Hen Credit

Hen Credit (also known as Henloan) is an illegal loan app that has been permanently banned by the Nigerian government and removed from the Google Play Store .

This is not a matter of opinion. The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) officially delisted Hen Credit in September 2023 as part of a major crackdown on 37 illegal loan apps . The app has been permanently deleted from Google's Play Store .

But here is the even more disturbing part. Even after being banned, Hen Credit continues to operate through alternative channels. And the stories of what they do to borrowers are genuinely terrifying.

Let me show you exactly what this app does, what happened to real Nigerians who encountered it, and why you should stay far, far away.

The Basic Facts

Hen Credit operates under multiple names. Investigative reporting has confirmed that Henloan also uses the name Hencredit, and is operated by Orange Loans and Purple Credit Limited .

Key identifiers:

Also known as: Henloan

Parent company: Orange Loans and Purple Credit Limited

Status: ILLEGAL - delisted by FCCPC

Availability: Removed from Google Play Store

The Company That Runs It

The ICIR, a respected Nigerian investigative journalism outlet, discovered that Henloan (Hen Credit) is operated by Orange Loans and Purple Credit Limited .

Here is the critical thing to understand. These are not registered microfinance banks or finance companies licensed by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) . They are operating entirely outside the regulatory framework that protects borrowers.

When Was It Banned?

Hen Credit was officially delisted in September 2023 as part of a batch of 37 illegal loan apps removed by the FCCPC . The app was permanently deleted from the Google Play Store following a directive from the Nigerian government .

The FCCPC had requested on August 1, 2023, that Google remove all apps operating without regulatory approval or in violation of the Limited Interim Regulatory Framework for Digital Lending, 2022 .

The bad news: Even after being banned, apps like Hen Credit often resurface under different names. Some continue operating through direct APK downloads (sideloading) rather than official app stores.

The Watchlist History

Before being delisted, Hen Credit was previously placed on the FCCPC's "watchlist" alongside other apps like Getloan, Camelloan, Nairaloan, and Moneytree Finance Made Easy . The watchlist is the FCCPC's way of saying: "We are watching these apps. They may be violating the rules."

Hen Credit did not correct its practices. It was eventually delisted permanently .

The Harassment Is Not Just Bad. It Is Criminal.

Let me share a real story. This is not speculation. This is documented investigative journalism.

The Case of Jide Wale (name changed to protect the family)

According to a detailed investigation by The ICIR, a man named Jide Wale had an experience that should serve as a warning to every Nigerian considering unregistered loan apps .

Here is what happened step by step:

Step 1: The Marketing Call

Jide received a call from a Henloan marketing agent. The agent promised loans with "affordable interest." Times were hard. The economy was challenging. He needed money. He decided to try it .

Step 2: The Disappointment

Jide downloaded the app and input his details. He wanted to borrow N65,000. But when he saw the actual interest rates, they were much higher than what the agent had told him. He made a smart decision: he cancelled the request and deleted the app .

You would think that would be the end of it. He did not take the loan. He did not agree to the terms. He walked away.

Step 3: The Forced Loan

Minutes after deleting the app, Jide received an alert. N25,000 had been deposited into his account. He had not requested this money. He had not accepted any loan agreement. But the money was there .

Step 4: The Impossible Repayment Terms

When Jide checked the app (which he had to reinstall to understand what happened), he discovered that he was expected to repay N55,000. For a N25,000 loan he never asked for. The interest was impossibly high .

Step 5: The Trapped Feeling

Jide immediately called the Henloan marketing agent who had originally contacted him. He wanted to return the money immediately. He did not want this loan. But the agent told him something shocking: he had to repay the full N55,000. There was no option to simply return the N25,000 .

Step 6: The Harassment Begins

When Jide could not pay the N55,000 (because who has that kind of money on short notice?), the harassment started. They called him daily. They threatened him. They told him they would send messages to every single person in his contact list .

Step 7: The Promise Was Kept

Henloan did exactly what they threatened. They sent messages to everyone in Jide's contact list. His daughter Dolapo received messages accusing her father of being a "criminal and ritualist" .

Think about that for a moment. A loan company sent messages to a man's children, accusing their own father of being a ritualist. The humiliation. The shame. The damage to family relationships. All for a loan he never asked for.

Step 8: The Family's Suffering

Dolapo told The ICIR: "My dad's mood changed as they constantly called and harassed him. My sister and I were constantly harassed and sent messages accusing my dad of being a criminal and ritualist" .

Jide's story is not unique. The ICIR investigation found that many Nigerians who defaulted on loans from these apps experienced harassment and cyberbullying .

The tactics used by Hen Credit and similar apps include:

Debt shaming: Publicly humiliating borrowers by contacting their friends, family, and employers

Unauthorised data access: Harvesting contact lists and using them as weapons

Hidden charges: Adding fees that were never disclosed upfront

Abusive language: Using threatening and derogatory language with borrowers

False accusations: Sending messages accusing borrowers of being criminals

Forced loans: Depositing money without the borrower's consent, then demanding repayment with high interest

The Government's Response

The Nigerian government has been clear about these practices. The FCCPC has banned unethical activities by lending apps, including accessing debtors' contact lists and images of their customers .

But as Jide's story shows, apps like Hen Credit continue to operate illegally. They ignore the bans. They find ways around app store removals. And borrowers continue to suffer.

Q1: Is Hen Credit a legitimate loan app?

NO. Hen Credit (Henloan) has been officially delisted by the FCCPC and is considered an illegal loan app . It is not approved to operate in Nigeria.

Q2: Can I still download Hen Credit?

The app has been permanently removed from the Google Play Store . If you find it on any website offering APK downloads, DO NOT INSTALL IT. These sideloaded apps are even more dangerous because they bypass Google's security checks.

Q3: What happens if I use Hen Credit?

Based on documented victim reports, borrowers have experienced:

Harassment and daily threatening calls

Their contacts being messaged with false accusations

Being forced into loans they did not request

Repayment demands at exorbitant interest rates

Family members being humiliated

Q4: Why was Hen Credit banned?

The FCCPC delisted Hen Credit for:

Operating without regulatory approval

Violating the Digital Lending Regulations

Engaging in harassment of borrowers

Using abusive language

Charging exorbitant interest rates

Q5: Who owns Hen Credit?

Hen Credit (also known as Henloan) is operated by Orange Loans and Purple Credit Limited . This company is NOT registered as a microfinance bank or finance company licensed by the CBN . They are operating outside the law.

Q6: Can Hen Credit access my contacts?

YES. In fact, this is one of the primary reasons they were banned. They harvest your contact list and use it to harass your friends, family, and employers when you cannot pay . The FCCPC has explicitly banned this practice .

Q7: What should I do if Hen Credit has my data?

If you previously used Hen Credit and are concerned about your data:

Warn your contacts immediately that they may receive threatening calls or messages

Do not engage with any harassers who contact you

Document all harassment (screenshots, call logs, messages)

Report to the FCCPC through their official channels

File a complaint with the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC)

Q8: Can Hen Credit report me to credit bureaus?

Unregistered loan apps like Hen Credit do not have formal relationships with credit bureaus. However, this does not mean they cannot harm your financial reputation. Their method of "reporting" is to contact your friends, family, and employer and accuse you of being a criminal . This can damage your personal and professional relationships even if your credit score is unaffected.

Q9: I was harassed by Hen Credit. Where can I report?

You can report to:

Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) - official complaints portal

Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) - for data privacy violations

Your local police station - for threats and harassment

The CBN - through their consumer complaints channel

Save all evidence: screenshots, call logs, messages, and the names of anyone who contacted you.

Q10: Are there safe alternatives to Hen Credit?

YES. The FCCPC maintains a list of fully approved digital lenders. As of August 2023, 154 loan apps had received full approval . These include:

Branch Mobile

Fairmoney

Carbon (formerly Paylater)

Palmcredit

Goloan

Sycamore

And many others

Always check the FCCPC website before downloading any loan app.

Q11: How can I verify if a loan app is legal?

Visit the FCCPC official website

Check their list of fully approved digital lenders

Look for the app on the CBN's list of approved microfinance banks (if applicable)

Read the app's privacy policy carefully

Never grant contacts or photo access to any loan app

Read 1-star reviews to see what real users are experiencing

Q12: What is the FCCPC watchlist?

The watchlist is a list of apps that the FCCPC is monitoring for potential violations . Before being delisted, Hen Credit was on the watchlist alongside apps like Getloan, Camelloan, Nairaloan, and Moneytree Finance Made Easy . Being on the watchlist means the app is suspected of violating regulations. You should avoid apps on the watchlist.

Q13: Can I get my money back from Hen Credit?

If you were forced into a loan you did not request (like the N25,000 deposited without consent in Jide's case ), you have legal grounds to dispute the debt. However, recovering money already paid may be difficult. Your best course of action is to:

Stop paying immediately

Document everything

Report to the FCCPC

Seek legal advice

Q14: Why do apps like Hen Credit still exist after being banned?

Unfortunately, banning an app from the Play Store does not always stop the operators. They can:

Rebrand under a new name

Distribute APK files directly through websites

Use alternative app stores

Continue operating through other channels

This is why the FCCPC continuously updates its blacklist . New illegal apps appear regularly.

Q15: What specific laws does Hen Credit violate?

Hen Credit violates multiple Nigerian laws and regulations:

The Digital Lending Regulations - operating without registration

The FCCPC Act - engaging in unfair and deceptive practices

The Nigeria Data Protection Regulation (NDPR) - collecting and using personal data without proper consent

The CBN guidelines - operating as an unlicensed financial institution

The Cybercrimes Act - harassment and cyberbullying