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PollenPay review 2024

Buy now, pay later challenger PollenPay is currently not accepting customers. Find out some alternatives.

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By

Emily Herring

Updated

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How PollenPay works Features of PollenPay

PollenPay isn’t available right now, but you can check out out other buy now, pay later options here.

The information in this review is for historical purposes

Will buy now, pay later (BNPL) services eventually become a better alternative to a credit card? We’re certainly seeing new providers popping up all over the shop. We’ve reviewed new BNPL provider PollenPay. With its interest-free instalment plans and swanky new app offering a “seamless shopping experience”, has it got what it takes to take customers from giants like Klarna and Clearpay?

Who is PollenPay?

Founded in 2019, Manchester-based PollenPay fully launched in the UK in February 2022. It’s an alternative option to a traditional line of credit. Its BNPL service operates through its app.

How does PollenPay work?

Use the PollenPay app to browse for your chosen online stores. Once you are at the chosen store’s checkout and ready to make a payment, tap on the “Pay with PollenPay” button. You’ll be able to enter the amount that you’re spending. On the PollenPay app, you’ll be offered an instalment plan and a one-time virtual card that you can use at the retailer’s checkout.

When you sign up, you give PollenPay a direct debit authority to take repayments from your nominated credit card, debit card or bank account. PollenPay says it doesn’t carry out credit checks, and there’s a spending limit of £250 (although PollenPay says spending limits are determined by how well customers repay, so the limit may be raised over time).

The repayments are split into 4 equal instalments with the first payment taken on the day of your purchase. You then have 6 weeks to repay the rest – the other 3 payments follow every 2 weeks. For example, if you buy an item for £100 on a Friday, PollenPay will take £25 immediately and then a fortnight later it will take another £25 and then the same again over 2 more fortnights.

PollenPay says the service is free as long as you repay your debts on time; if you don’t, there is a £5 late fee (capped at £10 per order) but PollenPay says it is not charging this yet, to allow customers to get used to the app.

PollenPay charges its partner retailers a fee, which is how it says it makes money.

Features of shopping with PollenPay

  • No annual fee. PollenPay is free to use as long as you make your payments on time.
  • Interest free. You will not be charged any interest but there is a late payment fee.
  • Easy-to-use app. Manage your payments, check your purchases and receive offers from your smartphone.
  • Payment reminders. PollenPay will send reminders leading up to the payment due date.
  • Warning: Late repayments can cause you serious money problems. For help, contact the government’s free money advice website, MoneyHelper.

How much does PollenPay cost?

PollenPay says it is free to customers who repay their debts on time. Its small print mentions “default fees” but we could not find any explanation on the site about these fees so we contacted PollenPay.

It replied:”There is usually a £5 late fee for customers if they do not pay an instalment on time. We’ve capped it at £10 per order so customers will never owe more than £10 in late fees per order.” But it added that it had not started charging late fees as the app had only just launched and it would update the website with more information once it starts charging this.

How do I sign up for PollenPay?

Download the PollenPay app to start using the service. As at April 2022, the app is currently available on IOS and the company says it will be available on Android soon.

Which shops offer PollenPay?

PollenPay’s list of stores wasn’t on its site when we checked. You can see a full retailer list on the PollenPay app.

What happens if I make a late payment?

Only use a buy now, pay later platform if you know you’ll be able to make the repayments. PollenPay will send you an alert if a payment has failed. In the first instance, get in touch with PollenPay at contact@pollenpay.com.

PollenPay’s terms say that if you don’t make an instalment payment on its due date, you have 24 hours to pay. If you fail to pay within a week of the due date, PollenPay will temporarily suspend your ability to use the service to buy more items.

The company will charge a “default fee” if you don’t pay on time, which is £5 and it’s capped at £10 per order – but PollenPay told us it hadn’t started charging these yet.

PollenPay says that customers can make a minimum £5 repayment and allow the rest of that instalment to roll over to the next payment date, meaning they would “not owe any late fees in that instance”.

If you are struggling to make repayments, contact the government’s free money advice website, MoneyHelper. Late repayments can cause you serious money problems.

Pros and cons of PollenPay

Pros

  • Simple app.
  • Interest-free spending, if you repay your debts on time.
  • No annual fees.
  • Payment reminders.

Cons

  • PollenPay is not currently regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). BNPL providers don’t have to be
  • PollenPay website doesn’t explain “default fees”
  • Not currently available on Android
  • Complaints of performance issue with the app

Our verdict: Is PollenPay any good?

PollenPay has the potential to make some big waves in the BNPL market if it plays its cards right against the larger names. However, as the provider is so new, there is very little evidence of its impact so far. If you’re the type of person who loves to give something new a try, the simple and straightforward app could be the BNPL option for you. As long as you stick within the £250 spending limit and repay your purchases in full on time.

Have more questions about PollenPay?
Check out our frequently asked questions

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