Warning: Late repayments can cause you serious money problems. For help, go to moneyhelper.org.uk. We are a broker not a lender.

Cash Funds Direct

Frequently asked questions

If you have questions about Cash Funds Direct and our loans we have the answers. When you are ready, apply today.

Are you a lender?

No, we are a credit broker and can introduce you to lenders.

Are you regulated?

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) regulates Cash Funds Direct. 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.

How do earn your fee for this service?

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.

Do you charge any fees for the service you provide?

We are a free online credit brokerage. We DO NOT charge our customers a fee for this service. No one from Cash Funds Direct 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.

What are the costs?

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.

Can I apply for a loan?

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 How It Works page for more information to see if you're eligible for a short term loan.

How do you decide what lender you offer me?

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.

Do you use credit agencies to check credit scores?

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.

Will my report get a soft credit check or a hard credit check?

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.

I have a bad credit history, can I still apply?

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.

What are the complications of making a payment late or missing a payment?

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:

  1. Making it more difficult for you to obtain credit in the future or having to pay default charges to the lender/broker
  2. Paying more for your credit by extending the term of the loan and therefore the period for which you pay interest
  3. Reports being made to a credit reference agency

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.

What if I have difficulties making repayments?

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.

  • stepchange.org provides free advice on debt problems and finding the best solution for you.
  • moneyhelper.org.uk offers free, unbiased and independent advice to people who want to manage their money more effectively. Face to face sessions available.
  • nationaldebtline.org is a free, confidential debt advice service that is run by the Money Advice Trust.
  • citizensadvice.org.uk is a free service that will give you information to help you figure out what to do next, no matter what your problem is.

If you need help finding your lenders contact details please contact us.

Why don't I apply directly with a lender?

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.

Why was the lender you referred me to so expensive?

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.

Why is the APR so high?

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.

I don't understand English very well

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

  1. Select Preferences
  2. Select Language
  3. Navigate to Google Translate
  4. Select Translate into this language and select your preferred language

I don't understand the service

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.

How long will it take to complete my application?

Completing your loan application with Cash Funds Direct shouldn't take too long. Leave about 30 minutes for the whole process.

The application is taking too long

Please note that the application process may take a while to complete. Please remain on the page until the application completes.

The application form isn't loading or working?

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.

  1. First, you could try reloading the page. The form might just be taking a while to respond.
  2. Try using a different browser. Whilst we do our very best to ensure that our site works on various browsers, we cannot ensure that every browser will be compatible.
  3. lastly, you could try using a different device.

The application hasn't gone through

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.

What are my rights to cancel my short term loan?

If you wish to cancel your loan with Cash Funds Direct 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.

Example rates

Loan example
Loan amount £550
Loan length 18 months
Total loan amount £2,035
?

Representative example: if you borrow £550 over 18 months at a flat rate of 180% per annum (fixed) with a representative 770% APR you will make 18 monthly payments of £113.06, repaying £2,035.08 in total. Rates from 45.3% APR to 1721% APR. A short term high cost loan should not be used as a long term solution. We are a broker not a lender. We don't charge fees. We don't sell your personal information. We may receive a commission from the lender.

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