one simple eligibility check, our panel of lenders can provide you with a loan tailored to your needs. If you then proceed to the lender, you could receive your funds as soon as the same day.

So, sit back, relax and let us do the hard work.

Who are your lenders?

We have carefully selected a number of trusted lenders to be on a panel. You can search the  panel to find the very best offer you are eligible for. Find out more about each of our lenders here.

If you have any questions on the lenders, please call our Customer Service Team on 0333 555 0560 and a colleague will be happy to help.

Do you charge for your service?

No, you will not be charged a fee for using our service.

How long will it take to get my loan?

Once approved, the lender may call or email you to finalise your loan and arrange for the payment of the funds. The lender may ask you to send documents to them if they need further information. You may receive your funds as soon as the same day. But it may take longer after the  approval of your loan, depending on the lender.

Can I settle my loan early?

Yes you can. The majority of lenders do not charge any additional fees for this. However, some lenders may charge up to 58 days interest from the date you request to settle the loan early. You can request a settlement amount directly from your lender.

Can I top up my loan?

No, we do not offer a top up option at the moment. However, you can contact your lender directly to see if they offer you a top up.

Can I change my mind about taking out a loan?

Yes, you can, if you are within your cooling off period of approximately 14 days. But it does depend on the lender. You will need to read your loan agreement from your lender to check how long you have to change your mind. Or you could contact your lender and they will be able to help.

Can I check my eligibility again if I’m not accepted?

Yes, however you may be declined again if your circumstances haven't changed. Whilst checking your eligibility, we will show you loan options that are similar to what you have requested if an exact match cannot be found. You can also adjust the amount and term being requested to see if you have other options available.

How much can I borrow?

Our lenders offer loans from £1,000 up to £25,000 with repayment periods ranging from 1 to 7 years.

Do you do payday loans?

No we don’t do pay day loans. We offer unsecured personal loans from a panel of carefully selected trusted lenders.

Can I choose my own repayment date?

Yes. When you and your lender arrange for the funds to be paid out, you will be able to choose a monthly repayment date that is suitable for you. Remember, this adjustment may change the monthly repayment for that period, however your lender will confirm this with you.

How can I check my eligibility for a loan?

You can check your eligibility for a loan online here or you can call our Customer Service Team on 0333 555 0560 and one of our friendly colleagues will be able to take you through your eligibility check process.

When will I hear if I have been accepted?

Your eligibility check will show you the loan options that are available to you. It will also show the likelihood of approval. Once you choose a lender they may ask for more information about your circumstances.

Do you offer payment holidays?

Some of the lenders do offer payment holidays. You will need to speak to your lender directly to see if this is something they offer. Be aware that interest will still be added during your payment holiday, and this may change the term of the loan or the monthly repayments in the future.

How do I know who my lender is?

If you already have a loan, your loan agreement will have been sent to you directly from your lender, so check your documents to find information on your lender.

If you have applied and you’ve been given an offer, once you accept the offer, your application will be sent through to the lender website and they should contact you shortly. If you need any help with this, please call our Customer Service Team on 0333 555 0560.

Can I make overpayments?

Some lenders will allow you to make overpayments. But you should always refer to your terms and conditions for any fees or charges. You may also have the option to either reduce your monthly payment and keep your loan term the same. Or you may be able to keep your monthly payments the same and reduce your loan term.

 

For more information on the rules around overpayments, please contact your lender.

How can I see my remaining balance?

You will be able to get your remaining balance information directly from your lender. If you have an online account with your lender, you should be able to see your balance here. If not, you can always give your lender a call and they will be able to help you.

Can I defer a payment?

If you need to defer a payment, you will need to speak to your lender directly. They will be able to discuss your options with you.

What should I do if I can’t make a payment on my existing loan?

You will need to speak to your lender directly. We recommend you do this as soon as you know you are unable to pay and they will be able to discuss your options with you.

I have a complaint, what is the process?

We’re sorry something isn’t right. We treat all complaints very seriously and promise to deal with them fairly and promptly. Asda Personal Loans is in partnership with Aro (a trading name of Freedom Finance Limited). If you have a complaint, you can contact them by phone, email or letter:

Phone: 0333 555 0560

Email: complaints@asdaloans.com

Address: Asda Personal Loans, Aro (Freedom Finance), Atlantic House, Atlas Business Park, Simonsway, Manchester, M22 5PR

Here’s some information about the Aro complaints handling procedure.

Aro will try to resolve any complaint with you. However, if you are unhappy with their final response or they are unable to issue our final response within 8 weeks of receiving your complaint you can refer your complaint to the Financial Ombudsman Service.

What can I do if I have no loan options available?

The first thing to do is to check your credit report to make sure all the information on it is correct. There are websites that enable you to do this for free – search ‘check my credit report’.

If you still need a loan, you could contact your local credit union to see if they could help. Or if your loan was for debt consolidation you could visit our Financial Support pages to access free, impartial advice about managing money.

Credit Ratings

Will checking my eligibility affect my credit rating?

No. One of the best things about our service is you get access to a panel of trusted lenders with only a soft footprint left on your credit file which doesn't harm your credit score.

The lender may complete a hard search once you have accepted your offer and before they release the funds in to your requested bank account.

What is a credit reference agency?

A credit search is a search that assesses your credit history which is registered against your name and address. The search is done by a Credit Reference Agency, our soft search is carried out by Equifax and will not impact your credit score. However, if you proceed with your offer, the credit search carried out by the lender will be noted on your credit file to make other lenders aware we have requested information about your credit history.

How can I improve my credit rating?

Here are some suggestions on how you can improve or maintain a good credit rating:

  • Make regular payments, on time, for all your financial commitments: Missed or late credit payments (even to your mobile phone operator), are likely to be registered on your credit report and may harm your chances of getting credit in the future. Setting up a Direct Debit can help you avoid late payments.
  • Check you are registered on the Electoral Roll at your current address: Lenders use this to confirm your name and address. You can check with your local council to see whether you are on the Electoral Roll.
  • Check the information on your credit report is accurate and up to date: Dispute anything you don’t agree with. If you have financial links to people on your credit report which are no longer correct, ask for them to be removed (for example, if you are divorced or separated, but your former partner is still shown as a financial associate to you).
  • Avoid applying for lots of cards, loans, or other credit products at the same time: It can damage your credit rating. Instead, try to spread out your credit applications and investigate any credit refusal before applying elsewhere.
Can I get a copy of my credit file?

You can view your Equifax Credit Report FREE for 30 days at Equifax. Should you need to query information appearing on your Credit Report, the fastest way to do this is online via the Equifax Online Helpline. You may also call the Equifax Customer Service Team on 0844 335 0550 between 9am and 5pm Monday to Friday.

Alternatively, you may request your statutory Credit Report online or by post which will be delivered within 7 working days. To request by post, please send details of your name, date of birth, all current and previous addresses for the last 6 years to the address below:

Equifax Ltd
Customer Service Centre
PO Box 10036
Leicester
LE3 4FS

APR

What is APR?

APR stands for Annual Percentage Rate. APR is an easy way to show the cost of borrowing over a yearly period. At the start of your loan the interest is calculated (the amount charged to you for borrowing the money) at an agreed percentage rate. This is then added to the amount you borrow to get the ‘total amount repayable’. APR is not the same thing as an interest rate. If you take your loan over a longer period than 12 months, the APR % is not the interest rate you will pay over the full term.

What does representative APR mean?

All loan providers, lenders and brokers must display the most likely rate customers get when they apply, but the rate you are offered is based on your specific circumstances. Some people score better on credit history and affordability than others, therefore if lenders determine you have a stronger likelihood of paying what you owe, they may offer you a lower rate.

About our trusted provider, Aro

Asda is in partnership with Aro which is a trading name of Freedom Finance Limited. Both Asda Money and Aro are credit brokers, not lenders. We offer our customers a different solution to borrowing money and finding a loan.

We work alongside Aro so we can provide our customers with their very best loan offer from a panel of handpicked trusted lenders.

With one simple eligibility check, our panel of lenders can provide you with a loan tailored to your needs. It’s also a safe way to find a loan without negatively affecting your credit rating.

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