Home Improvement Finance: How It Actually Works

A plain-English explanation of glazing finance, with the questions worth asking before you sign anything.

Finance can make a project affordable that would otherwise wait. It can also be used to disguise an inflated headline price, which is why we always show you the cash price first.

This guide explains how the arrangement works, what the different products mean, and how to sanity-check any offer — ours included.

How the arrangement works

Fairway Window Systems Ltd is an Introducer Appointed Representative (Financial Services Register No. 796492) of Phoenix Financial Consultants Limited (Phoenix). Phoenix is a credit broker, not a lender, is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN: 539195), and offers finance from its panel of lenders.

In practice that means we can introduce you to finance options, but the lending decision, the agreement and the regulated advice sit with the finance provider. All finance is subject to status and credit checks.

The product types you'll be offered

Broadly, offers fall into these categories:

Interest-free credit over a fixed term — you repay the cash price, nothing more, if you keep to the terms.
Buy now, pay later — a deferred period before repayments begin; check what happens if you settle within it.
Interest-bearing credit over a longer term — lower monthly payments, more paid in total.
Deposit requirements vary by product and affect what you can borrow.

Questions to ask before you sign

Whoever you buy from, these five questions protect you:

What is the cash price, before finance is discussed at all?
What is the APR and the total amount repayable?
Is there a settlement penalty if I pay early?
When does the first payment fall due relative to installation?
Who is the lender, and are they FCA authorised?

Get the cash price first

We'll quote the work properly, then talk finance only if you want to. No pressure, no kitchen-table theatre.

Frequently asked questions

Does taking finance change the price of the work?

It should not. We quote the cash price first and the finance figure is derived from it, so you can always see what you are comparing.

Will applying affect my credit file?

A finance application involves a credit check, which is recorded. The lender will explain the type of search before you apply.

Can I pay part cash and finance the rest?

Usually yes — a deposit reduces the amount financed. The lender's minimum and maximum amounts apply.

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