Identify who will actually lend the money

Begin by distinguishing a lender from a referral website that sends an application to other businesses. Record the legal name, contact address and company named in the proposed contract. Check the licensing requirements for that type of service in the relevant province, then use the regulator’s own information to verify any claimed permission. A badge on a website or a positive review does not establish that a licence covers the product offered.

Match the legal name to the relevant official record

Ontario and Consumer Protection BC publish guidance on payday lenders, borrower protections and how to check or raise concerns about regulated services. These rules should not be assumed to describe every category of consumer credit. Look for consistent explanations of costs, eligibility and complaints, and investigate discrepancies between the advertisement and agreement. Reviews can reveal questions about service or billing, but the identity of the creditor and the written obligations deserve greater weight than a star rating alone.

Use reviews to raise questions, not to settle them