In Guadeloupe, a peer-to-peer loan follows French law just as in mainland France: it is made in euros, proved in writing, declared above €5,000, and must never begin with fees paid to a stranger met online or by phone.
A legal framework identical to mainland France
As an overseas department and region, Guadeloupe applies the French Civil Code and Consumer Code. A loan of money between relatives remains free to arrange, but it must be provable in writing and respect the usury rate published every quarter.
The role of IEDOM for households in the archipelago
The Institut d’émission des départements d’outre-mer (IEDOM) acts locally on behalf of the Banque de France. Its Guadeloupe branch lets people consult the FICP credit register, designates a bank under the right to an account and runs the secretariat of the over-indebtedness commission.
Declaring a Guadeloupe loan on formulaire 2062
Above €5,000, the borrower declares the contract to the tax authorities on formulaire 2062, the French loan declaration form, attached to their income tax return. Interest received by the lender is taxable. Our page on the taxation of peer-to-peer loans explains more.
Optional registration and notarial deeds in the 971
The parties can register their acknowledgement of debt for a fixed fee of €125, which gives it a certified date. For a large sum, an authenticated deed signed before a notary in the archipelago makes any forced recovery easier.
Crowdlending platforms accessible from Basse-Terre or Jarry
A Guadeloupe resident can lend through a crowdfunding platform provided it holds the European crowdfunding service provider authorisation issued by the AMF. The official AMF register and its blacklists make it possible to check this status.
Tontines and family solidarity in the French Antilles
As elsewhere in the Caribbean, financial mutual aid often runs through the extended family, tontines between colleagues or advances between neighbours. These verbal arrangements hold as long as nobody defaults; a dated, signed document is still advisable for any significant sum.
High prices, cyclones and cash needs
High living costs, driven notably by freight and the octroi de mer (a local import duty), push some households towards a private loan for a car, a storm-damaged roof or school costs. Such urgent needs also attract fraudsters promising instant funds.
Lending from mainland France to a relative back home
Many Guadeloupeans settled in Île-de-France lend to a parent on the island. As both use the euro, a transfer between a mainland and a local bank suffices; the contract should still state the schedule, any rate and the tax address of each party.
Fake lenders in local Facebook and WhatsApp groups
Guadeloupe classified-ad groups regularly host profiles of supposedly reliable lenders promising funds within 48 hours. They then demand application or insurance fees; this mechanism is described on our page about loan scams on social media.
Filing a complaint and reporting from Guadeloupe
A victim can file a complaint with the gendarmerie or police station, call the Info Escroqueries hotline, report illegal content on PHAROS and log the practice on Signal Conso. Keeping screenshots, numbers and proof of transfer speeds up the work of investigators.
The over-indebtedness commission rather than another loan
When a household already juggles several loans, borrowing again from an individual often makes matters worse. The over-indebtedness commission, whose secretariat IEDOM runs in the department, can reschedule or cancel certain debts; filing an application costs nothing.
Free advice and local town pages
Points-justice run by the departmental council for access to law, the ADIL for housing projects and approved consumer associations give Guadeloupeans free guidance. Our pages on private loans in Les Abymes and in Sainte-Anne describe local realities.
Steps for a secure private loan in Guadeloupe
- Verify the real identity of the lender or borrower by meeting in person in Pointe-à-Pitre, Basse-Terre or elsewhere, never through messages alone.
- Draft an acknowledgement of debt or loan contract stating the amount in euros, the rate, the term and the schedule.
- Check that the agreed rate stays below the usury rate in force for the relevant loan category.
- Make the payment by traceable bank transfer, without cash, mandat cash, prepaid cards or cryptocurrencies.
- Fill in formulaire 2062 with the income tax return if the amount lent exceeds €5,000.
- Consider registering the deed or using a notary in the archipelago for a large amount.
- File every repayment with its proof of transfer and a receipt signed by the lender.
Indicative costs of a loan between Guadeloupeans
| Item | Amount in euros | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Interest agreed between individuals | Free, 0 % loan possible | Capped by the Banque de France usury rate |
| Registering the acknowledgement of debt | €125 (indicative) | Optional step giving a certified date |
| Authenticated deed with a Guadeloupe notary | On quotation | Useful for a large sum or a property project |
| Formulaire 2062 | Free | Mandatory above €5,000, completed by the borrower |
| IEDOM over-indebtedness commission | Free | Application filed with no fees or intermediary |
| Fees demanded by a fake lender | Outright loss | No legitimate lender asks for any before payout |
Documents to gather in the department
- Valid ID for both parties
- Proof of address in Guadeloupe or mainland France
- Recent proof of the income of the borrower
- Signed acknowledgement of debt or loan contract
- Bank details (RIB) of both accounts used
- Formulaire 2062 for an amount above €5,000
- Dated repayment schedule
- Proof of the initial transfer of funds
Common mistakes and scam signals in the Antilles
- Paying application, insurance or release fees to a lender met online before receiving a single euro.
- Believing a so-called notary based in Europe who asks for a security deposit by international transfer to release the loan.
- Lending several thousand euros verbally to a cousin with nothing in writing, which makes any later claim very difficult.
- Accepting a repayment or payment in prepaid cards, vouchers or cryptocurrency at the request of an unknown contact.
- Sending your banking login details or a copy of your Carte Vitale to a lender found in a WhatsApp group.
Questions from Guadeloupe readers
Does the usury rate also apply in Guadeloupe?
Yes. The usury thresholds set by the Banque de France apply across the whole national territory, overseas included. A peer-to-peer loan whose rate exceeds this ceiling exposes the lender to criminal penalties and to a reduction of the interest claimed.
Do you need to go through IEDOM to lend to a relative?
No. IEDOM plays no part in a private loan. However, the borrower can check their own FICP listing with it and, in case of serious difficulty, file an over-indebtedness application with the commission whose secretariat it runs.
Must a loan sent from Paris to Pointe-à-Pitre be declared?
Yes, if the amount exceeds €5,000, the borrower living in Guadeloupe attaches formulaire 2062 to their income tax return. The place of residence of the lender does not change this obligation, since both territories come under the same tax administration.
Where can islanders get free legal advice in Guadeloupe?
Points-justice led by the departmental council for access to law, advice sessions organised by the local bar associations and approved consumer associations all see people free of charge. For a complex arrangement, a notary or lawyer remains the right contact.