After seeing her parents’ financial problems worsen when they turned to a backstreet lender charging high interest rates, Liberty, of Stockon on Tees, was determined not to fall into the same trap when she needed to borrow £500 to tide her over Christmas in 2020.
But unable to work due to ill health and living on benefits, she knew it was going to be difficult to find a low-cost loan.
She searched for lenders online, came across Conduit Finance and read that it was classed as an ethical and affordable lender.
“I applied online and the whole process was really to understand – it wasn’t confusing at any point and I got approved and received the money very swiftly, which paid for food and Christmas presents,” says Liberty, now 24.
“The payments were affordable and fair. I paid monthly over 12 months and comfortably made the amounts. It took my parents a long time to get out of the difficult financial situation they got into after borrowing from the wrong organisation. When I made my last payment, I was really pleased with myself.”
Liberty had no reason to borrow again until 2022, when her baby was on the way. She says: “I was half-way through the pregnancy and needing to buy things, like clothes, a cot and a pram. I thought I’d go back to Conduit because my experience had been so good. The process was just as easy as the first time around.”
Liberty borrowed £1,000 over 18 months, making monthly repayments until July 2023 with her partner. “I feel the amounts I pay and the interest I’m charged are fair,” says Liberty, whose child is now 11 months old.
“Conduit are fair and they accept people who desperately need financial help. I’d tell anyone to use them and have recommended them to my parents if they ever need to borrow again.”
