EsiPay brings multi-lender retail finance to optical and audiology practices

One application. Multiple lenders. More customers say yes to the eyewear and hearing care they need.

EsiPay, from Snowbird Finance Ltd, has launched its the multi-lender retail finance platform into the UK optical and audiology markets.

Now, independent opticians, hearing care practices and multi-site groups can offer customers a single finance application that automatically cascades through a panel of lenders until it finds an approval. No re-keying, no second application, and no lost sale because one lender said no.

Finance as part of customer care

Finance is still often treated as a last resort, mentioned only when a customer hesitates due to price. EsiPay aims to change that conversation. Presented upfront and transparently, finance is simply another way of making good care affordable.

For customers, it means access to the products their practitioner actually recommends – premium lenses, multiple pairs, rechargeable or discreet hearing aids – with clear, fixed monthly repayments, over an agreed term.

For practices, it means higher average order values, better conversion of recommendations into sales, improved cash flow, and no exposure to bad debt.

“Many opticians and audiologists already know how to spread the cost for their customers – they’ve been doing it for years. The trouble is that it leaves the practice carrying all the risk. If they have tried finance in the past with a single lender, they may have been disappointed by the approval rate, leaving them reticent to try again and leaving their customers with nowhere to go. With EsiPay some businesses are seeing approval rates above 85%, so not only do patients win, but the businesses do too. They see more recommendations being accepted, highest customer satisfaction, lower administrative costs and better cashflow.”

Posts Andre Santos, Strategic Marketing Director, Snowbird Finance Ltd

Solving the “one lender, one platform” problem

Until now, retail finance at the point of sale has worked on a simple but limiting model: one platform, connected to one lender. If that lender declines a customer, the practice has to start again with a different provider – a new login, a new form, a new credit search – or, more often, the customer walks away.

In optical and audiology, that moment matters. A customer who has just been told they need varifocals, specialist lenses or a pair of hearing aids is making a health decision, not an impulse purchase. A decline at the counter is uncomfortable for the customer, frustrating for the practitioner, and frequently ends with the customer choosing a cheaper option that is not right for them – or no option at all.

EsiPay: one application, a cascade of lenders

EsiPay replaces the single-lender model with a cascade. The customer completes one application, in practice or on their own device. EsiPay submits it to the first lender on its panel; if that lender cannot approve, the same application moves automatically to the next, and the next, until an approval is found. All this is done in a matter of moments, with no new forms to fill out by the customer.

One application – the customer enters their details once.
Automatic cascade – the application flows through EsiPay’s lender panel without the practice or customer lifting a finger.
Decision in minutes – the customer gets an answer almost instantly.
Paid upfront – once the agreement is signed, the lender pays the practice, and the customer repays the lender.

The result is higher acceptance rates, fewer awkward conversations, and a finance process that fits into normal business operations rather than interrupting them.

How EsiPay also solves the direct debit issues

Many optical and audiology practices already let customers spread the cost – but they do it through in-house direct debit arrangements rather than regulated retail finance. It feels simpler, but it quietly leaves the practice acting as the bank.

	In-house direct debit	Retail finance through EsiPay
Who carries the financial impact and risk if a customer stops paying	The practice	The lender
When the practice is paid	Month by month, over the term	In full, upfront, once the agreement is signed
Effect on cash flow	Revenue tied up for months or years	Cash in the bank to reinvest in the business
Admin	Chasing failed payments, cancelled mandates and arrears	Handled by the lender
Credit and affordability checks	Usually none or minimal. Largely done on trust.	Carried out by regulated lenders with sophisticated tools to make such decisions.
Protection for the customer	Limited	Consumer credit protections, including rights under the Consumer Credit Act

A direct debit plan also caps what a practice can comfortably offer.

Spreading a £300 pair of glasses over a few months is manageable; spreading £3,000 of premium hearing aids over two or three years is a significant credit risk for a small business.

Retail finance removes that ceiling, so practitioners can recommend the right product rather than the one the practice can afford to fund.

Why EsiPay is the complete finance solution for eyecare and hearing care

For practices ready to move beyond direct debits, EsiPay offers what no single-lender platform can:

More approvals – a multi-lender cascade means more customers are accepted first time.
One simple process – a single application for the customer and a single platform for staff.
Paid upfront, risk-free – the lender pays the practice and takes on the credit risk.
Built for the clinical setting – fast decisions that fit inside an appointment, with no hard sell.
Flexible options – a range of terms, including interest-free plans the practice can choose to offer.

Full support – onboarding, staff training and marketing materials to help teams talk about finance with confidence