Abuja, Nigeria – An in depth investigation into Lendsafe Loan, a digital lending application operated by SMARTLOANS INTEGRATED SERVICES LIMITED (RC-1799587), has uncovered a systematic pattern of predatory lending, exorbitant illegal charges, and vicious threats against borrowers, in direct violation of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) guidelines and Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) warnings.
Operating from its registered address at No 7 New Hospital Road, Karu, Amac, FCT, the company presents itself as a quick-fix financial solution. However, for countless Nigerians, it has become a nightmare of inescapable debt and psychological torment.
The Debt Trap: 4.7% Daily Interest and Zero Grace Period
The primary grievance against Lendsafe Loan, as reported by a multitude of borrowers, is its crippling and non-transparent interest structure. Contrary to ethical lending practices and specific CBN requirements for transparency, borrowers are slammed with an astronomical interest charge immediately upon the due date.
“Our findings indicate that Lendsafe Loan charges a punitive 4.7% penalty per day for late repayment,” our investigation reveals. “This means a loan of ₦10,000 balloons by ₦470 every single day it remains unpaid. Within a week, the penalty alone exceeds 30% of the principal, pushing borrowers into a spiraling debt trap from which escape is nearly impossible.”
This practice blatantly contravenes the CBN’s clear stance on responsible lending, which mandates that lenders must provide a grace period for loan repayment and that all charges, including default fees, must be reasonable and clearly communicated to the customer upfront. Lendsafe Loan offers no grace period and its exorbitant daily charges are, by any standard, unreasonable.
“Suffer or Survive”: A Trail of Vicious Threats and Intimidation
Beyond the financial exploitation, Lendsafe Loan employs a ruthless recovery strategy that relies on terrorizing borrowers and their personal contacts. The FCCPC has repeatedly condemned such practices, yet they remain a core part of Lendsafe’s operations.
One borrower, who requested anonymity for fear of further reprisals, provided a chilling screenshot of a threat received from a Lendsafe agent using the phone number +234 707 701 9210.
The message reads: *“THIS MORNING, ITS EITHER YOU SUFFER OR YOU SURVIVE! YOU AND YOUR CONTACTS WILL REALLY SUFFER FROM OUR AGENTS/ ICT FAILURE TO PAY BEFORE 11AM.”*
This message is not an isolated incident. Our investigation has aggregated numerous similar reports from across the country, detailing how Lendsafe agents:
- Harass and threaten borrowers with violent and demeaning language.
- Launch mass SMS campaigns to the entire contact list of the borrower, falsely labeling them as a “criminal” or “fraudster” to cause public shame and damage personal relationships.
- Make incessant phone calls at all hours to the borrower, their family, friends, and colleagues.
This “shaming and intimidating” tactic is a direct violation of the FCCPC’s Limited Interim Regulatory Framework for Digital Lending, which explicitly prohibits the use of abusive, coercive, or threatening practices in loan recovery.
A Pattern of Deception Amidst Regulatory Crackdown
SMARTLOANS INTEGRATED SERVICES LIMITED and its Lendsafe Loan app are operating in an industry that the FCCPC has been actively cleaning up. The Commission has blacklisted and delisted hundreds of unethical digital money lenders for these exact offenses.
Our investigation confirms that Lendsafe Loan is a repeat offender of the very practices the FCCPC is seeking to eradicate. By hiding the true cost of borrowing, failing to provide a grace period, and deploying a recovery system based on fear and intimidation, the company demonstrates a flagrant disregard for Nigerian law and the financial well-being of its citizens.
This report underscores an urgent need for strengthened regulatory enforcement. While the FCCPC has made strides, predatory lenders like Lendsafe Loan continue to exploit vulnerable Nigerians.
Borrowers who have fallen victim to these practices are encouraged to report them formally to the FCCPC to bolster the case for decisive action against SMARTLOANS INTEGRATED SERVICES LIMITED and other non-compliant operators.
As one affected borrower lamented, “They don’t want you to repay and be free. They want you to default so they can enslave you with penalties and terrorize you. It is not a loan; it is a trap.”