Why Wonga has run into trouble

Image source, PA

  • Author, Simon Jack
  • Role, Business editor

The average payday loan is 拢250. The interest Wonga receives on that is an average of 拢150.

But the lender is facing a wave of compensation claims and the cost of processing each of them - whether the borrower's claim is up held or not - is 拢550.

A year ago, 90% of all claims were "organic". That means the borrower initiated the claim him or herself.

Only 10% came through claims management companies (CMCs). Those percentages have reversed with 90% now coming through CMCs leading to a big rise in absolute claim numbers.

CMCs have taken to "weaponising volume" - as one industry insider told me: "The lenders have to respond to each claim within 8 weeks. The CMCs know this and so wait till they have accumulated hundreds or even thousands of claims and drop them on the lender in one go and start the clock.

"Up against this pressure, the lenders are more likely to pay out as they don't have the time to sift through the merits of each case."

Even if they had the time - as already pointed out - they lose money whether they win or lose.

Wonga raised 拢10 million from its investors at the beginning of August. Three weeks later they confirmed it was running out.

With the CMCs having the bit between their teeth and the losing economic arithmetic of handling each claim, raising additional money to keep the company afloat looks like a challenge - especially now they have stopped lending

There is no new income coming through the front door as millions leave through the back.