Personal Loans FAQs

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About Asda Personal Loans

Why choose a Personal Loan through Asda?

Customers could access great rates from carefully selected trusted 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, which 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?

No! One of the best things about our service is you get access to an approved panel of trusted lenders with no credit footprint left on your credit file. When you check your eligibility with us, we complete a soft search which doesn’t harm your credit score.

How does it work?

Asda is in partnership with Aro which is a trading style of Freedom Finance Limited, who area leading credit broker to offer our customers a different solution to borrowing money and finding a loan. We work alongside Freedom Finance so we can provide our customers with their very best loan offer from a panel of handpicked trusted lenders. 

With one application, you can search a panel of carefully selected lenders and provide you with a loan tailored to your needs. Once you have been approved you receive your funds which could be as quick 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 you are approved, the lender may call or email you to finalise your loan and arrange for the funds to be paid out. You may be required to send documents to the lender if they need further information. You can receive your funds as quickly as the same day or up to 5 days after your loan has been completed, 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 as long as you are within your cooling off period, these usually range from 7 days up to 30, however it does depend on the lender. You will need to read your loan agreement that you received from your lender to check how long you have to change your mind. Alternatively, you could contact your lender directly and they will be able to help.

Can I apply again if I am not accepted?

Yes, you can, however you could be declined again if your circumstances haven’t changed and you are applying within a month of your last application.

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.

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.

How can I apply for a loan?

You can apply 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 application.

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.

When will I hear if I have been accepted?

As soon as you have completed your application online you will be given an instant decision. The application will take a few minutes to complete.

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.

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 without charging an additional fee or any interest. You will be given the option to either reduce your monthly payment and keep your loan term the same or keep your monthly payments the same and reduce your loan term.

To find out more information on the rules around overpayments, please contact your lender directly.

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 you have a reason to complain. 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 style 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  

Please see Aro complaints handling procedure here.

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. You can get more information about them here.

What can I do if my application is declined?

The first thing to do is to check your credit report to make sure all the information on it is correct. If you still need a loan, you could contact your local credit union to see if they could help, or alternatively if your loan was for debt consolidation it might be worthwhile contacting Step Change Debt Charity or the Money Advice Service and they will be able to give you some advice.

Credit Ratings

Will applying affect my credit rating?

No. One of the best things about our service is you get access to a panel of trusted lenders with no credit footprint left on your credit file. When you apply with us, a soft search is completed which doesn’t harm your credit score.

However, if you do proceed with an offer from your search with us, the lender will complete a hard search once you have accepted your offer. This will show on your credit file.

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 Personal Loans is in partnership with Aro which is a trading style of Freedom Finance Limited, who are a leading credit broker, to offer our customers a different solution to borrowing money and finding a loan. They were awarded Best Consumer Credit Broker in the 2020 Consumer Credit Awards – voted for by customers.

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

With an eligibility check, a panel of carefully selected 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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