Union First Funding Reviews and Complaints: 7 Findings From the Record

Union First Funding, based in Richmond, VA, is just a broker. This middleman doesn’t lend; it collects your info and shops it to outside lenders. Plus, it doesn’t offer merchant cash advances. Then, how does Union First hook people? Through pre-approved letters - complete with a code - sent by mail. Better Business Bureau’s verdict? A B- grade, not accredited, with one complaint filed but ignored. It’s about a letter that looked too much like a government check. Reviewers say their loan is denied by every Union First partner, followed by a pitch for debt planning. And be warned: a personal refinance loan almost never erases your merchant advances.

1. It is not a lender

In its footer, the company explains that it is not a lender. Rather, Union First works with a network of lenders that “may” give you credit. Also, its partners can say no; the “creditor” is the originating lender, not Union First; and not all states are served. No lender, in or out of the network, must extend any money.

2. It is not your MCA funder

Union First appears frequently in the search history of owners trying to find their funders, probably because it sounds like one. It’s not. It’s also separate from First Union Lending, a small-business funder in Florida, and the many “union” debt relief brands. Union First doesn’t buy receivables, doesn’t offer merchant cash advances, and doesn’t debit accounts daily to collect principal, interest, and fees. Most important, it doesn’t file UCC filings against borrowers. If a firm with a name similar to Union First Funding is debiting your account daily, look at your loan contract. Then search the legal name of the entity you borrowed from.

3. The mailer is an ad

Union First drives the majority of its business from pre-approved letters with a website address and a personal code number. This is what you do: go to the website, look for the button for people with mailers, and punch in your unique ID. The fine print says you got the letter because of your creditworthiness, yet the lender can still refuse after you apply. Think of the invitation letter you get in the mail as a TV ad or radio spot. It’s not a promise to fund you.

4. The BBB record

Union First’s Better Business Bureau page reveals it’s a sole proprietorship run by its CEO since September 2018. In August 2026, the BBB’s grade was B- and it’s not accredited. A single complaint is listed, by a consumer who said the loan letter closely resembled a government check. Union First never answered it, according to the site. BBB says this is why it’s rating the firm B- instead of better. The best solution: view the page live.

5. The real price

Union First’s site provides broad APR ranges for credit: 3 percent as a low, 25 percent as the high. It also provides a sample on the website: about $191.99 monthly over two and a half years at 24% for a $4,300 loan, totaling roughly $5,760 repaid. Union First lets readers know that to get the firm’s best price, the lowest possible APR, you need a high credit score. Just understand how unlikely it is you’ll qualify for the ultra-low rate offered.

6. Reviews split two ways

Trustpilot comments lean harsh, while customers on other ratings sites appear more satisfied. Trustpilot critics fault a “bait-and-switch” pattern: your app goes to tens of lenders, none of which approve, and then the hard sell on debt relief, some say. Some had good credit with no late payments. One person says the reps were rude if you didn’t sign on. At Crixeo, it’s all an outside-lender model, and debt settlement seems involved. However, fans do appear on the Web. In general they like the terms, think the process is easy, and say staff is polite. What you see: about a 4/5 star rating on smaller review sites but few reviews.

Can’t find any federal (FTC or CFPB) or state attorney general enforcement actions or court judgments against Union First. A fair read suggests that Union First is a real business that pushes hard in its marketing.

7. It won’t fix MCA debt

Many struggling owners drag their family balance sheets into the mix. They float their business with Mastercards and Visas intended for personal use only, because merchant cash advances have killed them in cash flow. The mailers find them. MCAs are a sale of your receivables. In the MCA world, your funder can accelerate your balance if you default. Also, many have your personal guarantee and a UCC lien. That personal refi will have a hard time underwriting an owner with outstanding merchant cash advances. What’s more, signing personal credit to get out of MCA debt can drive your business even deeper into a hole. This is due to MCA debt being negotiable, but your consumer debt is often a fixed monthly payment. In the real world this type of move often replaces one kind of trouble with another.

What your hurting MCA business needs is to talk directly to the cash advance funders, negotiate, and get some measure of balance and relief. But don’t type in your ID code until you are clear on these: who is the lender; is the approval binding; what the exact APR is, along with the total repayment; are they willing to help with MCAs; and is it a loan or a debt program?

So what if you’ve had it with “pre-approved” mailers? The short-term fix is to opt out at optoutprescreen.com, or by phoning 1-888-567-8688. Do it online and your address is off the lists for five years. Mail in a signed form and it’s permanent. Problem with a personal loan lender or lead shop? File with the CFPB. Typically, the company will respond to your issue within fifteen days.

A free contract review costs nothing and takes a day or two. Call (888) 837-7053, or send the agreements to Delancey Street for a straight read on your options.