32% of consumers call for education sector to provide more flexible finance

More than a third of consumers feel let down by the lack of flexible finance products offered by UK businesses, according to a research study.

The findings form part of a report into borrowing practices and frustrations with the consumer credit market. The research, by specialist finance platform, Duologi, surveyed 1,000 UK residents and found that, on average, 34% of people think that UK businesses could be doing more to provide point-of-sale (POS) finance to their customers.

Despite many large brands already providing POS finance on purchases, more than two in five (42%) shoppers believe that retailers could do more in this respect.

Another 42% of people said that this payment model could be better utilised in the property industry for payments such as estate agent fees, conveyancing costs or added expenses for mortgage advisory services.

A further 32% of people believe that the education and training sector could do more to offer POS finance

Another quarter (24%) of people saying that the health industry should work harder to offer these options to help patients access a wider range of services and procedures like IVF.

Lastly, 32% of people stated that the travel industry’s POS finance offering could be made more accessible – not only for splitting the cost of a holiday, but also for fees like rail season tickets, which often offer a better deal when paid upfront.

The research also showed that almost a fifth of shoppers would want to borrow from as little as £100 – but that many brands only offer finance over a certain amount; therefore, limiting their ability to tap into this market.

Duologi credit director, Rob Cottingham, commented: “Currently, POS finance is used most widely in retail but consumer appetite for credit options across a wide range of sectors is evident, and many think that these industries should be doing more to offer POS finance. Given the ongoing growth of e-commerce, the ability for these retailers to provide credit both on and offline could prove crucial in the future.

“Clearly, there is consumer demand for POS credit – so for those brands that do already provide finance options but aren’t seeing results, it’s vitally important to promote it more heavily. Simple tools such as pop-up banners near till points, posters in the waiting room or a clearly-visible website header can alert potential customers to the benefits of finance solutions, providing a clear reason to purchase from that business in particular.”  

Backed by global investment firm, Oaktree Capital, Duologi offers merchants the chance to increase their sales, boost customer satisfaction and grow profitability through the delivery of tailored point-of-sale finance options.