Studio was a catalogue and online retailer offering credit through Studio Pay. Its parent group went into administration in February 2022 and the business was bought by Frasers Group. Studio Pay has since closed, with some accounts moved to Frasers Plus and some sold to Link Financial.
Complaints about Studio credit have still been answered and decided by the Ombudsman since the sale, including upheld complaints about limit increases. If your account was sold, the new owner will tell you where to complain.
Could you have a claim?
Studio had to check you could afford to repay without falling behind on bills or other debts, and check again before lending more. It may not have done enough if:
- Your credit limit kept going up
- You were only making minimum payments
- You had arrears or late payment fees
- You had several shopping accounts at once
- Buy now, pay later deals rolled into interest
More about claims for catalogue and shopping accounts.
What you could get back
If a complaint is upheld, the usual outcome is a refund of the interest and charges you paid on the lending that shouldn’t have been given, plus 8% simple interest a year, and any negative marks about that lending removed from your credit file. If you still owe money, the refund may be taken off the balance first. Try our refund calculator for a rough idea.
How to complain to Studio
- Write to Studio saying the lending was unaffordable and asking for a refund of interest and charges plus 8%. Use the complaints contact on Studio’s website. Our free complaint letter has the wording.
- Studio has 8 weeks to send a final response.
- If you’re unhappy with their final response, you usually have 6 months to take it to the Financial Ombudsman Service. If 8 weeks pass with no final response, you can go to the Ombudsman straight away. It’s free.
You don’t have to use a claims company. If you’d rather a regulated firm did it for you, do our free check.
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Questions people ask
Can I claim if I’ve paid off my Studio account?
Yes. What matters is whether the lending should have been given at the time, not whether you’ve repaid it.
Will complaining affect my credit score?
No. Complaining doesn’t affect your credit score. If your complaint is upheld, negative information about the unaffordable lending is usually removed.
I don’t have my Studio paperwork. Can I still complain?
Yes. Studio holds the records. You can ask for a copy of everything they hold about you with a free subject access request, which they must answer within a month.