The UFC-Que Choisir has just filed a complaint for "
deceptive commercial practices
" against Bling, Cashper and Floa Bank.
These three organizations offer mini-credits on the internet.
The consumers' association denounces the opacity of their prices.
Read also: The crisis is also shaking up consumer credit habits
Mini-credits are instant loans of up to 1,000 euros with repayment within three months.
They are not framed by the rules on consumer credit.
The consumer credit directive must be revised by the end of 2021 and UFC-Que Choisir wants these credits to be recognized as full credits, in particular so that their advertising is supervised.
“
There is a real problem with the advertising around these credits.
Floa Bank makes up its
“
Helping Hand
” like a scratch card when Bling claims that credit is “a good habit to take” to “preserve your financial health
”, ”laments the consumers' association.
The audiences targeted by their communication are young people, people on fixed-term contracts or those registered with the Banque de France.
Interest rates of up to 2.224%
In terms of tariffs, the association denounces interest rates of up to 2.234%.
When the customer requests an immediate payment into his bank account, fees of up to 30 euros are added.
“
They hide from borrowers the annualized interest rate on the loans they offer to obtain the advance within the announced timeframe.
Under these conditions, Bling, Cashper and Floa Bank blithely exceed the maximum authorized rate for consumer loans (from four to more than one hundred times).
The prize for indecency goes to Cashper with a rate of 2234%,
”highlights the UFC-Que Choisir
press
release.
Read also: BNP Paribas in the process of buying Floa Bank
Bling, Cashper and Floa Bank claim 200,000 customers for mini-credits.
BNP Paribas is in the process of acquiring Floa Bank (formerly Banque Casino).
"
The objective is to deal with the subject before the practice becomes more common
", explains Matthieu Robin, Bank-Insurance project manager at UFC-Que Choisir.
With these three complaints filed, the association hopes to alert consumers and that the regulations will eventually frame these mini-credits.
The ultimate solution, UFC-Que Choisir also hopes that the actors themselves change their practices ...
