Buying online is a convenient and easy-to-use way to shop, but it’s also not always safe. With the rise of e-commerce, there are more opportunities for fraud, scams, and identity theft than ever before. Klarna is one of the largest digital payment providers that has been said to be safe and secure. This article covers what it is, how it works and Klarna’s eligibility criteria to see if the company may be worth using.
What is Klarna?
Klarna is a payment company that specializes in online purchases. It was founded in 2007 and has now expanded to over 200 countries. The company is known for its convenient and secure service, which allows consumers to pay for their purchases in 4 different segments within days after making an order.
In addition to this, Klarna offers a number of security features designed to protect consumers from fraud, such as the option to make payment only after verification of identity or phone number. They also offer “risk-based pricing,” which means that you can set how much money you want to spend on your purchase before it’s finalized by Klarna. This lowers the risk of fraud because it reduces the time between when someone makes a purchase and when they receive their purchase.
Is Klarna Safe for Users?
Yes, Klarna is safe to use if you can use it in moderation that is. Think about the impact your Klarna charges will have on your budget, financial health, and credit score. The more you spend through this method, the harder it may be for you to afford next year’s items when they’re priced higher than now. That could result in falling into debt or a decrease in other positive factors like a good credit rating that can come with paying off installments over time.
While many people might not be worried about the damage to their credit score by using Pay in 30 days and installments, they may still feel that it is a scary option. It has been found that as many as 56% of users who use ‘buy now, pay later’ services think they make it too easy to get into debt. The Money and Mental Health Policy Institute (MMHPI) report also found that four in 10 felt encouraged by the service to spend more than what was affordable when there was an option for payment later.
How Klarna Operates
Klarna operates like a credit card company, but it is not a credit card company. They allow consumers to purchase goods and services online with their bank account without the need for a credit card number. Klarna offers a variety of payment methods such as PayPal, Skrill, Zelle, and more. Klarna also provides methods for customers to earn points through their accounts that can be redeemed later.
Klarna offers a variety of payment options for their shoppers:
- Pay in 30 Days: Gives shoppers up to thirty days to pay back their purchases and is interest-free
- Installments: Gives shoppers three months time before an item is due for repayment and does not include any fees or interest
- Financing: This option offers a credit product that splits payments across 6 – 36 months but it includes some fees.
Eligibility
One of the most important things to check before using any service is its eligibility criteria. Klarna’s eligibility requirements are as follows:
- All applicants must have an address
- Applicants must be 18 or older
- Applicants cannot already hold a Klarna or Amazon Prime account
- Applicants cannot have reached their current credit limit on any other payment provider
- Information submitted during the application is verified by the company
Credit Checks
Klarna has a reputation for being one of the safest and most secure online payment platforms. This is because they have a large network of reputable banks to issue payments, as well as an extensive background check process that involves credit checks.
However, this can be troublesome for customers with bad credit who are looking for a new digital payment provider to use. Customers must provide a valid credit or debit card number and then wait up to seven days for their credit report to be updated before they can complete the application process.
Purchasing items that don’t need to be bought can leave you in debt. It’s important to think about whether or not the item will really help with your needs before spending money on it.