• “Three quick steps to cash”, promises the GELDOR company from Rybnik operating websites that offer pseudo-loans.
• However, consumers will not get any money from the enterprise which, contrary to advertising slogans, only collects their personal data and charges non-returnable fees.
• UOKiK imposed fine on the company in the amount of PLN 45,000.

In December 2017, the Office of Competition and Consumer Protection initiated proceedings against the company Karwot Artur GELDOR from Rybnik. A year later the Office issued a consumer warning. The enterprise launched at least 103 websites, e.g. pozyczkahit.pl, zebrapozyczki.pl, alfapro.pl, bezbiku.pro. Their look and marketing message suggest that the company grants loans: there is a slider to choose loan parameters, slogans such as “Online Loans Right Away” and reviews from satisfied customers posted by the company. At the same time, it blocked the websites users from adding authentic comments. However, no one will get a loan from GELDOR. The company only collects data of consumers who apply for it. Then such data are placed on a website that potential lenders have access to. GELDOR charges non-returnable fees for up to PLN 30 at one time, paid through a premium text message. The fee is collected for registering on the website, activating a loan application and checking its status.

GELDOR’s practices expose consumers to significant losses. These are often people in a difficult financial situation whom banks refused the loan. Their financial problems may get even worse as a result of futile attempts to take out loan through numerous websites operated by this entrepreneur, says Marek Niechciał, President of UOKiK.

GELDOR must cease the contested practices and pay fine amounting to almost PLN 45,000 PLN (PLN 44,792). In addition, it is obliged to publish the UOKiK decision on all its websites and keep it there for six months. Therefore, the decision should reach aggrieved consumers and make them aware that they have the right to pursue claims against the company.

The proceedings in this case are also conducted by the Provincial Police Headquarters in Katowice under the supervision of the Regional Prosecutor’s Office in Gliwice (file number: PO II Ds. 39.2017.

Consumer service:

Phone: 801 440 220 or 22 290 89 16 – consumer helpline
E-mail: porady@dlakonsumentow.pl
Consumers’ ombudsmen – in your town or district
Regional Consumer Centres: 22 299 60 90 – Dlakonsumenta.pl

Additional information for the media:

UOKiK Press Office
Pl. Powstańców Warszawy 1, 00-950 Warszawa, Poland
Phone +48 695 902 088, +48 22 55 60 246
E-mail: biuroprasowe@uokik.gov.pl
Twitter: @UOKiKgovPL