Hidden fees, scams, dubious promises, theft; how to find the right partners in a market with malicious providers.
Common sense
As is often the case, common sense is usually enough to avoid the traps set by unscrupulous service providers. Let's play the door choice game. And let's start with how we present ourselves.
Behind Gate A, a company with a website. CH clearly states their contact details, the names of the people who make up their team, a VAT number and a list of established partners.
Behind Door B, an organization where it is difficult or impossible to find an address, without direct contact details to reach a member of the team, without detailed information about their services and partners.
Which door do you choose to open? Gate A of course!
Companies with nothing to hide openly share all the information that allows their customers to contact them directly.
Fees
Behind Gate A, a credit provider promises unstoppable conditions and implies that certain administrative fees will of course be calculated when the time comes. After all, paying a small fee to get a loan at attractive rates is worth it. You have to pay for advice.
Behind door B, there are no fees, no commitments, no administrative costs, no charges related to the management of your file. The company is paid by the lender, not by you, the end customer.
Which door do you choose to open? Gate B, of course.
Be wary of organizations that ask you to pay a management fee or an application fee. A self-respecting credit company does not charge for these services.
Testimonials
On the one hand, a friend tells you that he heard from a cousin, a friend who has a co-worker, that XYZ Company provides good service.
On the other hand, an SEO institute indicates a score representative of the quality of the service provided based on numerous verified and collected testimonials.
Would you trust the friend or the pollster? Maybe both. However, objectively, bodies such as Proven Expert are more reliable when it comes to choosing your financial partner.
"Anything is possible" vs. "we check and confirm you"
Service provider A promises you mountains and wonders. Unlimited credit is possible. A solvability check via the ZEK is not necessary. A zero-fee 0-interest loan is debatable. The payment of funds within 24 hours with a deposit for services rendered, of course!
Provider B asks you a series of questions and puts together your file. This is followed by a verification process that includes a credit check. Everything is done to ensure that your loan application is successful but without running the risk of over-indebtedness.
Which provider seems to be the most serious? B, of course. Taking out a loan, making a financial commitment, calculating your ability to repay, all of this is serious. Although the goal is to carry out your project, a responsible partner will follow a series of controls in order to protect the interests of the lender but above all, yours as a borrower.
If you hear "immediate," hang up.
There are some terms that are forbidden when talking about credit. "Immediate" is one of those terms. The granting of a loan is regulated by law, by ordinances. The principle of immediacy is very frowned upon because it can lead the applicant to believe in a quick, safe and very accessible solution. Although an application procedure can indeed be carried out fairly quickly, a favourable response will never be given immediately to a customer. Structures promising an immediate response should be avoided as this is contrary to the precautionary principle.
Milenia: your financing platform
Would you like to know the safest way to choose the right credit partner? Visit a funding platform such as Milenia:
- Simulate your loan directly.
- Get informed through their blog.
- Discover the advantages and specificities of their banking partners.
- Browse through their customer testimonials.
- Apply online.
A financing platform allows you to compare, calculate and get advice. In all benevolence, in compliance with the law and according to a series of values that are close to our hearts: simplicity, quality, clarity and responsibility.