Photo of the Matterhorn to illustrate a "made in Swiss" credit from Milenia.
31.05.2023

Your credit. Made in Switzerland.

A look back at the specificities of credit in Switzerland and an overview of borrowing and payment practices in Europe.

 

Credit in Switzerland: the main rules.

All operations relating to the filing of a credit file, the analysis of the file, the contracting and the payment of the amount borrowed, are scrupulously regulated by the Law on Consumer Credit (LCC).

The goal? Provide a legal framework that allows all parties concerned (lenders, borrowers, authorities, etc.) to act transparently, fairly and in the public interest in order to avoid cases of over-indebtedness.

Here are some key elements related to consumer credit in Switzerland detailed in the federal law

 

  • A credit is a contract.
  • Credit includes leasing and credit cards.
  • The law applies to loans between CHF 500 and CHF 80,000.
  • The law applies to repayment periods of more than 3 months.
  • A maximum interest rate of 15% is currently provided.
  • A right of revocation applies to the lender.
  • The law allows the borrower to repay the entire consumer loan  before the due date.
  • As noted, the principle of the law is aimed at avoiding over-indebtedness of borrowers.
  • The lender is obliged to report the loan granted to the information centre. Databases tracking your credit history are very often used by financial institutions to validate or reject applications.
  • No administrative charges need to be paid to the broker processing your credit application.



What is the appetite for consumer credit in Europe?

If the legal framework seems comprehensive in Switzerland and designed to protect the consumer, what about practices outside Switzerland? Is there a greater or lesser appetite for credit in other European countries?

A regulatory framework exists at European level. This is valid for the Member States of the Union.

In terms of trends by country, there is a difference in behaviour between southern and northern Europe.

In recent years, against the backdrop of the crisis, countries such as Italy, Spain and Portugal have resorted to credit. The most cautious are the Scandinavian countries, especially Denmark.

The British lead the way with 67% of the population having used some form of credit. Then, the French, Portuguese, Germans and Italians close the podium with about 50% of the population.

The main reasons for using consumer credit are:

  • Financing for the purchase of a vehicle.
  • Renovations or the purchase of appliances.
  • Paying unexpected bills.

 

In addition, the utilization rate of consumer credit has particularly increased among young adults aged 25 to 34. With this loan, they increasingly want to finance a trip.

Other reasons given in market analyses are marriage, a move, and studies.

 

A single European framework?

There is a Directive of the European Parliament and Council covering consumer credit. However, each country is free to add or even adapt the conditions according to its local legal framework.

It is therefore a relatively broad European framework that allows for the setting of limits within which each country can navigate according to its own needs.

However, the spirit remains substantially similar to the law in force in Switzerland. Scope of application protection of the consumer's interests, file analysis, information database, contractual elements, revocation, fees, etc.

As the European Union is a free trade area, the need to regulate cross-border credit operations was particularly important.

The aim of the Directive was therefore to define a harmonised Community framework.

However, if we take a closer look, while acknowledging similarities with  the Swiss Federal  Law on Consumer Credit, we can conclude that the Swiss rules seem stricter for lenders and more protective of the borrower. These include issues relating to the right of revocation, the right to early repayment and the application of administrative fees, which are more reasonable in Switzerland compared to the European framework.

This should be taken with a bit of hindsight, however, because, as mentioned above, each country can adopt more or less strict clauses depending on its own legislative or cultural framework.

 

And what about other forms of credit?

If we take mortgage credit as an example, we see a certain degree of inverse contrast with consumer credit.

For the time being, Northern European countries make extensive use of home loans. Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Ireland... are the champions of the mortgage. The amounts are generally higher and the loan terms are longer.

France is 8th in the ranking and applies relatively low borrowing rates at the European level. Countries such as Germany or the Netherlands generally apply higher rates.

Contrary to consumer credit trends, few Spaniards or Italians take on debt to buy a property . This is especially true in Eastern European countries, where an average of less than 10% of the population has an outstanding mortgage.

 

Credit card. First reflex to pay everywhere?

While we can conclude that there is a surge in consumer credit in the south and in the north for mortgages, the rate of use of digital payment methods also varies greatly from country to  country and from region to region.

At the top of the list, British consumers are the most fond of electronic payment methods. Less than 20% of payments are now made in cash. Denmark and Portugal bring up the rear. 

On the other hand, Germany still relies heavily on cash, making more than 70% of its transactions in banknotes and coins. Croatia and Austria are following this trend but have not reached this quota.

France is in the middle with nearly 60% of electronic payments. Switzerland is also in this proportion.

The credit card seems to have conquered the English but is struggling to find its place in Germany.

 

The advantages of local credit

Regardless of your nationality, if you are based in Switzerland and of legal age, you can claim a Swiss made loan.

You will benefit from a protective legal framework and the quality of services offered by market players.

It remains to be seen whether a personal loan is necessary because, true to the spirit of the law applied, a loan is a contract and over-indebtedness must be avoided.

If you are moving forward, opt for a partner who will be able to advise you professionally and who will be committed to providing personalized support that respects your budgetary reality.

Preferably, choose a reputable financing platform with a wide range of banking partners. 

Finally, choose a tailor-made and human approach tailored to your reality and your needs.
Still looking? Let's make it simpler, contact Milenia

 

 

 



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Telecommuting: flop or not?

Since the Covid pandemic, companies have multiplied remote working methods. The most widely used is telecommuting. Two years later, has this method been successful?

 

Let's take a step back

During the lockdown, the world of work experienced a real shift.

Companies had to adapt and various means were put in place to ensure the continuity of services, sales, and the very functioning of the organization.

Do you remember?

The famous cardboard box filled with a computer, a mouse and a screen that the employees took home...

We somehow settled down somewhere in our apartment or our house.

The less fortunate had to sit on an old table at the back of their bedroom.

Children screamed in the background and parents had to juggle their work responsibilities with those of being a mother or father.

Ah... What wonderful memories!

In addition, the schedules became confused. There was no beginning and no end. We were already connected before, but now the workplace had invited itself into our home, into the family, into our home.

However, not everything had to be thrown away.

The doctor's appointment, the receipt of the Zalando package, the visit of the plumber... What required us to take time off or organize ourselves differently simply fit into his work schedule, on site.

Above all, no more time wasted on the road or on the train. We earned two hours of our living every day. That's no small feat...

We weren't the only ones. Hundreds of millions of people around the world, by obligation or freely, switched to this new way of working.

It was necessary to put in place state-of-the-art technological and IT infrastructures to enable more secure virtual exchanges of information via videoconferencing or e-mail.

It was necessary to set up a teleworking policy to give directives on working hours, the availability of employees and managers so as not to be too intrusive in private life.

Finally, regular reviews were required to assess the effectiveness of telework policies and gather feedback from employees.

The big winners? Zoom, Teams, Skype, Webex... It was a good time and the number of users exploded

 

Video conferencing platforms

In order to establish clear and effective communication channels, it is necessary to have instant messaging and video conferencing tools to maintain smooth communication between team members. This transition is being made by different players who bring specificities specific to each sector.

You may have seen that.

Some companies will use the Zoom platform, which allows simple video conferences with a discussion thread, which is easy to use and not very connected to other services.

Others will use Microsoft Teams or Webex, which offer more integrated and secure business solutions.

Skype and Google Meet round out the market leaders, at least in Europe.

 

And what about employers?

The main fear of some employers during this pandemic?

Decreased productivity.

The prevailing thought was that employees, less supervised than before, would work less given this new organizational freedom.

The endless breaks, the last-minute shopping, the Netflix binging...

We're not going to lie, the majority of teleworkers have taken advantage of this to better combine professional and personal needs.

There have been many productivity studies, too many to mention here.

In the end, productivity dropped slightly on average, but this varied enormously depending on the functions and responsibilities.

Profiles whose tasks were recurrent completed their work more quickly and, not needing to do more, to take advantage of the time available to go about their personal business.

Others worked even harder, especially early in the morning, late at night, or on weekends.

Where some managers suffered from a lack of supervision (monitoring?) of their teams; Some employees did not take well to the distance, the lack of clarity on the establishment of rules... All of them missed interpersonal relationships and this may have impacted the corporate culture and sense of well-being.

In conclusion, there is neither one statistic valid for everyone nor a representative feeling of all employers and employees. However, there is no doubt that the world of work has changed and the effects continue today.

 

Exactly. And today?

Companies are adapting to the demands of employees, especially young people entering the workforce.

They demand flexibility, adapted schedules and, yes, telecommuting.

In Switzerland, the job market is in favour of job applicants. Companies must therefore remain attractive and take these demands into account.

Companies are implementing hybrid work modes that allow the employee more time to work from home but require them to be present for a certain number of days in the office. Again, there is no single rule.

Some organizations simply refuse the principle of remote work.

Others impose a fixed day of attendance.

Some leave the choice to their teams.

One thing is for sure, remote work is here to stay, in one form or another.

More than controlling productivity, more than managing teams and workloads, the real challenge is to keep the links between employees, to ensure proximity between managers and their teams.

Finding a balance between the attractiveness of the employer brand, individual well-being and the needs of the company; This is where the effort must be directed for the future.

 

At work and at home, Milenia is always available

Accessing credit through our financing platform has never been easier.

Everything is within your reach, with customization according to your projects, we accompany you from start to finish so that your projects can see the light of day.

For your personal loan, we offer the best market conditions with 0 application fees. Everything is designed to make your life easier.

Your loan application can be done entirely remotely, with support from your personal advisor or both at the same time.

The flexibility, adaptability, personalization of your offer... All of this is embedded in our approach and services.

As the leading credit player in Switzerland, place your trust in us so that your personal dreams and projects come true.

 

 

 

 

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ompare credit offers. It has to be prepared, it has to be done calmly and it has to make sense.

When it comes to your money and a contractual commitment, there's no need to rush. Here are some tips to help you make the right choice.

 

What exactly are we talking about?

When you want to finance a project, there are various solutions available to you. Credit is a relatively simple financing tool, quick to execute and with a light administrative burden.

For further clarification, a credit is also called consumer credit, personal loan, loan, private loan, etc. This is a loan of a sum of money by a creditor to you, the debtor. The amount in question must be reimbursed within a time limit agreed between the parties. An interest rate is calculated in addition to the principal to be repaid in order to remunerate the services of the creditor, a bank in most cases.

As this is a form of financing that does not require a down payment or guarantee, the rate applied varies according to the amount borrowed, the quality of your file and the repayment period.

Financing platforms such as Milenia are used to offer the best rates on the market and to support you in your efforts. You don't pay anything for this service; The remuneration of these platforms is ensured within the framework of the agreements with the partner banks.

 

Before you compare, ask yourself two questions.

Is credit the right solution for my project?

Am I eligible?

The first question has the merit of judging the relevance and usefulness of your approach. As a responsible service provider, we put your interests at the heart of our attention. Over-indebtedness must be avoided at all costs and your loan must bring real added value and not represent a debt that is difficult to overcome.

Can your project be scaled back? Does your cash flow simply allow you to avoid taking out a loan? Is it the right time?

These are all useful questions that allow you to judge whether or not you need to move forward.

The second question is also important.

Your advisor will be able to support you in this reflection, but you can already eliminate some doubts:

Am I domiciled in Switzerland? If not, you will not be eligible.

Am I of legal age? If not, you will not be eligible.

Am I involved in an action filed in the debt collection? If this is the case, you will not be eligible.

 

One egg, one basket.

If you want to continue with a credit application, don't rush!

Above all, do not file multiple applications with different providers or banks.

Each request is logged and will block your access to a favorable response.

Compare, choose your financial partner wisely and, if the conditions are met, draw up your file with them.

To make a fair choice, take advantage of the service offered by a financing platform. It's online and it's easy.

 

Compare what, exactly?

The quality, the network, the accessibility and, of course, the conditions.

By quality, we mean the clarity of the information provided and the transparency of the platform. 

Are there testimonials from satisfied customers? Is there an independent quality body involved, such as Proven Expert? Is the team running the company clearly displayed? Is the company based in Switzerland?

As far as  the network is concerned, the quality and scope of the network will determine the quality of the offers offered to you. Check the partners page or search for published articles or the platform's blog if it exists. 

It is preferable to do business with a major player in the market that has serious, even exclusive, partnerships with recognized banks.

Accessibility. An online solution is often less time-consuming and just as relevant as if you went to an agency. However, it will be necessary to speak with an expert, go through your file in person and have live advice. 

Be sure that you will be able to access this service.

Lately, the conditions. The rates displayed on the various platforms are often similar. There are criteria to be met, however, and these often make the difference.

First of all, the process until you sign the loan agreement must be completely free of charge! Whether you visit a credit comparison platform or a financing platform, run away if you are asked for a single franc for so-called administrative or processing costs.

Secondly, do not sign anything when you are in a comparative or information-seeking process. Your file must first be well completed and analysed and it is only when you make a credit proposal following the acceptance of your application that you will have the opportunity to sign or not.

Finally, a 0.10% lower rate does not necessarily mean a good deal. All of this must be considered. The quality of your relationship with your advisor, the seriousness shown when drawing up your request, the choice of partners... Confidence and peace of mind knowing that you are in good hands is far more important than a tiny spread in the rate offered.

 

Do you have any questions?

We invite you to inquire via Milenia. You will have the opportunity to simulate your credit, learn about our solutions, get to know our team, ask your questions, browse through our customer testimonials and discover our articles on our blog.

Take your time, compare and when your choice is made, we will be at your side to carry out your project. Under the right conditions, with confidence and transparency.

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Loan illustration: loan of CHF 10'000. Effective annual interests rates between 4.9% and 11.95% over a 12 month period lead to total interests of between CHF 261.80 and CHF 624.80. Duration: 6-120 months; Maximum annual interest rate (including all loan handling costs) 11.95%. Loans approval are prohibited if they lead to excess debt for the consumer. (Art. 3 LCD)

 

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