Atome Philippines — Excessive / Undisclosed APR (Online Lending)
Effective annual percentage rate — including processing fees, insurance, and other charges — far exceeds what was advertised or the BSP Circular 1133 cap.
Atome Philippines is the local arm of a Singapore-based BNPL provider. APR complaints against Atome describe undisclosed late fees and interest charges retroactively applied to BNPL installments — a pattern that, where present, falls inside the RA 3765 disclosure-violation framework and the BSP Circular 1133 consumer-credit boundary.
Atome is SEC-registered. This page documents the public record on Atome PH, the documented BNPL complaint pattern, and the SEC EIPD filing path that converts checkout disclosures and statement records into a regulator-routed complaint.
Legal basis (Philippines)
See the issue page for the full citation list. Primary statutes implicated by excessive / undisclosed apr (online lending) include RA 11765 (FCPA, 2022), RA 3765 (Truth in Lending Act), RA 10173 (Data Privacy Act), BSP Circular 1048 / 1133 / 1160, and SEC MC 18 (2019) where applicable.
Public record — Atome Philippines × Excessive / Undisclosed APR (Online Lending)
No documented public-record events for Atome Philippines on excessive / undisclosed apr (online lending) yet — be the first to file.
(1 other public-record entries exist for Atome Philippines on unrelated issues — see the company record page.)
File the first complaint →Documented complaints
No complaints documented yet for Atome Philippines on this issue.
File the first complaint →Recommended actions
Related questions
How do I file a complaint against an online lending app?
File simultaneously with the SEC Corporate Governance and Finance Department (cgfd@sec.gov.ph) for SEC MC 18 violations and with the National Privacy Commission (privacy.gov.ph) for unauthorized contact-list access under RA 10173. Both agencies can suspend the lender's Certificate of Authority and order data deletion; the SEC has revoked the licenses of multiple OLPs since 2019.
What is the maximum legal interest rate in the Philippines?
BSP Circular 1133 (2021), as extended by Circular 1165 (2023), caps consumer-loan effective interest at 6% per month nominal (24% per annum) and total cost (including penalties) at 15% per month for short-term, low-value loans. The Usury Law's ceilings were suspended by Central Bank Circular 905 (1982), but courts may still strike unconscionable rates under Article 1306 of the Civil Code (Medel v. CA, G.R. 131622, 1998).
How long does an SEC complaint take?
SEC's Enforcement and Investor Protection Department (EIPD) typically issues show-cause orders within 30–60 days of a complete complaint and decides administrative cases within 6–12 months. Cease-and-desist orders against unregistered or egregiously violating online lending platforms have been issued in as little as 14 days. Timelines lengthen when the respondent contests the SEC's jurisdiction.
Related guides — Excessive / Undisclosed APR (Online Lending)
SEC MC 18 (2019) — File a Complaint Against an Online Lending App
Step-by-step guide to filing a Securities and Exchange Commission complaint against a Philippine online lending app — SEC MC 18 (2019), evidence checklist, and the FinCare portal.
sec · online-lending · harassment
How to file a BSP complaint online (2026)
Step-by-step guide to filing a complaint with the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas — BSP Online Buddy, consumer email, and the paper Consumer Assistance Mechanism form.
bsp · complaint · consumer-protection
How to document a data-privacy violation for an NPC complaint
How to document a Philippine data privacy violation for an NPC complaint — RA 10173, NPC Circular 16-01, evidence pack, screenshots, and the filing path.
npc · data-privacy · ra-10173
Did this happen to you?
File a complaint and we will pre-fill your BSP, SEC, DTI, and small-claims letters.
Frequently asked — Atome Philippines × Excessive / Undisclosed APR (Online Lending)
What is the maximum legal interest rate for online loans in the Philippines?
BSP Circular 1133 (2021), extended by Circular 1165 (2023), caps consumer-loan effective interest at 6% per month nominal (24% per annum) and total cost at 15% per month for short-term, low-value loans. Courts may strike rates beyond this as unconscionable under Civil Code Art. 1306 (Medel v. CA).
- Source:BSP Circular 1133 (2021)
- Source:BSP Circular 1165 (2023)
- Source:Medel v. CA, G.R. 131622 (1998)
Are online lending apps required to disclose APR?
Yes. RA 3765 (Truth in Lending Act) requires written disclosure of the effective APR before loan signing; SEC MC 3 (2022) further requires online lending platforms to display the effective interest rate prominently in the app.
How do I prove the APR exceeded the cap?
Compute (interest + processing fees + insurance + service charges) ÷ principal × 12. Save the loan disclosure (required under RA 3765) and the in-app fee breakdown screenshots; file with SEC EIPD if the lender is SEC-registered.
- Source:RA 3765 — Truth in Lending Act
- Source:SEC EIPD
Pwede bang ibalik ang sobrang singil ng online lender?
Oo. Sa ilalim ng RA 11765 §4(g) at BSP Circular 1160, ang anumang sobrang singil sa disclosed na rate ay dapat irefund sa loob ng 15 business days. Ang BSP Circular 1133 cap ang ginagawang basehan ng 'sobrang singil'.
- Source:RA 11765 (FCPA, 2022)
- Source:BSP Circular 1160 — IRR of RA 11765
- Source:BSP Circular 1133 (2021)
Can I sue for predatory interest?
Yes. Civil Code Art. 1306 lets courts strike unconscionable rates; Medel v. CA (1998) and subsequent cases have voided 5%–10% per-month rates. Small claims (≤ ₱1,000,000) is available without a lawyer per A.M. No. 08-8-7-SC.