What Are Singapore's Licensed Money Lenders?
All approved lenders who have been granted
permission by the Ministry of Law to lend money as a business are considered licensed
money lenders in Singapore.
They are governed by Singapore's Ministry of Law and
offer instant loans to Singapore citizens, permanent residents, and foreigners
under strict terms and conditions.
Licensed money lenders in Singapore are the best
alternative to traditional bank loans because they are faster, have less
stringent terms, and can be your go-to if you are in a pinch and require
immediate cash.
All licensed Moneylenders
in Singapore are listed in the Registry of Moneylenders, which can be found
on the Ministry of Law's website.
It is strongly advised that you check the Registry
before borrowing money from anyone.
Is it legal for licensed
money lenders to advertise?
Traditional marketing tactics such as phone calls,
text messages, and emails are not permitted for licensed Moneylenders in Singapore.
Before obtaining a loan from a licensed Singapore Moneylender citizens and permanent residents are required by
law to meet the licensed money lender and conduct a face-to-face verification
at the authorized place of business, as listed in the Registry of Moneylenders.
The Ministry of Law prohibits and discourages online
loan applications and acquisitions without physical verification.
According to a 2011 directive issued by the Ministry
of Law, licensed money lenders are only allowed to publicize their moneylending
services through limited means.
By obtaining their information, they can advertise
their licensed moneylending business.
Licensed Money
Lenders' Fees and Interest Rates
The Ministry of Law has established some rules and
regulations concerning the fees, taxes, and interest rates that licensed money
lenders in Singapore may charge borrowers.
These laws apply equally to all borrowers,
regardless of their annual incomes, the principal loan amount, or whether the
loan is secured or unsecured.
The Ministry of Law has limited the interest rate licensed
money lenders can charge borrowers to 4% as of October 1, 2015.
If a borrower is unable to return the monthly loan installments
on time for any reason or circumstance, the money lender cannot charge them
more than 4% late interest for each month the loan amount was returned late.
Licensed money lenders can also only charge a fee.
How to Tell if a
Money Lender Is Unlicensed
Make certain that you are dealing with a licensed
money lender rather than a loan shark.
There are far too many scams and illegal money
lenders posing as licensed businesses, ready to steal people's hard-earned
money.
Before signing a loan contract with a money lender,
it is highly recommended that you be vigilant and look for the following signs:
·
Before you sign
the contract, a licensed money lender is required by law to explain the terms
and conditions, late fees, interest rates, and administrative fees to you in
clear and understandable terms.
Your loan contract contains all of the details of
the terms and conditions under which both parties are entering the business
transaction, and these conditions are legally binding on both parties.
·
Any money lender
who sends you an online contract or PDF documents via WhatsApp and asks you to
pay a deposit before the loan are approved is a scammer and should be avoided.
·
A licensed money
lender is not permitted by law to send you text messages, emails, or phone
calls to promote their business. It has few advertising options and can only
inform the public about its moneylending service through directories, its
official website, or by placing advertisements on the walls, doors, and windows
of its office.
Comments
Post a Comment