How Jessica’s House works, from application to repayment
Here’s every step, including the ones most sites leave out: who sees your application, what the lender checks, what you should read before signing, and what happens if a payment doesn’t go through.
Reviewed November 2026 by the Jessica’s House editorial team against federal and provincial lending rules. About 4 minutes to read.
Short answer
You complete one free application on Jessica’s House. We send it securely to our lending partners, who match you with lenders licensed in your province. If a lender makes you an offer, you review the cost and terms, verify your bank online and e-sign. The money usually arrives by Interac e-Transfer, and the repayment comes out of your account by pre-authorized debit on your due date.
The six steps
You apply on Jessica’s House
About five minutes on a phone or computer. You choose the amount, then tell us your province, income, pay schedule and contact details. Applying is free and doesn’t create a credit inquiry.
We send your application to our partners
Your details travel encrypted to our lending partners: LeadScout for payday and personal loans, and our auto financing partner for car loans. They match your application with lenders licensed in your province for the amount you asked for.
You see your offer
You’re taken straight to the matched lender or partner page. If no lender in the network can help today, we tell you, and that doesn’t affect your credit score.
The lender verifies and decides
Most lenders ask you to connect your bank through a secure, read-only verification. Many decide within an hour on business days, using your income and banking history more than your credit score.
You read the agreement and sign
Look for the total cost in dollars, the APR, the due date, the debit amount and how to cancel. Nothing is final until you e-sign, and you then have your province’s cooling-off period to change your mind.
You’re funded, and you repay
Funds usually arrive by Interac e-Transfer, often the same business day. On your due date, the lender debits the agreed amount. For personal loans, the payments are monthly.
If a payment can’t go through
Life happens. If you can see that the repayment won’t clear:
- Call the lender before the due date. Ask whether the date can move, or whether an extended payment plan is available. In Ontario, a third loan within 63 days must come with one.
- Don’t take a second payday loan to cover the first. It’s banned with the same lender for good reason. It doubles the cost without fixing the gap.
- Know the limits on fees. In Ontario, a lender can charge one $20 fee per dishonoured payment and up to 2.5% a month on the overdue amount. Your bank may add its own NSF fee.
- Get free help early. A non-profit credit counsellor can negotiate on your behalf. See our list of free services.
Who does what
| Jessica’s House | Publishes guides, runs the application, sends it securely to partners. Free to you. |
|---|---|
| Lending partner | Matches your application with suitable licensed lenders. |
| Lender | Verifies your details, decides, sets terms within the law, signs the agreement, funds and collects. |
| Your province | Licenses lenders, sets the rules and handles complaints. |
Questions people ask
How long does the whole process take?
The application takes about five minutes. Lender decisions often come within an hour on business days, and e-Transfer funding is frequently the same day. Evenings, weekends and holidays usually push funding to the next business day.
Do you charge me anything?
No. Jessica’s House is free for borrowers. We may be paid by partners when we help arrange a loan.
Can I talk to someone?
Yes. Contact us with questions about your application or our guides. For questions about a specific loan, the lender is the right contact, because it holds your agreement.
Ready when you are
One application, about five minutes, free to send.