People's Choice Credit Union Personal Loans

Diabolical Experience – Buying a new car should be an exciting and happy experience. If you choose to use People’s Choice car loan, I guarantee this will turn into a long-lasting, time-consuming, painful, anxious, and sad journey. I started an application in May to buy a new car without checking People’s Choice online reviews. Their competitive rates and no monthly fees… Read more

reeled me in. At the beginning, I must say, the interaction with my first case officer was pleasant. He was polite and friendly. And yes, that’s probably all of it.

Then later on, here is what I feel:

If you want to be in the dark for weeks without an answer—use them.

If you want broken promises, such as them promising to call you back the next day when your case officer is on duty, but they never do—use them.

If you want to get rejected after you give them a deadline or say you’ll withdraw your application—use them. They will reject you before you can withdraw, so that a record is left on your future credit file.

If you like to wait hours to talk to them, I would suggest spending your time on something else. Even if you do manage to talk to someone, none of them can help because the person you speak to is your case officer, not the credit assessments person. If you want any helpful or useful information on why your application is pending, please withdraw your application immediately while you still can and use another lender.

I had numerous calls with them, and spent hours and days waiting for a reply with no luck. My deposit to the dealer almost expired, so I had no choice but to start a new application with Plenti, which was approved in 48 hours.

Four weeks with People’s Choice and no response vs. two days with Plenti and my application was approved.

The funny thing is rejected my application after I told them I am thinking of withdraw my application, well the "reason" they gave is that based on my current employment they can't offer me the loan. I laughed out loud. I own my own house worth over $650k outright, plus an investment property, plus a salary around $65k and ABN income around $35k, way beyond their credit line for such a tiny loan. My impression is the credit team might be underpaid, unhappy, and unmotivated to work to help others.

For anyone who has read this far, I suggest that whenever you see “People’s Choice,” turn around and run as fast as you can. DO NOT DO ANY BUSINESS with them. How they stay in business is a miracle. Actually, it’s more than a miracle; it’s magical or fantasy! How the ACCC allows these mopes to still operate is a humanitarian marvel in the banking history.

If you ever get a call back from them (if you’re lucky), I hope you have some holy water to rinse your ear. Evil, evil company, run as fast as you can!

DO NOT USE – Peoples Choice credit Union is a disgrace, we have been pre approved for a car loan, went out and found the car and 3 weeks later they are still asking us questions andrequesting records, meanwhile the seller wants his money. We are in high income bracket, just repaid a loan worth over 900$ p/m over 5 years with them and had never missed a… Read more

paymentand are where just trying to make a new loan after that one ended totalling 700$ p/m. Their customer service is the worst that weve ever come accross. DONT WASTE YOUR TIME giving them buisness.

No communication and so slow – Applied for a personal loan for new car. Was told 3 times it would be "24-48 hours" before they would have an answer. Had been approved elsewhere but was looking for a better interest rates so wasn't concerned about approval...but the lack of communication and hold ups and deadlines not met as promised, were farcicle. All info was provided as… Read more

requested but every time the 48 hours was up, there was no communication from them. My husband and i would call, wait on hold for 30-45 minutes, only to be told our application was "being worked on". Continually no communication when promised only to eventually be declined with no explanation (this "decline" only came after I asked for my call to be esclated to management (it wasn't) and I followed up with a terse email). This company has terrible customer service and lengthy delays. Do not believe the 24-48hrs promise. Weeks later and you will still be waiting.

Absolute time wasters – I've applied for car loan (with over 25% deposit) online on 3rd of August and mentioned as I have found car and happy to pay deposit to seller. My application was looked after by Tanya, who just wasted my time from day 1 and was not able to complete my application and confirm preapproval status in 20 days. Week before she emailed to me confirming… Read more

as the application with assessment team who have 24-48 hours to review. Unfortunately, I did not receive any updates after 48 hours. I contacted her manager Kerry following week, who just completed my application again and promised to send it to the assessment team and return call back to me next day, and this not happened again - nobody called. I contacted again and reach out of Tanya, who saying as this will be done, submitted and I should receive approval by next morning promising to call me at 10AM. At 12PM I call back again and fount as the application still not completed and not sent to anyone. I'm absolutely frustrated as I already paid deposit and have no progress by People's Choice. I emailed Tanya multiple times asking to confirm that she received information requested she never reply back. Today I emailed requesting to withdraw my application and confirm if she completed it by returning it to me via email - and again NO RESPONSE.

Peoples Choice Car Loan: A Disastrous Experience – I applied for a Secure Car Loan online, only to be met with redundancy and incompetence when following up. Despite providing all requested documents, I was asked for more arbitrary information and forced to take out an insurance policy on a car I don't even own, just for the sake of their assessment process. And to top it off, I was coerced into… Read more

becoming a member, a decision I now deeply regret.

When I called to follow up on the status of my application, I was met with a dismissive attitude and no attempt at customer service. Bob, the person I spoke with, seemed to have no interest in helping me and simply brushed me off.

After this unprofessional experience, I have decided to withdraw my application and find a more competent financial institution to work with. I have no desire to have any future dealings with Peoples Choice and would prefer to avoid the headaches that would undoubtedly come with it.

Terrible experience, do not recommend – I recently applied for a car loan with Peoples Choice Credit Union Bank, and unfortunately, the experience was incredibly frustrating. It took over five weeks in total, with three and a half weeks since we got conditionally approved, which is much longer than we were expecting. To make matters worse, the communication was very poor throughout the… Read more

process.

Every time they requested documents, we would send them and ask for confirmation that they were received. However, when we contacted the bank the next day, we were told that they couldn't help us as it was specific team members case, despite the documents supposedly having been received. When we called again, we were told that they had not been received. It felt like a never-ending cycle of miscommunication and confusion.

In the end, we found out that we would not be approved due to information that was provided to them on the first day. However, when we spoke to the bank, they denied ever receiving that information, despite my partner and I remembering it being said during our initial phone call. The lack of consistency and transparency was incredibly frustrating, and it made the whole loan application process feel like a complete waste of time.

Overall, I would not recommend Peoples Choice Credit Union Bank for anyone looking to apply for a loan. The poor communication, inconsistency, and lack of transparency made the whole process very frustrating and ultimately unsuccessful. It's important for banks to be transparent, responsive, and accurate in their communication, especially when it comes to financial matters like loans. Unfortunately, Peoples Choice Credit Union Bank fell short in all of these areas.

Loyalty of nearly 30 years means nothing – After 30 years of loyal service, equity of $700k and being knocked back at the last minute for a small loan after being told APPROVAL pending and then at the last minute being declined for something that was provide up front was extremely shattering. Loan was to assist for a family funeral all explained upfront. Loyalty means nothing and assistance to find a solution. Loyalty works both ways.

No explanation of why load declined – Applied for a person loan through people choice credit union as they advertise the the best insterest rate. Me and my wife both have a stable income and a house with about 70k equity in and no other loans. I am self employed so got the last to years financials together for my business and personal finance docs and my wife got her 3 most resent pay… Read more

slips together. We save over $250 per week every week and we were just after a small $15000 loan to purchase a camper trailer. After 4 days of waiting I rang to find out the outcome which I was thinking we could have no trouble but when I got in contact with them they told me I didn't meet the criteria and was declined with no other explanation! When I push it they still told me the same thing. It is unexepctable that they can give no explanation and now my perfect credit rate had a declined make on it. I went into Comn bank they they are more than will to lend us the money. We were very disappointed with PCCU and as if they delay we lost the camper we wanted to buy

So far nothing but the runaround – We approached People's choice credit union approx. 4 weeks ago now to refinance and go to interest only payments as I'm planning on returning to study. We have the capital in our home to come in under 80% LVR. Initially we were told no problem, just give us all the docs etc and we'll get it sorted. Then after WE chased THEM up we were told the… Read more

'creditors' weren't comfortable but that if we made the extra amount p&i payments and the existing mortgage amount interest only it would be a green light. The extra is for a car & some home improvements (flooring and fencing). We agreed with this arrangement and were told all should be sorted within a week. Again WE had to call THEM after several days and we're now being told that the creditors aren't comfortable about the $9k allocated for home improvements, want invoices produced for work done and THEN they'll give us the money! What??? WORST SERVICE EVER so far. Lies and false information up front about how easy this would be. We've given 24 hrs for them to get back to us or we're going elsewhere. We had shopped around and been told we'd have the go ahead with several other institutions and chose people's choice - beginning to regret that decision...

What a joke ! – I have been with Peoples Choice for 15 + years I thought I might combine my credit card debt and my car loan together to reduce monthly payments and do some financial Housekeeping . the Application Process was easy with a green light for approval everything was all go. I supplied all the necessary doc's and then they would contact my employer for… Read more

the necessary check's. But after 2 and a half weeks of waiting to hear what was going on they called to say sorry we have to reject the the Application we can not help you . All this was after being told your loan is Approved and this is how much you will save per month that I thought was great . I said what is the issue I have a good secure Permanent job and I am trying to reduce Debt and free up more surplus cash and eliminate the need for a credit card ! So really anything that will benefit me and make my life a lot easier does not seem to fit Peoples Choice Credit Union criteria . Yet I have had two car loans with these people and when you need help they don't want to know !

After nearly 3 weeks of waiting and being lied to and basically being told false information and given the run around for nothing ! I'm pulling the pin after the new year with these people ! it's all false Advertising on TV saying anything is possible ! it is true But not with People's Choice Credit Union !!!

Loan sharks. Plain and simple – When I lost my job I thought I could go to my bank and speak to them. Isn't that what they say? Don't ignore them, talk to them. Boy was I wrong. I had this absolute maniac assigned to my case who was not willing to do anything but harass, abuse and threaten me over payments I couldn't make. No offer of hardship. The worst customer service I have… Read more

ever had. Even had an agent rock up at my house and threaten my 14 year old brother. Quick to lend the money, not as quick to help people who are in financial difficulty. To this day, not even a letter of apology. Avoid them like the plague.

Threatening, harassing, no customer service.

Too slow and too many irrelevent questions just to get a Loan – Been with Peoples choice for years and had various loans throughout that time. How ever" I was dissapointed and amazed in the extend of questions I had to go through in order to even get an Over draft of $1,000 I was aked totally irrelevent questions as to what my future finincial goal was e.t.c amongst a few other irrelevent questions especially… Read more

considering they have years of me on files showing my being a reliable Client!! Then it was time just recently to get a Car Loan . It took them too long and more questions on top of what i already had provided. I told them not to worry about it anymore as I already had a quick approval from St,George and that Peoples Choice where too slow and asked too many questions that i felt where not warranted. I still use People Choice for general purposes but that is about all. All THEY managed to do is lost my Patronage with irrelevent questioning and slow service and so my Clientele requirements for a $25,000 loan went to St. George instead. St.George pretty much equaled the interest rate and charges where neglegable enough for me to go with them. Perhaps peoples Choice can lift their game and stick to rellevent application questions and a speedy approval, especialy since they had me on file for years. Competative rates and less fees irrelevent questions and too slow in approving a Loan

Low interest rate - what more could you ask for – They had the lowest interest rate in a personal loan I could find. That was July 2011. I borrowed $15,000 at 8.42% over 5 years. No monthly fees, no early exit fees. There was a $195 setup fee and an $8.80 REVS fee (whatever that is). Everything was organised by email. My experience was slick, simple, straightforward to organise, and the… Read more

staff were helpful. My $10,000 car was to be security. Very impressed with the interest rate, which is not much above home loan rates; certainly much better than personal loan rates from other finance companies. The loan was for the purchase of solar panels and to clear a credit card debt.

I had earlier enquired with GE, and they were happy to provide me a loan at 14.99%. I was happy they could loan me the funds but I was unhappy with the rate. I then tried IMB and they too could provide a loan at 12.99%. I tried St George and they could help me out at 10.99%. At this point I thought I was wasting my time; no one was going to beat 8.42% and some would only reduce the rate if I was borrowing against a car. As the funds were not for a car purchase they insisted on their higher interest rates. Australian Central Savings & Loans now have a new name: People’s Choice Credit Union. I jumped at the chance at such a low interest rate.

Their application form was long, but so are a lot of others. My application was responded to quickly. There were some follow up requests: documents, identity checks. But they all do that. What this crowd did, was attend to everything quickly. Low interst rate of 8.42%, fast from application to approval, answered all my questions along the way. No branches in the ACT, but with internet banking maybe not such a big deal