Checking the lender: four searches before you sign
Short answer
Before signing, four things are checked: the exact legal entity and its company number, entry in the register of financial institutions, the general terms and the tariff of fees, and whether the advert matches the documents.
First: who you are contracting with
The contract is concluded with a legal entity, not with a brand. The full name and company number appear in the agreement and the general terms; with them you search the commercial register — scope of activity, representatives, current status. If those details are missing from the communication, that in itself is an answer.
Second: register and supervision
Non-bank lenders must be entered in a register kept by the Bulgarian National Bank. The check is public and free. Registration does not assess the price of the credit, but it shows which regime the company operates under and whom you can complain to.
Third and fourth: the documents and the advert
The general terms and the fee tariff are read before the contract, because most costs live there. Then you compare whether what the advert promised — amount, term, “no fees” — matches the form and the agreement. The gap between advert and document is the classic place where disputes start.
Frequently asked questions
- Are online reviews enough of a check?
- No. Reviews show impressions, registers show facts. The two answer different questions and do not replace one another.
- What if the contract is online only?
- An online contract is valid, but the same requirements for information and for a copy on a durable medium apply. Keep all documents on your side, not only in the site profile.
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