How loans work in the informal circuit, the alternative for those who do not access banks
“Antes dábamos préstamos de 20 mil o 30 mil pesos. Ahora te piden 100 mil pesos, como si fueran 10 mil”. La frase pertenece a Gustavo, un abogado que se dedica a prestar dinero desde hace años en Córdoba.
La demanda de efectivo, sostiene, ha aumentado en línea con la inflación y con la crisis, que golpea fundamentalmente a los sectores más vulnerables o más complicados por la actual situación.
Pandemia greatly affected the independents, who were the ones who resorted most to financing, according to sources linked to the sector.
The universe of personal loans
Apart from the circuit of banks that offer loans in the act or virtual wallets, which also allow access to money just by clicking, the universe of the credits is huge.
It is enough to go around the businesses in different neighborhoods to notice the phenomenon: in the sideboards, near the boxes, there are brochures or cards of people who are dedicated to lending money.
House spare parts, payment of debts or arrangements of the car are the most common reasons for those who request money, according to a person who is dedicated to lending it to rates that start in seven percent monthly.
"There are times when applications increase and others in which they go down, such as when people charge the bonus," said Marisa, an employee of a well -known financial one from the center, who admitted that November had a great demand for credits.
"The amounts we provide depend on each client.Being regulated by the Central Bank, we only give blank loans and with a series of requirements, ”he said.
The credit alternative with daily payment
Credits with daily payment are an alternative for many small businesses that need money to buy supplies or merchandise, but also for the one who wants to change the car, celebrate the birthday to a child or go on vacation.They arise when access to a bank is complicated or delay.
Daniel offers such credits and argues that charging daily is a good way to ensure that the debtor is not delayed."It allows you to monitor the debtor's behavior.Pay every day and when Friday comes, pay in advance on the weekend.It is profitable and safer for the one who lends, ”he said.
Rates range from 20 percent to 40 percent bimonnsual: well above inflation.
“Large credits also move, but they are more risky.I prefer to have 20 small loans and not 10 big.The one who asks for a lot to do big business may do well, but if he is doing badly, he does not have the house or the car in his name.Better lend people who work and ask for smaller amounts, ”he closed.
Testimonies in the first person
Brenda is a neighbor in a neighborhood in the southern part of the city of Córdoba.Some time ago, together with her husband, they decided to start with their own business in Argüello.
The butcher shop and the greengrocer they set up were fine, until they began to suffer a string of robberies and were forced to close.But they did not give up and continued the business at home.However, to be able to reopen it, they went to a loan with daily fees.
"They offered us to pay in 60 or 90 installments.They gave us a form and there we were scoring the payments.We did not have a bad experience because we fulfilled in a timely manner.But it could have been terrible, ”Brenda said.
“Those who made the collection went to my house every day.We deliver to the car papers.However, we never feel fear.Although we were very indebted, we could carry it forward, ”he added.
The woman referred to cases in which those who make the collections do not do so in a very friendly way.And less when the debtor does not have the fee money.
“I know some who came to charge with consortium bags and took everything they could of the house of which they owed them.They said: ´When the silver, let us know and return what we take ’.People who can't pay for a bad time, ”he closed.
A neighbor from a neighborhood in the East of Córdoba, who prefers to keep his name under anonymity, told his experience with lenders."They are Colombians who lend money.Girls almost always.They charge per day and generally lend people who have a trade so they can count on money daily, ”he said.
As they said, they go from Monday to Saturday.When one day the debtor cannot pay, the next day he must pay two installments together.
“My daughter, who has a greengrocer, asked for five thousand pesos to go to the market and returned it in a month with installments of 240 pesos per day.He never delayed and never had a problem, ”he added.
In the humble neighborhoods they also arrive usurers who offer to provide large amounts with even more astronomical interests.
“A relative asked for 50 thousand pesos in March last year to pay a scribe for a house.It was delayed with the fees and finished paying the loan in July this year.In the end, he paid about 90 thousand pesos.I think that at the time of an urgency saves you, but then you are hanged a good time, ”he summarized.