About Us
A name that has been part of British high streets since 1996 – now arranging loans online, from Leeds and Barnsley.
1996 – 2018
The original Cheque Centre
Cheque Centre was started in 1996 by a small group of Edinburgh business people. It grew into one of the best-known names on the UK high street, with stores across Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland – 496 of them at its peak in 2013 – offering cheque cashing, foreign currency, gold buying, money transfers and short-term loans.
When the Competition and Markets Authority later examined the UK's 11 major payday lenders, Cheque Centre was the earliest of them to start lending, in 1996. The brand also gave back: it donated £50,000 to the NSPCC and was the main sponsor of the Scottish Football Player of the Year Awards and the Scottish Football Hall of Fame.
After the Financial Conduct Authority took over regulating consumer credit in 2014, the market changed fast. The brand stopped offering single-repayment payday loans, and the original company, Cheque Centres Limited, later went into administration.
2018 – today
Cheque Centre today
When the Cheque Centre trademarks and domain name came up for sale, Quick Loans Ltd bought them in 2018 and has invested in bringing the brand back. We didn't buy the old company's loan book or its branches – so today's Cheque Centre is a new business under a familiar name.
Like the original, we used to lend money directly, and we stopped after the FCA took over in 2014. Today we're a credit broker: we search our panel of partner lenders for a loan that matches what you've asked for. Our administrative base is in Leeds, and we have an office in Barnsley with a team of staff.
How we work
- We're a broker, not a lender. Your loan comes from one of our partner lenders, all authorised by the FCA. See how it works.
- Our service is free. You never pay Cheque Centre anything. A partner lender pays us a commission only if we arrange a loan for you, and commission plays no part in which lender you're matched with.
- Everyone is treated the same. Every application is handled in exactly the same way, whatever your credit history.
- We're honest about cost. If a bank would lend to you more cheaply, we'll tell you to try them first. See loan costs.
- We're here if things get hard. Extra support is available for anyone going through a difficult time.
Company details
- Trading name
- Cheque Centre
- Company
- Quick Loans Ltd – company number 09619094 (England and Wales)
- Registered office
- Vicarage Chambers, 9 Park Square East, Leeds LS1 2LH
- Regulation
- Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority as a credit broker, firm reference number 763132 – shown on the FCA register.
- Status
- Credit broker, not a lender
Representative example: £1,500.00 borrowed for 12 months. Monthly repayment is £154.12, total repayable is £1,849.47. Total cost of credit £349.47. Representative 49% APR. Credit broker not a lender. All loans are subject to status and only available to UK residents over the age of 18. Warning: Late repayment can cause you serious money problems. For help, go to moneyhelper.org.uk
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