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about FIRSTPLUS loans

we've thought about the kinds of questions you might ask about FIRSTPLUS loans and you'll find answers to many of them by using the links below

FIRSTPLUS loans are not available for investment or business purposes. People tend to use them for major purchases or projects - for example kitchen and bathroom renovations, adding a conservatory or loft conversion to your home. Provided you're a homeowner, you can borrow between £5,000 and £100,000 over a period of 5-25 years.

FIRSTPLUS Homeowner Loans can also be useful to consolidate other debts such as car loans, credit cards and store cards. By transferring these debts to a FIRSTPLUS loan you can consolidate them into one manageable monthly payment at a comparatively low interest rate - typical  8.5% APR variable.

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what are the benefits of a FIRSTPLUS Homeowner Loan?

Compared with many other secured loans, a FIRSTPLUS Homeowner Loan can enable you to borrow more affordably.

Many other lenders will allow you to borrow up to 90% of the value of our home, less your mortgage balance. However, FIRSTPLUS could allow you to borrow up to 100% of the value of your home, less your current mortgage. We also offer low interest rates - typical  8.5% APR variable. Add this to the fact that you can choose between 5 and 25 years to repay and it's easy to tailor a loan to your circumstance and to your budget.

However, as a responsible lender, we wish to point out that borrowing over a longer term means your overall interest charges will increase - and should you wish to repay your loan early, some early settlement interest will apply.

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how much might my repayments be?

To get an idea of how much your monthly repayments might be use our loan calculator . Just enter the amount you want to borrow, the amount of time you want to take to repay and click on 'calculate'. The loan calculator will give you a quick quote for your monthly repayment.

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could I be paying less each month with a FIRSTPLUS loan?

Whether you're looking for a quote for a secured loan or you're looking for a way to consolidate your debt, you could find that our low rate Homeowner Loan - typical  8.5% APR variable - means your monthly payments are more affordable. Get a quick quote using our loan calculator to see just how affordable they could be.

Please note, however, that by borrowing over a longer period, your overall interest payments will increase.

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do you charge application fees?

With a FIRSTPLUS Homeowner Loan you may have to pay fees if you want to make changes to your loan agreement - such as adjusting the terms or moving mortgage lender. You will find information about our charges in your application pack.

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can I repay my FIRSTPLUS loan early?

If you wish to settle your FIRSTPLUS Homeowner Loan early, our Customer Care Team will provide you with an accurate settlement figure. The exact total will be calculated in accordance with our Terms and Conditions, which you can find on the reverse of your Credit Agreement.

A FIRSTPLUS Homeowner Loan is designed for long-term finance. If you choose to settle your loan early and your loan application was made prior to 18.01.08, up to two months interest and an early settlement charge will be payable. If your loan application was made on or after 18.01.08 a fee equal to 30 days interest and the applicable service charge in accordance with our tariff of charges will be payable.

Please note, our loan arrangement fee is non-refundable.

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what happens to my loan if I move house?

In most cases, if you move house, you will be able to take your loan with you, subject to our agreement. We simply transfer the security to your new home.

If you're planning on moving house please let us know. We will review your situation and ensure your loan continues to meet with our underwriting criteria, and that you can still comfortably afford your monthly repayments.

If you’re moving to a lower value property we may ask you to repay some, or all, of your loan early, using some of the proceeds from the sale of your house.

Once we have approved any changes to your loan agreement, all you need to do is contact our Customer Care team on 0845 650 6600* 28 days before you move and they will handle everything for you.

Please remember, any change that affects your FIRSTPLUS loan agreement needs our approval, and normal approval and underwriting terms and conditions apply.

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can I borrow more money later?

We are always happy to consider applications for a new larger loan. FIRSTPLUS customers can call us on 0845 013 1011* to apply.

Please be aware some charges may be applicable when arranging your further borrowing and settling your old loan.

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can I extend the loan term?

In order to reduce your monthly repayments you can choose to extend your loan term, up to a maximum of 25 years. Our Customer Care Team is happy to discuss applications from existing customers. Please call 0845 650 6600*.

Please note, however, that by borrowing over a longer period, your overall interest payments will increase. Typical  8.5% APR variable.

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can I increase my monthly repayment amount?

It is often possible to increase your monthly repayments in order to reduce the time you take to repay your loan, to a minimum of 120 months. If you're interested in increasing your monthly repayments please call our Customer Care Team on 0845 650 6600*. Fees may apply.

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what if I lose my job or can't work for some reason?

None of us can predict what the future holds. As a responsible lender, FIRSTPLUS will always ensure your loan is affordable and doesn't overstretch your finances.

For added peace of mind, you have the option to cover your repayments with our 5-Year Payment Protection Insurance plan. This plan will help you to meet your repayments if your income is affected by illness, accident or involuntary unemployment.

What’s more, if after five years you haven't made a successful claim, been in arrears, settled or changed your loan, you could get back the equivalent of half of your insurance premiums from FIRSTPLUS (less interest charges, subject to terms and conditions).

This insurance cover is available to loan applicants aged 18-65. Our Customer Account Manager will help you to assess your need for Payment Protection insurance by asking a number of questions about your circumstances.

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what should I do if I'm having difficulty making repayments?

Whatever you do, don't ignore it! Talk to us as soon as possible. We can probably find a way to help, such as by extending the term of your loan in order to reduce your monthly payments. We'll do what's best for you, according to your personal circumstances. If you are an existing FIRSTPLUS customer and you are experiencing difficulties making your repayments, please contact the Customer Care Team on 0845 650 6600*.

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how do I make a complaint if I'm unhappy about the service I've received from FIRSTPLUS?

We hope you will never have reason to complain. We pride ourselves on the quality of our service and regularly conduct customer surveys to ensure we monitor and continually improve the way we work.

However, if you do have a complaint, for any reason, please contact the Customer Care team on 0845 650 6600*. Alternatively, write to the Customer Care Manager, FIRSTPLUS Financial Group Plc, The Avenue Business Park, Pentwyn, Cardiff CF23 8FF.

We will respond to your complaint within 5 working days and will do everything we can to put things right.

Any financial services complaints we cannot settle may ultimately be referred to the Financial Ombudsman Service www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk.

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why have I been refused a loan?

A FIRSTPLUS Homeowner Loan is only available to people who own their own home, have an existing mortgage and meet our application and underwriting criteria.

These criteria are set to ensure that anyone who is granted a FIRSTPLUS loan is able to manage the repayments comfortably. If your application has been turned down and you would like to know why, please contact your Customer Account Manager who will be able to help you.

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how do I apply for a FIRSTPLUS loan?

There are two ways to apply for your FIRSTPLUS loan:

We will be able to give you a decision in principle very quickly and your dedicated Customer Account Manager will contact you to help tailor your loan to suit your personal needs and circumstances. Then we'll send your Loan Agreement out to you immediately.

To process your loan application we will need proof of income and evidence of mortgage payments, we'll send you a simple check-list so you know exactly what to send.

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will our mortgage lender want to know about our FIRSTPLUS loan?

Your mortgage lender has to give their approval before we can arrange your FIRSTPLUS loan. However, once you have given us your authority to contact them, we can sort this out for you quickly and easily.

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are there any loan fees to pay?

We charge certain fees to cover our costs if we have to make amendments to your loan - such as cancelling the loan after your loan cheques have been sent or if you change your loan in some way. For more details please contact us on 0800 052 0202*.

This site gives explanations for some of the words we use when talking about loans, such as loan broker or debt consolidation, and you can search our site for other loan terms too, including unsecured loans, home loans, personal loans, secured loans or Homeowner Loans.

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A FIRSTPLUS LOAN IS SECURED ON YOUR HOME. THINK CAREFULLY BEFORE SECURING OTHER DEBTS AGAINST YOUR HOME. YOUR HOME MAY BE REPOSSESSED IF YOU DO NOT KEEP UP REPAYMENTS ON A MORTGAGE OR ANY OTHER DEBT SECURED ON IT

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