What Is Sezzle And How Does It Work?

Do you need to purchase something but find yourself strapped for cash? This app just might be the answer to all your problems. Sezzle payments allow you to make instant, affordable purchases by borrowing from lenders in a completely secure and private environment. In just a few clicks, you can snap up that new pair of shoes or bag that you’ve been eyeing for days – guilt-free!

In this Sezzle review, we’ll walk you through the ins and outs of this buy now, pay later company, and how it works.

What Is Sezzle?

Sezzle is a company that will allow you to make purchases when you desire and pay back over a six-week period without incurring any interest fees. You can use the app to secure a personal loan from lenders in your network. Payments are made via the application, which accepts credit cards, debit cards, Apple Pay and Android Pay.

This differs from other buy now, pay later companies because of its unparalleled privacy features. Unlike competitors that have fallen afoul of regulators for their lack of privacy practices, Sezzle uses behavioral tracking to ensure your purchase history remains private.

How Does Sezzle Work?

Basically, Sezzle pays the upfront cost of your item, so it gets shipped out to you. You’ll have to make a down payment or what they like to call your initial installment. This may vary from merchant to merchant, but usually, it’s 25% of the total upfront cost of the product you want to purchase.

After that, you just use your card to pay your monthly installment. Typically, you can clear the remaining balance in installment-free payments over six weeks.

Here’s a quick rundown of how you can buy items using Sezzle.

Requirements

Sezzle’s documentary requirements are short and simple—making it easy for anyone over the age of 18 to shop for anything they want without a deep look into your credit history.

To signup, you need:

  • A US or Canadian phone number that can receive text messages
  • A working email address
  • A non-prepaid payment method such as:
    • Bank account
    • Credit card
    • Debit card

Shop For Items

Sezzle works with several partner merchants where you can shop for any item you want. The process is simple. All you need to do is hit the Sezzle button at checkout, and you’re good to go.

Get Approved

Sezzle follows a unique approval system that immediately shows you your payment options at the checkout. Here, you’ll need to make your initial installment. Once that’s done, it’s smooth sailing from here on out.

Checkout

Sezzle’s checkout process is pretty straightforward. Just choose a merchant that accepts Sezzle payments, click checkout and select Sezzle as your payment option. After that, the company walks you through the rest of the process, so there’s no confusion.

 

Pros And Cons Of Sezzle

As with any buy now pay later app, there are upsides and downsides to using Sezzle payments. Take a look at them below.

Pros

Sezzle is a great way to grab luxury items without breaking the bank or having to use your credit card. Instead, you can checkout using the Sezzle portal.

Unlike other BNPL companies, you can boost your credit score with Sezzle. All you have to do is signup for a Sezzle Up account and be disciplined with your payments. The company will (with your permission) report to credit bureaus.

Cons

While Sezzle approves payments quickly, the upfront payment required for your purchase to go through is significantly higher compared to other companies. They also give you less time to repay your installment than the other companies on the market.

Frequently Asked Questions

We’re sure you have a few questions about Sezzle. Here’s a list of the most commonly asked questions:

Does Sezzle Affect Your Credit Score?

No, Sezzle doesn’t affect your credit score. Like other BNPL companies, they do a “soft credit” pull. And while a standard Sezzle account doesn’t report your spending activities to credit bureaus, opting for a Sezzle Up account can impact your credit score in one of two ways.

If your payments are timely, you’ll build your credit score. However, if you miss payments, it can also pull your score down. Furthermore, when scheduled payments are declined, Sezzle may look into other ways to collect your debt on top of reporting to Transunion.

Does Sezzle Do A Credit Check?

Yes, Sezzle reviews your credit history.

That said, Sezzle may decline your purchases if anything in your credit history is too questionable. Unfortunately, there’s no upfront information on what FICO score you need to apply for Sezzle.

Who Can Use Sezzle?

Anyone over the age of 18 who lives in the US and Canada can use Sezzle.

There are specific details on how this works on their website, though. As such, we recommend checking out their Terms and Conditions page before you use the service.

What Happens If I Miss A Payment?

Sezzle gives its users 48 hours to correct a declined payment. Once a second payment is declined, Sezzle charges a $10 fee.

If extenuating circumstances prevent you from making your payment on time, you can reschedule it free of cost. After that, you’ll need to pay an additional $5 per succeeding rescheduled payment.

Final Thoughts

If you’re looking for a way to buy expensive items without accruing interest charges, Sezzle is definitely an option. Their approval process is easy and can be completed in just a few minutes.

However, their upfront payment requirement is higher than other companies in the buy now, pay later market. Furthermore, you’ll need to link your bank account or have a credit or debit card to make your installment payments.

Still, Sezzle is a great way to get items at an initial discounted rate without going into debt. For those with a limited budget or those who want to make their purchases in private, this buy now, pay later company works wonders.