Middletons promises white glove service as it partners with a pay weekly loan lender with a difference
Alongside its rapid expansion of bricks and mortar stores across the UK, Middletons has partnered with credit provider Fair for You to offer a weekly pay loan option on its range of mobility scooters, chairs and beds.
A social enterprise, weekly pay lender Fair for You describes itself as an ethical alternative to high-cost weekly payment stores, offering payment terms and options tailored for those with low incomes.
The partnership will enable Fair for You’s customers to access Middletons’ range of mobility products which includes mobility scooters and rise and recliners at attractive lending rates.
Customers requiring mobility products will be able to browse and select Middletons’ ranges on Fair for You’s website before applying for a loan, at which point the pay weekly lender will perform a credit check.
Following the application, a member of Fair for You’s team calls the customer to verify the affordability and agree loan repayments, before sending an e-loan agreement to the customer via email to sign digitally.
Once the loan agreement has been confirmed and signed, customers can arrange a free nationwide delivery, says the pay weekly loan lender.
Discussing how the delivery of the products will work, Tom Powell, Director of Middletons, told THIIS: “Middletons delivers directly to our customers chosen delivery address using both our own in-house team and selected partners. Some products can be taken away from the store on the day by the customer if they wish, in which case we’ll help them load their car.
“We always provide a white glove delivery service.”
According to Fair for You, the partnership with Middletons comes in response to the needs of one-third of the finance provider’s customer base which has a long-term health condition or disability.
Angela Clements, Founder and CEO of Fair for You, commented: “I’m absolutely delighted that Middletons joins other household brands such as Carpetright, Dunelm, and Hotpoint as suppliers of our services. Our customers value a credit provider that respects their situation and doesn’t seek to maximise income at the toughest of times.
“We know that 33 percent of our customers have a long-term limiting health condition or disability and that 28% of our customers are caring for someone else with a health problem or disability. As a supplier Middletons will provide essential household items for these customers.”
The partnership with Middletons marks the eighth national retailer to join the weekly pay loan lenders offering.
Explaining the motivation to work with Fair for You, Tom commented: “We know many people don’t choose to have a mobility scooter, rise and recliner chair or adjustable bed, rather they have to buy one because something in their lives has changed and they need a solution. As an alternative way for people to buy these essential items, it really made sense for Middletons to be a partner of Fair For You.”
Defining its mission is to remove material poverty from all UK homes, Fair for You recently reached a £16million milestone in loan deliveries, the pay weekly lender states it does not offer cash loans and every penny of the £16million loaned has gone towards essential household items for low-income families.
The finance company says its straightforward prices with no hidden fees and affordable 3.5 percent monthly interest rates differ from other lenders, with customers not being required to give a deposit. In addition, the social enterprise does not charge early payment fees and highlights its prices are as close to high street prices as it can achieve, with repayment plans being flexible.
“Flexible and supportive credit solutions are now essential for a generation that have fluctuating incomes – often with low visibility of income and expenditure making them vulnerable. We don’t charge late fees, and we welcome customers back at any time, on any payment plan that works for them whilst paying the loan,” continued Angela.
“Almost half (45 percent) of our customers with health problems or disabilities felt that using Fair for You meant they are better able to cope with these. They were also more likely than other customers to report improvements in budgeting and saving.
“Furthermore, 56 percent of our customers with health problems and/or disabilities also reported reductions in feelings of stress, anxiety and depression compared to 39% of customers without health problems or disabilities.”
The decision to partner with Fair for You comes following a string of new Middletons store launches this summer, with the company establishing branches further east into Nottinghamshire and on the South West coast in Plymouth.
