There are a lot of apps in Zambia offering money in minutes. Some are well run and clear about what they charge. Others hide their costs, collect far more of your data than they need, or treat borrowers badly when payments are late.

Before you sign up for any borrowing app, including Dottra, these are the things worth checking.

1. Who is the company?

Look for a full company name, a physical address in Zambia and a registration number. A company registered with PACRA can be looked up. If an app only gives a WhatsApp number or an email address, be careful.

Check whether the company says which regulator, if any, it’s licensed by, and check that claim yourself rather than taking the app’s word for it.

2. What will it really cost?

The app should tell you, in plain kwacha, before you confirm:

  • how much you’ll receive;
  • every fee and charge, and how they’re worked out;
  • when you have to pay and what happens if you’re late.

Be wary of apps that only show a daily or weekly rate. A small daily rate adds up quickly over a month. Work out the total cost for the time you actually expect to borrow, and compare apps on that.

If you can’t find the full price list before signing up, that tells you something.

3. What happens if you pay late?

Find out before you borrow, not after:

  • Are there late fees, and how much?
  • Does the amount you owe keep growing, and how fast?
  • Will they contact anyone other than you?

A responsible lender explains this clearly and gives you a way to get in touch if you’re struggling.

4. What does the app want access to?

Look at the permissions an app asks for when you install it. Some borrowing apps ask for access to your contacts, photos or messages and then use them to pressure people who are late, including by contacting their friends and family.

An app needs your identity and a way to pay you. It doesn’t need your contact list. If an app requires it, think hard before agreeing.

Zambia’s Data Protection Act sets rules for how companies collect and use personal information. A company should have a privacy policy that says what it collects and why.

5. How do you complain?

There should be a clear way to raise a problem: an email address, a phone number, or in-app support, and a real person who responds. If you can’t resolve a complaint with the company, Zambia’s Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) handles consumer complaints.

Warning signs

Walk away if an app:

  • asks you to pay a fee upfront before you receive any money;
  • asks for your mobile money PIN, bank PIN or a one-time code;
  • won’t show the total cost before you agree;
  • needs access to your contacts to approve you;
  • puts pressure on you to borrow more than you asked for;
  • has no address, company name or working contact details.

How Dottra answers these questions

  • Company: Dottra Lending Services Limited, Chingwere 31651, Chunga East, Lusaka. PACRA registration number 120251028871.
  • Cost: a 5% processing fee per draw (minimum K1), and a monthly charge of 20% of your average daily balance. Both are shown on the pricing page and in the app before you confirm.
  • Late payment: no late fees. If a statement isn’t paid by its due date, the facility is temporarily frozen until the overdue amount is paid.
  • Permissions: the app doesn’t ask for your contacts. It asks for your identity documents, a selfie and proof of income or sponsorship.
  • Data: our privacy policy explains what we collect and why. You can request account deletion at any time.
  • Complaints: in-app support, [email protected] or +260 973 400 223.

We’d rather you compared us with other options and chose with full information than signed up without knowing what you’re agreeing to.