0800 LOAN STRESS

You can get help with your loan problems and credit problems from free disputes resolution services.

They can help you when you think that the loan company has acted irresponsibly or illegally.

Listen in your own language:

Samoan
Tongan
Cook Island
Niuean
English

Some common problems that people have with loan companies are:

• The consumer buys a car on finance but it breaks down. The consumer still has to pay the loan back, but thinks they might have been tricked into paying too much for the car.
• The consumer borrows $1,000, but they can't pay it back. The lender says they can take anything in the house to pay back the loan, including toys and beds, and things that don't belong to the consumer.
• The consumer gets sick, loses their job, or their partner and can't pay back the loan, and the loan company won't reduce their payments.
•  The consumer's relative is the guarantor for the car loan but no one explains that means she has to pay back the loan if the consumer doesn't make the payments.
• The consumer buys a tv on credit. The contract includes lots of fees and insurance, but the consumer doesn't know what they are for.

These problems can be very stressful. So it's best to get help as soon as possible. You can call the service even if you are not sure if it's the sort of problem that the service can help with.

When you call the scheme they will listen to your story and see if it's a problem they can help with. Then if they can help they will talk to the loan company. They can take the problem further and tell the loan company to put the problem right or in some cases give your money back.

The phoneline is free, even for mobiles, the service is free, and it is confidential.

Stop stressing about loan problems. Call the Ministry of Consumer Affair’s free helpline 0800 LOAN STRESS (0800 562 678)