EASYFINANCIAL · GOEASY LTD

Approval anywhere. At a cost.

easyfinancial is Canada's largest B-lender by branch count (1,000+). They'll approve almost anyone with a job — at 29-47% APR. The price of "Yes."

6.4/10
★ THE APR REALITY ★

What a $5,000 loan costs by credit tier

Prime credit (720+)
29.99%
$195/mo · 36 mo
Total: $7020
Fair credit (640-720)
39.99%
$218/mo · 36 mo
Total: $7848
Sub-prime (640-)
46.99%
$248/mo · 36 mo
Total: $8928
Bad credit (sub-600)
46.99%
$248/mo · 36 mo
Total: $8928

★ A $5,000 loan over 36 months costs $5,500-$8,928 total. Compare: bank LOC at 8% = $5,627 total. CC at 20% = $7,128. easyfinancial sits between credit card and payday loan rates.

PARENTgoeasy Ltd (TSX: GSY)
BRANCHES1,000+ locations
YEARS40+ years operating
TICKERgoeasy = TSX: GSY
★ THE UGLY TRUTHS ★

What goeasy doesn't advertise

★ "DEFAULT INSURANCE" ADD-ON

Optional insurance (life, disability, job loss) frequently pushed at signing. Adds 10-15% to monthly payment. Often unnecessary if you already have coverage.

★ "RATE REDUCTION" PROGRAM

After 12 on-time payments, you may qualify for lower APR. In practice, most customers refinance into NEW high-rate loan instead.

★ COLLECTIONS PRACTICES

Active collections team. Calls + letters can be aggressive. Better to skip a payment via a hardship arrangement than miss outright.

★ goeasy IS PROFITABLE

Stock has 5×'d in a decade. Quarterly earnings come from charging 35%+ APR to financially desperate borrowers. Caveat emptor.

FINAL VERDICT

Use easyfinancial only when banks AND credit unions decline · 6.4/10.

Their approval rate is high; their rates are high too. Always exhaust: bank, credit union, CSBFL, family/friends BEFORE easyfinancial. If you must use them, decline the "default insurance" add-on (save $20-50/mo). Set up auto-pay. Refinance to a cheaper option as soon as your credit recovers.