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Why can the amount received differ from the loan amount?

The headline loan amount and the money transferred to your account are not always the same figure.

An offer may state a principal amount while deducting a charge before sending money. Read the disbursement section to identify what arrives in the account and what balance will be repaid.

Compare offers using the same usable amount, rather than matching only the headline principal. Ask where a deducted fee appears in the schedule and whether it is included in the disclosed cost measure.

  • Look for every charge that comes out of the advance before the transfer is made.
  • Compare the usable amount and the balance you repay, rather than the headline principal alone.

Open the provider-identity checklist

Collect the date, amount and contractual wording, then follow the provider's relevant enquiry process.

Definitions

Amount received
The sum that reaches your account after any deduction, which can be lower than the stated principal.
Total repayable
Everything scheduled to be paid under the agreement, from the first instalment to the last.

Direct answers

What does the amount received mean in practice?
A deduction taken at disbursement lowers the sum you receive while the agreement still refers to the original principal.
Which details matter for this question: why can the amount received differ from the loan amount?
The disbursement section and the opening balance on the schedule show which figure applies at each step.
What should be checked next concerning why can the amount received differ from the loan amount?
Ask the provider to confirm the amount transferred, the charges deducted and the balance that will carry interest.

Sources