LoanPig review.

LoanPig is the trading name of The Money Hive Limited, a Manchester-based firm authorised under FCA reference 736632 to operate as both a direct lender and a credit broker. The dual permission is unusual within this directory: most peers hold only direct-lending authorisation. LoanPig writes its own loans of £100 to £1,500 over one to twelve months at a 1,261% representative APR. It also passes declined applications to a panel of third-party lenders for a second look. The hybrid model widens the chance of an offer, although applicants should understand which route their data is taking before they submit.

Active Direct lender + broker Established 2017 Verified May 2026

Key facts

The figures below have been verified against LoanPig's published representative example and the FCA register on 4 May 2026.

Loan range
£100 to £1,500
Representative APR
1,261%
Term
1 to 12 months
Funding speed
Same day
Daily rate
0.80%
Authorisation
Lender + broker

292% per annum fixed on the published £300 over three months example, totalling £457.95 in three monthly payments of £152.65. The 1,261% representative APR reflects the effect of compounding the daily rate over a calendar year. Daily rate of 0.80% is at the FCA price-cap ceiling. Funding is sent by Faster Payments, with same-day arrival in the borrower's account subject to the recipient bank's processing windows.

Operational strengths

Dual permission widens the chance of an offer

The Money Hive Limited holds FCA authorisation as both a direct lender and a credit broker. An applicant who is declined for a LoanPig direct loan can be passed (with consent) to a panel of third-party lenders for a second-round assessment. The hybrid model is unusual in this directory and means a single application can return multiple potential offers rather than a binary accept-or-decline outcome from one underwriter.

Longer 12-month term ceiling than most short-term peers

LoanPig's term range extends from one month to twelve. The 12-month upper bound exceeds the six-month maximum at Lending Stream and Cashfloat and the eight-month first-time cap at Fast Loan UK. Borrowers who want smaller monthly instalments and are willing to absorb the higher absolute interest cost of a longer-term agreement can use the full term flexibility here.

Open consideration of imperfect credit profiles

LoanPig publishes that all credit profiles are considered, including applicants with bad credit, provided affordability checks are passed. The position aligns with the broader adverse-credit positioning of Cashfloat and Mr Lender, although LoanPig does not publish the same depth of detail on its underwriting model. Applicants in active CCJs, IVAs or bankruptcy should still expect declines on responsible-lending grounds.

No upfront application fees

The application itself is free. LoanPig does not charge to assess an application. There is also no charge to refer a declined applicant to a panel lender or to set up the loan agreement. The only cost the borrower pays is interest on funds drawn, calculated at the daily rate against the outstanding capital balance.

Material considerations

Cost

Daily rate at the FCA price-cap ceiling

LoanPig's 0.80% daily rate is the maximum allowed under the FCA's high-cost short-term credit price cap. The 1,261% representative APR is among the highest in this directory. The published £300 over three months example produces total repayment of £457.95, an interest cost of £157.95 (53% of the principal). All within the regulatory price-cap rules, although applicants with access to credit-union products, employer-arranged credit or a 0% purchase card will pay materially less for the same sum.

Broker referral means data is shared with third parties

If LoanPig declines the direct loan and the applicant has consented, the application data is passed to panel lenders for further consideration. The mechanism is standard for FCA-authorised credit brokers, although Trustpilot reviewers have raised complaints about the volume of follow-on marketing communications received after referral. Applicants should read the consent options carefully at application stage and use the marketing opt-out where the broker route is not desired.

Smaller verified review base than directory peers

The Trustpilot profile sits at around 32 reviews. The third-party rating aggregate runs higher (around 4.2 of 5 across roughly 48 entries), but neither dataset offers the statistical depth of Lending Stream's 25,000+ Trustpilot base or 118 118 Money's 57,900+. New customers comparing review aggregates should treat the smaller dataset as indicative rather than definitive.

Loan amount cap restricts use case

The £1,500 ceiling matches Lending Stream's returning-customer limit and is below the £2,000 ceilings at Loans 2 Go and Fast Loan UK. Borrowers needing larger sums must look to firms specialising in £1,500-plus short-term loans or use a multi-lender broker with a wider panel.

Most appropriate & Least appropriate

LoanPig's hybrid lender-and-broker model and its higher term ceiling shape the borrower profile that fits well. Applicants who would benefit from a wider panel referral if declined directly are the natural audience. Applicants who want a single direct relationship with a defined underwriter should look elsewhere.

Most Appropriate

The right fit

  • £100 to £1,500 needed and the borrower welcomes a panel referral if declined
  • A 12-month term ceiling helps spread repayments comfortably
  • Imperfect credit profile and conventional applications have been declined
  • Same-day funding is the binding constraint
Least Appropriate

Look elsewhere

  • Borrower wants a single direct lender relationship with no broker referral
  • Mainstream personal loan rates or credit-card APR is accessible
  • Required sum exceeds £1,500 or term needs to exceed 12 months
  • The applicant is uncomfortable with marketing communications from panel lenders

The application process

LoanPig's application flow has a built-in branching path. The same online form covers both the direct-lender route and the broker-panel route, with the second activated only if the direct underwriting declines.

1

Online application

The applicant completes the online form with personal, employment, income and bank details. The form takes roughly 5 to 10 minutes from start to finish. The applicant chooses loan amount and term using the on-site calculator and reviews the marketing-consent options at the foot of the form.

2

Direct-lender assessment

LoanPig runs its own credit and affordability checks and returns a direct-loan decision within minutes. Approved applicants progress to acceptance and funding. Declined applicants whose marketing consent is given proceed to step three. Declined applicants without consent receive a final decline at this stage.

3

Panel referral and funding

Where direct lending is declined and consent is given, the application is passed to a panel of third-party lenders. Any subsequent offer comes from the panel lender, not from LoanPig. Approved applicants receive funds via Faster Payments, typically the same day. Borrowers should review the lender named on the credit agreement before signing.

Comparable alternatives

Three FCA authorised Lenders
worth considering.

Three direct lenders cover similar use cases without the broker-referral element of the LoanPig model.

Cashfloat

Direct lender only with explicit adverse-credit positioning and Vulnerability Registration Service membership. Suits applicants who want a single underwriter relationship without the broker route.

Mr Lender

Direct lender at similar loan sizes with no upfront fees and no late fees of any kind. Decreasing-instalment structure produces a more forgiving cash-flow profile in the later months.

Lending Stream

Established direct lender with a much deeper Trustpilot base of 25,000+ reviews and faster funding (under 90 seconds). Six-month fixed-term agreements covering £50 to £1,500 for borrowers prioritising verifiable scale.

Sources and verification

Loan terms, representative APR and fee data verified against loanpig.co.uk on 4 May 2026.

Regulatory status verified on the FCA register under firm reference 736632 (The Money Hive Limited).

Trustpilot data sourced from uk.trustpilot.com/review/loanpig.co.uk, retrieved 4 May 2026.

Swift Money Limited is a credit broker, not a lender. Inclusion in this directory does not imply a commercial relationship between Swift Money and LoanPig. We are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, FRN 738569.

Frequently asked

LoanPig questions, answered.

Is LoanPig a lender or a broker?

Both. LoanPig (The Money Hive Limited) holds dual FCA authorisation under firm reference 736632 to act as a direct lender and a credit broker. The application form runs the direct-lender check first. If LoanPig writes the loan itself, the credit agreement is between the borrower and The Money Hive Limited. If LoanPig declines the direct loan and the applicant has consented, the application is referred to a panel of third-party lenders. Any subsequent agreement is then with the panel lender, not with LoanPig.

What happens if LoanPig declines my direct application?

If the applicant has ticked the marketing-and-broker consent option at application, LoanPig passes the application data to a panel of third-party lenders for a second-round assessment. Any of those lenders may make an offer that comes through with their own credit terms and APR. If the applicant has not consented, the decline is final at the LoanPig stage. Reading the consent options carefully before submitting is therefore important. A declined applicant who does not want a panel referral can simply leave the marketing-consent box unticked.

Why are LoanPig's Trustpilot reviews mixed?

The Trustpilot profile for loanpig.co.uk runs at around 32 reviews with a relatively low aggregate. Most negative reviews concern follow-on marketing communications received from panel lenders after a referral, rather than complaints about the LoanPig direct loan itself. The pattern is common across firms holding broker authorisation. Borrowers who do not want marketing follow-up should leave the consent options unticked at application stage. The smaller dataset means the aggregate score is sensitive to a handful of extreme experiences and should not be read as definitive.

Will my data be shared with other lenders?

Only if the applicant has consented to the broker-referral element of the application. The consent options appear on the application form and are unticked by default. Where consent is given and the LoanPig direct loan is declined, the application data is shared with a panel of third-party lenders so they can consider it. Once data is shared, those lenders may also use the contact details for marketing within the limits of UK data-protection rules. Consent can be withdrawn at any time through the contact details on the LoanPig website.

Can I borrow from LoanPig with bad credit?

LoanPig publishes that all credit profiles are considered, including applicants with bad credit, provided the affordability checks pass. Approval is never guaranteed. Recent serious adverse events such as an active CCJ, an IVA or a declared bankruptcy will typically produce a decline on responsible-lending grounds. Applicants with thin or imperfect credit files who can demonstrate stable current income are the most likely to clear the affordability assessment.

Will I really pay 1,261% APR on a LoanPig loan?

The 1,261% representative APR is an annualised compound figure required by FCA disclosure rules. The actual cost of a short-term loan is best understood from the published example: borrow £300 over three months and total repayment is £457.95, an interest cost of £157.95. The borrower never pays anything close to 1,261% in absolute terms because the loan does not run for a year. The APR figure exists for cross-product comparison rather than as a literal cost projection.

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