Paying for a purchase in three or four installments has become a reflex for many consumers. Initially reserved for major expenses, THE split payment established itself in many sectorsfrom fashion to travel, including furniture and household appliances. This solution, which allows you to spread an expense without necessarily paying interest, responds to a growing concern: preserving your purchasing power while maintaining a certain margin of maneuver in managing your budget.
This development is confirmed in a study conducted by Scalapay with more than 2,200 split payment users in France, Italy, Spain and Portugal. In France, 59% of users say they use it more than six months ago and 72% now consider payment flexibility a decisive criterion when purchasing. But this flexibility also hides some precautions to be aware of to avoid unpleasant surprises.
Split payment becomes a purchasing decision criterion
The study shows that payment in installments is no longer just a facility offered at checkout. For many consumers, it has become an integral part of the shopping experience. So, 36% of French users surveyed say they give up on a purchase when this solution is not available. Among them, some abandon their basket permanently, while others prefer to postpone their purchase. For Nadia Cortese, marketing director for France at Scalapay, this development reflects a profound change in consumption habits: “Split payment is no longer perceived as a simple bonus at the time of payment, but as a real expectation of consumers. »
However, she insists on one point: “The study concerns consumers already using split payment. At their home, the absence of this option can become a real breaking point in the purchasing journey. This is not necessarily because they cannot buy, but because they want to maintain flexibility and better control the pace of their spending. »
Split payment: a budget management tool provided you remain reasonable
As households decide more about their spending, split payment meets a need for budgetary visibility. According to the investigation, more than 90% of users say they feel either more peaceful or more in control of their budget when they pay for their purchases in installments. In France, around half evoke a feeling of serenity and more than four users in ten believe they have better control over their spending. For Nadia Cortese, “the consumer knows in advance the amount of the payments, their schedule, and can integrate these payments into their budget. The purchase is no longer experienced as an expense concentrated in one go, but as an expense spread out, easier to absorb. »
Beware of the accumulation trap
This facility does not mean that split payment is risk-free. Each due date constitutes a debt to be honored. When a consumer makes multiple payments three or four times at different merchants, they can quickly lose track of the total amount of their commitments. Nadia Cortese warns: “ The main risk is accumulation. A payment in several installments remains a payment commitment. Taken in isolation, it can be very useful. But if a consumer multiplies the deadlines without having a global vision of his budget, he can lose visibility. » She adds: “We can speak of misuse when split payment becomes a permanent solution to compensate for an insufficient budget or when used impulsivelywithout checking its ability to meet deadlines. » Split payment must therefore be used to organize a one-off expense, not to sustainably finance a level of consumption beyond one’s means.
“No cost” does not always mean no vigilance
Another preconceived idea: a split payment announced “free of charge” would necessarily have no consequences. In reality, it all depends on the service provider and the merchant. At Scalapay, payment in three installments is offered without interest. On the other hand, payment in four installments may include interest when the merchant does not bear these costs. Before validating a purchase, it is therefore better to check:
- the possible presence of interests;
- penalties in the event of delay;
- the precise schedule of samples;
- the refund conditions in the event of return of the product.
As Nadia Cortese recalls “paying in installments does not reduce the price of the product : this simply changes the payment rhythm. The best practice is to consider each deadline as a fixed expense integrated into your monthly budget. »
A sector now more supervised
Split payment will also evolve on a regulatory level. The news European Consumer Credit Directive (Directive (EU) 2023/2225) broadens its scope of application to numerous Buy Now Pay Later type offers which until now escaped certain obligations. Member States will have to transpose it into their national law by November 2025, with gradual application thereafter. The aim is to strengthen consumer protection through greater transparency, better pre-contractual information and a more rigorous assessment of solvency in certain cases. This development constitutes good news according to the expert: “ This directive will allow the market to gain maturity and distinguish players who truly place responsibility at the heart of their model. »
Split payment is established permanently
Split payment should not replace the classic bank card. On the other hand, it is gradually becoming a payment method expected by some consumers. The study also shows that French users now belong to all generations: 25-34 years old represent 30% of usersfollowed by 35-44 years (23%). Purchases concern fashion as well as travel, home and even everyday expenses.
