Credit Guide

1. About Esteb and Co

Business Name: Esteb and Co

Services: Credit assistance, loan comparison, and mortgage broking services

Regulation: We operate in accordance with the National Consumer Credit Protection Act 2009 and are committed to responsible lending practices.

2. What We Do

Esteb and Co provides the following services:

• Comparison of credit products from multiple lenders
• Credit assistance and loan application support
• Mortgage broking services
• Financial assessment and matching services
• Ongoing loan management and support

3. Our Services Are Free to You

We do not charge fees to consumers for our credit assistance services. Our service is completely free for borrowers.

How We're Paid

We receive commissions from lenders when loans are settled:

• Upfront Commission: Typically 0.5% - 0.7% of the loan amount
• Trail Commission: Typically 0.15% - 0.25% per year while the loan remains active
• Example: On a $500,000 loan, we may receive $3,000-$3,500 upfront and $750-$1,250 per year ongoing

These commissions are paid by the lender and do not affect your interest rate or loan terms.

4. Lender Panel

We compare credit products from 20+ lenders including:

• Major Banks: Commonwealth Bank, Westpac, NAB, ANZ
• Regional Banks: Bank of Queensland, Bendigo Bank, Macquarie
• Online Lenders: ING, UBank, Athena Home Loans
• Specialist Lenders: Pepper Money, Liberty Financial, Bluestone

A complete list of our lender panel is available upon request.

5. Credit Checks and Enquiries

Initial Assessment: Our quick assessment has no impact on your credit score (soft enquiry only).

Formal Application: When you submit a formal loan application to a lender, they will conduct a credit check which creates a credit enquiry on your file. Multiple enquiries in a short time may impact your credit score.

You have the right to request and review your credit report from credit reporting agencies before applying.

6. Your Rights and Responsibilities

Your Rights:

• Receive clear information about credit products and our services
• Access a complimentary copy of this Credit Guide
• Request information about commissions we receive
• Lodge a complaint if you're unhappy with our service
• Decline our recommendations and seek alternative advice

Your Responsibilities:

• Provide accurate and complete information
• Read and understand all loan documents before signing
• Ask questions if anything is unclear
• Meet your loan repayment obligations
• Inform us of any changes to your circumstances

7. Responsible Lending

We are committed to responsible lending practices:

• We assess whether credit products are suitable for your situation
• We do not recommend products that are unsuitable
• We help you understand the features, costs, and risks of credit products
• We conduct reasonable enquiries about your financial situation
• We verify information where appropriate

8. Privacy and Confidentiality

We handle your personal information in accordance with the Privacy Act 1988 and Australian Privacy Principles.

We collect, use, and disclose your information to:

• Assess your credit needs and suitability
• Provide credit assistance services
• Submit applications to lenders on your behalf
• Maintain our relationship with you

See our Privacy Policy for full details.

9. Conflicts of Interest

We manage potential conflicts of interest as follows:

• We disclose all commissions and fees we receive
• Our recommendations are based on your needs, not our commissions
• Commission rates do not influence our matching algorithm
• We maintain independence from lenders

10. Complaints and Disputes

Internal Dispute Resolution

If you have a complaint:

1. Contact us: complaints@estebandco.com or 0424 406 977
2. We'll acknowledge your complaint within 1 business day
3. We'll investigate and provide a response within 30 days

External Dispute Resolution

If we cannot resolve your complaint, you can contact:

AFCA provides fair and independent financial services complaint resolution that is free to consumers.

11. Important Information

Unsuitable Credit Contracts

You should not enter into a credit contract if it's unsuitable for your needs. A credit contract is unsuitable if:

• You cannot meet your financial obligations under the contract
• The contract doesn't meet your requirements or objectives
• You don't understand the nature of the contract

Financial Hardship

If you experience financial difficulty, contact your lender immediately. Lenders have hardship teams that can help with:

• Temporary repayment relief
• Loan restructuring
• Interest-only periods
• Extended loan terms

12. Contact Information

13. Document Updates

We may update this Credit Guide from time to time. The current version is always available at www.estebandco.com/credit-guide

Material changes will be communicated to existing clients via email.