Can I apply for a Brooklands Personal Finance loan?
Our application process is quick and simple and shouldn’t take more than a few minutes of your time.
To be eligible for one of our loans, you’ll need to be aged 18 or over, not have been declared bankrupt, had a Debt Relief Order or an Individual Voluntary Agreement in the last 6 years, and you must be resident in Northern Ireland.
What is the loan application process?
You can apply for a Brooklands Personal Finance loan by completing the simple online application form. Alternatively, you can apply via your local Brooklands Personal Finance Representative, or by phoning or emailing our office, and one of our friendly team will assist you with your application which can be completed in minutes.
Please note, you must agree to a credit check in order to proceed with your loan application.
Once we receive your details and upon review of your application, we will notify you of our initial decision, usually within 24 hours.
One of our Representatives will also be in touch to discuss the finer details and to carry out an affordability assessment to make sure you are comfortable with your loan agreement and repayments.
You can choose to receive your funds as cash to your door, direct payment to your nominated bank account, or loaded onto a pre-paid debit MasterCard – whichever is your preference.
What documents do I need to provide to apply for a loan?
It is not necessary to provide any documents for an initial online application. However, if you are approved for a loan, we will arrange a convenient time to call to review any outstanding details with you.
- Photo ID such as a non-expired driving licence (provisional or full), passport, or any other government issued form of photo ID.
- Proof of address. Your driving licence is acceptable, or alternatively a utility bill or bank statement dated within the last 3 months.
- Proof of income such as a payslip, benefits award letter, or monthly bank statements.
Paper documents aren’t always necessary as long as your representative can see the information they need along with any relevant reference numbers. It’s best to make sure this information is prepared in advance and completely up to date.
Please note, any information you share with us will be treated in the strictest of confidence and only for the purposes of your loan application.
What is an affordability assessment and why is it important?
It’s important that your loan is both manageable and affordable for your individual circumstances to avoid running into financial difficulties.
As a responsible lender, we always work to protect our customers. Therefore, all loan applications are subject to an affordability assessment before a decision can be made.
You will need to provide supporting documents. The documents we can accept as proof will be discussed with you.
We’ll also need to review your outgoings and how much you spend on bills and other regular payments (your committed expenditure).
These checks can be completed with you in your own home if preferred.
Our affordability assessment only concerns your finances, so we will only need to know information regarding your own income and outgoings.
What fees and charges are associated with a Brooklands Personal Finance loan?
All Brooklands Personal Finance loans have no hidden fees or late payment charges, so you’ll know exactly what you’re paying back when you take out your loan.
You will even receive a rebate if your loan is paid back early!
- No upfront costs
- No hidden fees
- No late payment charges
- Fixed interest rate that will not change
- No early settlement fees
Do I need a bank account?
Once your loan is approved you will be assigned a Brooklands Personal Finance Representative who will be on-hand for any queries you have. Your Representative can also arrange to visit your home to facilitate your loan and repayments, therefore you don’t necessarily need access to a bank account.
What is APR on a loan?
APR, or Annual Percentage Rate, refers to the total cost of your borrowing for one year. It takes into account the interest rate and additional charges of a loan offer. All lenders must tell you what their APR is before you sign a credit agreement.
It’s important to remember when comparing representative APR that what you actually pay in interest depends on what you borrow, and how and when you pay your debt off.
As a general rule for a loan, the more you borrow, the lower the APR is likely to be.
You will only ever pay back your loan amount plus the interest charges. This is referred to as the “Total amount payable” and varies from loan to loan.
One of our Brooklands Personal Finance Represenatives is always on-hand to help explain the cost of borrowing on our loans, including the APR and total amount payable.
When should I expect to make my first repayment?
Your first repayment is usually due 7 days after you have received your loan. Your repayments will then continue on a weekly, fortnightly or monthly basis as per the terms of your loan.
How do I make my repayments?
You can choose to pay your loan via one-off or recurring payments directly from your bank account, or via our friendly home collection team, who will work with you to provide a personal and convenient service at your doorstep.
Our payment line is an easy way to make a payment. You can access it by calling 028 9744 0790.
It is not possible to use a credit card to make a repayment.
Please note, it’s important to make your repayments on time to avoid going into arrears.
What if I miss a payment?
Please talk to your Representative as soon as possible if you feel you are struggling to make your repayments.
At Brooklands Personal Finance we have no hidden fees or late payment charges, however, if you frequently miss payments, our Credit Manager will contact you to review your account and will endeavour work out a solution with you.
Can I pay my loan off early?
You can choose to repay your loan early in full and you may therefore qualify for an early settlement rebate.
We always recommend that customers voluntarily increase their repayment amounts if they can in order to settle their debt as quickly as possible.
Why should I choose Brooklands Personal Finance?
For over 50 years Brooklands Personal Finance has provided home credit in Northern Ireland. We are a leading doorstep lender in Belfast and indeed across the province.
Our company is fully authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority to trade as a responsible lender with family values and morals, making sure our customers always come first.
We offer small loans with fixed interest charges and no hidden fees or late payment charges. We consider all applications and will look at your individual circumstances before making a decision.
All our customers are assigned a friendly, local Representative, who is always personally on-hand to answer any queries you may have. We also offer a home collection service as a convenient way to make your repayments.
What if I have a less than perfect credit score?
If you suffer from a lack of, or a bad credit history, it can be extremely difficult to secure a loan from many lenders.
We consider all applications. Once we receive your details, we will run both a credit check and an affordability assessment. We will consider your incomings and outgoings to make sure your loan is both manageable and affordable.
Can you lend outside of Northern Ireland?
Unfortunately, we are unable to provide loans outside of Northern Ireland at this time.
What is a responsible lender?
A responsible lender will always act in a customer’s best interests, ensuring affordability, transparency of terms and conditions and supporting a borrower if they experience repayment difficulties.
At Brooklands Personal Finance our customers are at the heart of everything we do, and we work hard as a responsible lender to instil our family values and morals in the relationships that we build. Our customers can make informed decisions by having all necessary information clearly detailed upfront.
Brooklands Personal Finance, as a reputable lender, is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), and must meet the requirements set out by them to ensure our borrowers are treated fairly.
What should I do if I find myself in financial difficulties?
If you currently have a loan with Brooklands Personal Finance and are unable to make your repayments, please get in contact with us as soon as possible and we’ll work with you to find a solution.
Additionally, you can gain access to free money advice from the following:
We can also send you printed Debt Advice that has been prepared by the Financial Conduct Authority, on request.
As an existing Brooklands Personal Finance customer, can I apply for an additional loan?
If you are an existing customer and are considering applying for a further loan, we may be able to help. Depending on your circumstances, we may need to carry out another credit check and/or an affordability assessment to check if the terms of the newly proposed agreement are suitable for you.
Existing customers may be eligible to borrow up to £1200. Please contact your Brooklands Personal Finance Representative who will be able to guide you through the options you have available.
Please note that if you increase your borrowing, you may be extending the terms of your debt, therefore increasing the total amount you repay.
Is the information that I share with you kept private?
All customer information is guarded with the strictest of confidence and in line with the Data Protection Act 2018.
We will only discuss details of your loan with you and will not share details with other family members or friends unless you advise us otherwise.
If you have any further questions about our loans or our application process, then please feel free to get in touch.
