What Are Beds On Finance?
Financing has become far more popular in recent years as technology, and online shopping places itself at the helm of our purchasing needs.
Many businesses have emerged as short- and long-term credit provider allowing retailers to offer products on finance without taking the financial risk themselves. This allows consumers the option to purchase high-value goods without having to part with a large amount of money at one time.
These lenders and credit providers base their lending criteria around a few factors mainly cantered around a person’s credit report that demonstrates their history of paying bills on time and in full, along with how much credit they have outstanding in other places.
So when you apply for credit to purchase a product, the credit provider will ask for some personal details about you and your address history, along with your permission to check with credit reference agencies like Experian and Equifax, to determine whether they can offer you credit for the items.
Once this has been approved, they will show you the payment schedule and the interest added to the price for you to make a decision on whether you would like to take out the credit agreement. If you do agree, then you receive the products as normal and pay the amount each week/month until it is paid off in full.
How Do Beds On Finance Work?
So, we’ve discussed what beds on finance are, but how do they work exactly? Well first, you’ll shop around for the bed you want as you usually would, and once you’ve made a decision you’ll inform the retailer that you’d like to pay by finance, now, you must, of course, find out first if this is an option, but if it is, you can do this both online or in-store with many retailers.
From here, the retailer will bring in their chosen credit agency to perform the checks that they need to, to determine whether the credit will be offered. This will involve some basic personal information and your income and expenditure details, which they will use along with your credit file to make a decision.
If they decide to give you the credit you want, they will provide an APR (Annual Percentage Rate) which is how much interest you’ll pay to the credit provider. They will also provide you with a schedule showing how much the monthly or weekly payments will be across an agreed timescale, usually between 1-4 years for a bed.
Once you have accepted this, the bed sale will process as usual, with the credit lender paying the retailer and you, the customer, paying the credit provider for the goods as set out in the schedule.
Benefits of TVs on Finance
Low-Interest Rates
Other high-value goods like TV’s or jewellery tend to have higher APR of around 30% depending on the provider. Whereas bed usually has little to no interest added to them as they are such a popular item to be financed.
In fact, if you go to a bed store, it’s likely that you’ll see the bed’s price in monthly payments as opposed to a full price. These low-interest rates mean that you’ll pay little to nothing over the value of the bed, and the monthly payments will be pretty low.
Get a New Bed Fast
You’ll be surprised just how much of a lifestyle and health change a good bed can have on you and your life. Multiple studies have shown that a poor-quality bed has a detrimental effect on our efficiency, mood, metabolism, mental health and a whole host of other things.
If you need an upgrade on your bed, and you need it fast, there’s no better way to secure a bed when you don’t have the funds readily available. Considering a high-quality bed costs around £1,000, it’s little wonder that few people are prepared to pay out for it in one hit.
Money and Credit Management
Many people believe that by never being in debt, that gives you a great credit score when, in reality, the opposite is true. Credit scores aren’t based on how much or little credit you have, rather it determines how well you manage your credit that demonstrates to lenders that you’re less of a risk.
So, if you never take any credit, you can’t demonstrate your ability to pay your bills on time and in full. Whereas if you have some credit cards, loans and store credits that you manage well, pay on time and don’t cause any problems, you’re demonstrating to others that you’re more than adept at managing money.
So, taking things out on finance can actually help you with when you want evidence of good money management for things like mortgages and car purchases.
Disadvantages of Beds on Finance
Missed Payments
Just as there are benefits to good payment, there are disadvantages to you if you don’t keep up with payment for whatever reason.
The harsh truth is that once you’re in your credit agreement, the lender probably won’t care what good reason you have for missing payments and if they’re not brought up to date quickly, it can have a detrimental impact on your credit score, and even court action.
Bad Credit
If you already have bad credit, you may not be eligible for finance on a bed, but if you do manage to get accepted for credit with a bad credit score, you may find that you’re paying far more APR than other people are on the same products.
Who Offers Beds on Finance?
With the rise of independent credit providers like ClearPay and Klarna, more companies are able to offer credit without having to take the financial burdens themselves. However, with bed financing being so common throughout the industry, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a bed retailer that doesn’t offer some form of financing.
Even independent and local retailers will be able to arrange finance for you in some form, even if it means utilising some outside credit providing companies.
Can I Purchase a Bed on Finance with Bad Credit?
Seeking out credit with a bad credit score or a tarnished credit file can be challenging. While it isn’t impossible to finance products with bad credit, it will reduce the number of lenders that will consider you, along with increasing the amount of interest you will pay with those lenders that will offer you finance to outweigh the risk that your present.
It is worth considering your financial situation, however, before seeking out more credit if you have struggled to manage your credit in the past.
Sometimes it’s better to spend your money on improving your credit score to open up better credit opportunities in the future, before taking out credit at an inflated cost.
Although, if you’re looking for ways to improve your credit score and you don’t have any outstanding payments or debts, sticking to the payment schedule and avoiding any late or missed payments can ultimately improve your score as you demonstrate your ability to manage your credit.
Considerations Before Purchasing a Bed on Finance
Quality
People sometimes make the mistake of purchasing a bed of lesser quality to save some money, whether that be upfront or by monthly payments.
The issue here is the longevity of the bed, as a lower quality bed will need to be replaced much sooner than a top-quality bed, making your money go much further.
Affordability
Before you commit to a large purchase on something like a bed, that will span the period of years, you must be confident that you can afford the payments not just now, but over the years.
If you don’t keep up with the payments, it will cause you significant issues in the future revolving around your credit score and at worst, can result in court action.
Do you need to finance?
Just because you can gain finance, you should ask the question about whether you need to. If you have the benefit of being able to purchase the bed in full, it may be a better idea to do so, freeing up credit for when you need it in the future.
Some credit lenders won’t offer more credit when you reach a certain amount, so don’t waste the credit on things you may not need to utilise financing for.
Conclusion
A comfortable bed is one of the most important things for you to have for genuine health and mental health reasons, not to mention it’s incredibly satisfying to climb into your dream bed each night. Financing beds is a common route to pay for an item that is relatively high in value.
You can buy a bed on finance pretty much anywhere, both in-store and online, with a varying range of interest rates. However, with a good credit score and report, it’s very possible to secure a bed on finance without much, if any, interest added on.
FAQs
Q: Will purchasing a bed on finance affect my credit score?
A: Firstly, to purchase a bed on finance the retailer or lender will need to perform a search on your credit file, which leaves a mark on your file and can be damaging if too many are performed in a short period of time.
Secondly, paying on finance for a bed can have either a positive or a negative impact on your score. If you keep up with payments and cause the lender no problems, your score will improve, however, if you miss payments regularly it will reduce your credit score.
Q: Which brands offer the best deals for beds on finance?
A: All retailers and brands will offer finance for beds in some form; however, the more established brands usually have better deals and finance offers available. Dreams, Bensons and The Bed Factory all have great deals offering 0% APR for several months, while others sometimes offer free add-ons with financed beds.
Q: Can I finance other bedroom furniture at the same time?
A: Bed stores and retailers usually offer a number of other items available to buy or finance at the same time. This can be anything from chairs, stools, wardrobes, sofa beds and a wide variety of other furniture. If you’re already planning on financing a new bed, it may be a great time to decorate your entire bedroom with modern furniture and a whole new decor.
Q: What different types of beds are available on finance?
A: There are so many different beds available at the moment, with new technology revolutionising the sleep experience. Here are some popular beds:
Ottoman BedsThese beds offer a large compartment under the mattress that can be easily accessed by lifting the bed up entirely powered by the help of pistons. This is perfect for bedding, towels, seasonal clothes and anything else you can think of.
Ottoman BedsThese beds offer a large compartment under the mattress that can be easily accessed by lifting the bed up entirely powered by the help of pistons. This is perfect for bedding, towels, seasonal clothes and anything else you can think of.
Divan BedsTo maximise floor space, this bed usually comes in two blocks that feature drawers under the bedroom for extra storage.
TV BedsThese beds really are a technological advancement. They feature a high-quality LCD screen that sits in a housing at the foot of the bed, that is powered with a remote to emerge from its housing, available to for you to watch.
Bunk BedsThe classic kids favourite, two single beds stacked above the other with a ladder to reach the top. Tons of fun.
Sofa BedsThese beds look just like a standard sofa, only they can be extended from underneath to form a bed perfect for guests.
Sleigh BedsThese beds look just like, you’ve guessed it, sleighs. They feature a scrolled head and footboard with a sturdy frame best suited to large bedrooms.
Q: Is it possible to get a bed on finance with no credit check?
A: Some lenders specialise in those with bad or no credit. Instead of using your credit file, they use detailed information about your income and expenditure to decide whether you can afford the payments.
These types of agreements usually have an increased APR and despite not using your credit file to secure, will impact your file if you miss payments.
