How we rank: Consumer loans
The Score (0–100) is a weighted sum of the factors below. Each factor is the weighted average of its metrics; each metric is calculated from one published fact. Missing facts score zero, and a service is ranked only when enough of its Score is backed by facts.
A service is ranked only when at least 60% of its Score is backed by verified facts.
Licence 35%
Whether the lender appears in the regulator's official list, or states its licence number on its site, and how long it has held a licence or registration. Where the register shows no date we use the year stated on the official site, which can be the founding year. A licence means supervision; it does not make a loan cheap or safe for you.
| Metric | Rule |
|---|---|
| Licensed by the regulator | Yes = 100, No = 0 |
| Licensed since | Full score at 30+ years |
Transparency 30%
Whether a fees document or the full loan terms can be read without logging in, whether the lender publishes how to complain, and whether its terms state that early repayment is free. A statutory early repayment charge counts as a charge.
| Metric | Rule |
|---|---|
| Fees or terms published | Yes = 100, No = 0 |
| Complaints procedure | Yes = 100, No = 0 |
| Free early repayment | Yes = 100, No = 0 |
Cost 25%
The published rate of the standard cash loan as a percentage of the country's reference rate, the median of the rates we collected at launch (100% equals the reference; the score falls from 50% to 200%). The original rate with its example amount and term is shown beside it. The basis differs by country, so compare only within one country. We also count whether the standard terms have no arrangement fee. This factor deliberately weighs less than licence and transparency.
| Metric | Rule |
|---|---|
| Published rate, % of country reference | Linear from 50 (100) to 200 (0) — lower is better |
| No arrangement fee | Yes = 100, No = 0 |
Service 10%
Whether a new customer can apply online, weekly hours of general support, and the maximum amount and term compared within the country. A larger or longer loan is not better for you: more time usually means more interest paid. That is why these two facts carry little weight.
| Metric | Rule |
|---|---|
| Online application for new customers | Yes = 100, No = 0 |
| Support hours a week | Linear from 40 (0) to 168 (100) |
| Maximum amount, % of country reference | Linear from 0 (0) to 200 (100) |
| Longest term | Linear from 12 (0) to 120 (100) |