Ordering from a UK catalogue can give you a level of flexibility that you wouldn’t find if you were to purchase the same item on the high street. Depending on the catalogue, and as long as you’re accepted for credit, you usually have the option of spreading the cost of the purchase by either paying weekly, or monthly, enabling you to control your finances and stick to a budget.

The total cost of any items you have purchased will normally be broken down into small, affordable instalments over a period of time, the length of which will be determined by the amount of your order.

There are also a number of other repayment options when ordering from a catalogue, including Buy Now, Pay Later, where you can purchase an item and then pay for it at a later date, ideal if you don’t have the necessary funds at the time to pay for the item in one go.

You can also pay the full balance of any outstanding order any time you wish, in order to avoid paying further interest on the item. Here is an overview of all the credit options available to customers, with examples of the UK catalogue companies which offer these repayment options.

Pay monthly
Paying in monthly instalments remains the most popular repayment plan for customers who order from a catalogue company. This option is ideal for individuals who often struggle to save a large amount of money and enables to pay in smaller instalments, allowing them to budget much more effectively.

Depending on the catalogue company, there are several ways to make monthly repayments for any item that you may have purchased. If you have been approved for a new credit account, you will receive a monthly statement which will list any items that you have ordered, the outstanding balance and the minimum monthly repayment that you are required to make that month.

Several catalogue companies, like Freemans, Littlewoods and Next, allow you to set up a Direct Debit, where payments will be taken directly from your bank account at a similar time every month, allowing customers to spread the cost of more expensive items over a longer period of time. Customers can control their finances by visiting the website of the catalogue company, or by calling them directly to discuss their repayment options.

Argos, a catalogue company which features a wide range of items such as home electronics, cosmetics, clothing, household appliances, toys, and gifts, are one of several companies which allow customers to pay their monthly repayments from their local bank. A payment slip is included in their monthly statement, and customers can pay by cheque or cash at their local branch.

Lookagain is another company which allows customers to pay for products on a monthly basis, and offer a wide range of different products such as sofas, beds, cookers, clothes and shoes, with items from some of the world’s best known brands including Samsung, Sony, Nike and Apple.

In order to be able to pay for an item in monthly instalments, you will need to open a new personal account with a catalogue company. This process is relatively straight-forward, although depending on the catalogue company you may need to provide some photographic identification in order to verify your personal details, such as your name and address.

Most companies will carry out a credit check before they decide to approve an application, whilst a few will look at how a customer will be able to repay for items instead, usually by asking for details of their salary in the form of a bank statement of wage slip.

Individuals who have a less-than-perfect credit history will need to choose a catalogue company that is more likely to approve them, as a lender who rejects an application may leave a mark on their credit file, which may prohibit them from obtaining further credit in the future, either from the same company or with another.

Pay weekly
Other companies offer customers the chance to pay for items on a weekly basis, which can be particularly beneficial for individuals who are paid their wages every week, enabling them to control their finances more effectively. Homebuy is a catalogue company which offers a huge range of products including electricals, appliances and furniture.

Customers can make an application for a new credit account either on the phone, or online, and once they have been approved, they can purchase a wide range of items ranging from televisions to mobile tablets. If approved for credit the customer will have to make weekly payments and a receipt will be provided every time they make a payment.

Buy Now, Pay Later
Customers may not have the funds which are necessary to make a purchase for an expensive item upfront, and may opt to buy an item now, and then pay for it at a later date. There are several catalogue companies which offer this service, such as Isme and Very, both of which allow customers to purchase items on finance such as laptops, mobile tablets, smartphones, washing machines, and ovens.

Interest will often accrue when payment is not made after a set amount of time, and many companies will offer customers the chance to make the full payment within 12 months, although sometimes this can be as long as 24 or even 32 months.

Paying the full balance
Customers can also avoid paying any interest by paying the full balance of their item once they have received their monthly statement. Many companies offer a number of ways to pay for their order in full including credit card, debit card, cheque, paying in their local bank, or even PayPal.

Please remember that any credit provided is subject to successful credit and affordability checks.