Before you think about paying for goods on finance…
As with all methods of borrowing money, you should think very carefully before you use the services of a finance provider.
- Before you make a purchase, you should ask yourself the following: can I afford this item? Do I really need it? Could I borrow it instead? Could I find this item cheaper elsewhere?
- Every finance provider works differently in terms of how much you’ll be charged upfront and the payment instalments available. It’s important to understand when you’ll be expected to repay the full amount of the purchase.
- Whether you’re charged interest or not will depend on the provider you choose.
- While some finance and Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) agreements are authorised and regulated, some are not. You should ensure that you’re fully aware of the risks involved before you choose to consider an unregulated product.
- Some providers and retailers could charge a fee for payments made on finance. Be sure to read through the terms and conditions before you make a purchase.
You can find out more about buying goods on finance and alternative options to consider in our guide.
Klarna
As of 2025, finance provider Klarna boasts 11 million active users in the UK alone.
Klarna can be used as a payment option at over 60,000 UK retailers, including big names such as:
- Amazon
- Shein
- Zara
- Booking.com
- ASOS
- Uber Eats
V12 Retail Finance
What is V12 Finance? Part of the Secure Trust Bank family, V12 Retail Finance is a UK-based firm registered in Cardiff.
Which companies use V12 Retail Finance? V12 Finance is partnered with many retailers offering various leisure and homeware products, including:
- DFS
- Dreams
- Beaverbrooks The Jewellers
- American Golf
- Yamaha Music London.
V12 Retail Finance also works with over 30 UK football clubs to offer finance on the cost of season tickets. Clubs working with V12 include Arsenal, Cardiff City, Leeds United, Liverpool, Manchester United, Millwall, and Dundee United.
For a full list of football clubs and companies that use V12 Retail Finance, please see the V12 AppToPay app.
PayPal Pay in 3
PayPal offers several types of finance and Buy Now Pay Later services.
PayPal Pay in 3 is an online-only type of Buy Now Pay Later, which allows you to make a purchase between £20 and £3,000. This can be repaid across three interest-free instalments over 2 months. Your first payment will be due at the time you make your purchase.
Where can I use PayPal Pay in 3? PayPal Pay in 3 is available in many places where PayPal is supported as a payment method, including:
- ASOS
- Iceland
- Currys
- Argos
- John Lewis
- AO.com
ClearPay
To activate Clearpay as a payment option, you’ll first need to download the app and create an account.
If you choose to use Clearpay, you will be required to make one payment at the time of purchase, with the remaining balance paid in instalments across six weeks.
If you make your repayments on time, you won’t be charged any fees.
Clearpay is available to use as a purchase option at thousands of retailers, including:
- JD Sports
- Temu
- Booking.com
- M.A.C
- Expedia
- Dr. Martens
Zilch
There are two borrowing options: Zilch Standard and Zilch Plus. The Zilch Plus option costs £3.99 a month.
There are three different payment options available with Zilch: 6 weeks, 3 months, and instant. If you make the full payment upfront at the time of purchase, you could earn up to 6% in rewards, depending on the type of card you have.
Some of the retailers where you can use Zilch
- Airbnb
- EasyJet
- LOOKFANTASTIC
- Nike
- Tesco Groceries
- Uber Eats
In addition to this, the Zilch Anywhere feature enables you to use Zilch to pay any retailer, even if it’s not listed in the app. You will be charged a fee for this.
Are you worried about money?
Free, impartial money and debt advice can be accessed from StepChange, MoneyHelper, Citizens Advice, and National Debtline.