Transparent Pricing
Our Fees
Clear, upfront information on our broker fee and the lender arrangement fees you may encounter when taking out a secured loan.
Broker Fee
Charles Frank Finance charges a broker fee for arranging your secured loan. Our fee structure is as follows:
- —Loans of £25,000 and above — a fixed broker fee of £2,495
- —Loans below £25,000 — a fee of up to 10% of the net loan amount
Our broker fee can be added to the loan itself or paid separately — whichever works best for you.
Importantly, our broker fee is only payable upon completion of your loan. This means that if we manage your case all the way through to a formal mortgage offer and for any reason you decide not to proceed, you will not owe us a penny. There are no upfront costs, no application fees, and no charges whatsoever unless your loan completes.
Please note: In some cases a property valuation may be required by the lender. Where this is the case, the valuation fee is paid directly to the surveyor by you and is non-refundable, regardless of the outcome of the valuation or whether the loan ultimately completes. We will always make you aware in advance if a valuation fee is likely to apply to your case. The majority of second charge cases use a free desktop valuation — a physical valuation is only required in certain circumstances.
Arrangement Fee
An arrangement fee is the lender's charge for setting up your secured loan. Fees vary significantly between lenders and products — some charge a fixed fee, others charge a percentage of the loan amount, and the total can range from a few hundred pounds to £3,000 or more depending on the lender and product chosen.
Lenders use different fee strategies. Some advertise lower headline rates with higher arrangement fees, while others charge a higher rate with a smaller fee. The right balance depends on your loan size and term — a higher arrangement fee has far greater impact on a smaller loan than a larger one, which is why comparing by APRC rather than headline rate alone gives you a much more accurate picture of the true cost.
On most products you can choose to add the arrangement fee to the loan rather than paying it upfront. This avoids the need for liquid funds at completion but means you will pay interest on the fee amount over the full loan term, increasing the total cost. Your broker will always present both options so you can make an informed decision.
Common questions about our fees
Is the broker fee added to my loan or paid separately?
Either — whichever suits you. You can add the broker fee to the loan amount so it spreads across the term, or pay it separately on completion. We will set out both options in your quote so you can see the total cost either way before you decide.
Do I pay anything if I decide not to proceed?
No. Our broker fee is only payable on completion. If we manage your case all the way through to a formal mortgage offer and you decide not to proceed for any reason, you owe us nothing — no application fee, no admin charge, nothing. The only exception is a lender-required physical valuation fee, which is paid directly to the surveyor and is non-refundable. We will always flag in advance if a physical valuation is likely.
How is the broker fee calculated?
On loans of £25,000 and above, we charge a fixed broker fee of £2,495. On loans below £25,000, we charge a fee of up to 10% of the net loan amount. The fee is fixed at the point of your formal quote, so there are no surprises.
What's the difference between a broker fee and an arrangement fee?
The broker fee is what we charge for arranging the loan. The arrangement fee is what the lender charges for setting up the loan on their end. The two are separate, are paid to different parties, and vary independently. Lender arrangement fees range from a few hundred pounds to £3,000+ depending on the lender and product chosen. In addition to the lender's arrangement fee, a broker fee is payable to Charles Frank Finance upon completion: £2,495 for loans above £25,000, or a maximum of 10% of the net loan amount for loans below £25,000 (minimum loan £5,000). This fee is only payable on completion — there is no upfront or application fee. Some cases may also require a property valuation, in which case a valuation fee will be payable directly to the surveyor — your adviser will confirm whether this applies to your application.
Can I add the lender's arrangement fee to the loan too?
On most products, yes. Adding the arrangement fee to the loan avoids needing liquid funds at completion but means you'll pay interest on the fee amount over the full term, increasing total cost. We'll always show you both options in your quote.
Why compare by APRC rather than headline rate?
APRC (Annual Percentage Rate of Charge) includes all compulsory fees over the loan term, so it gives a true cost comparison. Two loans with the same headline rate can have very different APRCs once arrangement fees are factored in — particularly on smaller loan amounts, where a high arrangement fee has a much bigger impact on total cost.
Get a free, no-obligation quote
Our broker fee is only payable on completion. Compare rates and see your full cost breakdown before you commit.
YOUR HOME MAY BE REPOSSESSED IF YOU DO NOT KEEP UP REPAYMENTS ON A MORTGAGE OR ANY OTHER DEBT SECURED ON IT.