AI agents for business finance: what they can and can't do
What AI agents can do in bookkeeping, close, collections and compliance today, where a person must stay in charge, and how to judge a product.
The short answer
Specta is Sterling Bank's lending platform, so support and complaints go through Sterling: its contact page lists 02018888822, 07008220000 and WhatsApp +234 916 120 1000, plus a complaints form (October 2026). If Sterling does not resolve a repayment or debit complaint, escalate to the CBN, and to the FCCPC for unfair consumer treatment.
Who you are dealing with when you borrow on Specta
Specta is Sterling Bank's digital lending platform, so your loan contract is with Sterling Bank, a commercial bank supervised by the Central Bank of Nigeria. That matters for complaints: Specta is not a separate loan app with its own regulator, and the first place to raise any problem is Sterling's own support and complaints channels. Sterling's loans page describes two Specta products: Specta Basic, which requires your salary to be paid into Sterling (the page answers "Yes, account domiciliation is required") and runs for up to 48 months, and Specta Xtreme, which has a 12-month repayment period. The same page says Specta offers "online real-time support from our customer support agents", but it lists no Specta-only phone number.
Sterling and Specta support channels
Sterling's contact page, read in October 2026, lists these routes. Use them for Specta questions, repayment problems and complaints:
| Channel | Details on Sterling's contact page (Oct 2026) |
|---|---|
| Phone lines | 02018888822 and 07008220000 |
| +234 916 120 1000 | |
| AI chat | Naya, Sterling's chat support, linked from the contact page |
| Complaints form | "Have a complaint? Click here" (sterling.ng/complaints), with a separate page to track a complaint |
| Head office | Sterling Towers, 20 Marina, Lagos Island, Lagos |
The contact page also shows an email address, but it is hidden behind an anti-spam script, so we have not reproduced it here; open the page in a browser to see it. Only use numbers taken from Sterling's own site or app. Numbers posted in comment sections or social media replies are a common route for people pretending to be bank staff.
How Specta repayments are taken
Sterling's loans page does not set out the collection method for either product, so the binding description is the one in your own loan offer and agreement. In practice the agreement will say which account is debited and on what date. For Specta Basic, where your salary must already land in Sterling, expect repayment to be tied to that salary account. For Specta Xtreme, read the offer for how the instalment is collected and from which account.
When a debit looks wrong
- You were debited before the due date in your agreement.
- The amount differs from the instalment schedule you accepted.
- You were debited twice for the same instalment.
- You were still debited after paying off the loan in full.
For any of these, gather your loan agreement or offer screenshot, the account statement showing the debit and the date you paid off the loan if relevant. Then contact Sterling through one of the channels above, ask for a complaint reference number and write it down.
Paying off a Specta loan early
The loans page says nothing about early repayment or liquidation charges for Specta. It does say there is no penal charge for part or full liquidation on a different product, Home Acquisition Finance, but that line does not apply to Specta. Before you liquidate, ask support in writing for your payoff figure and whether any charge applies, and keep the reply.
Worked example (illustrative figures, not Specta's terms): you borrow ₦300,000 for 12 months with a monthly instalment of ₦35,000, so the full schedule repays ₦420,000 (₦35,000 × 12). After six instalments you have paid ₦210,000. If the lender works out interest on the reducing balance, the payoff quote should be well below the remaining ₦210,000 of scheduled instalments, because future interest falls away. If the quote equals the full ₦210,000, ask how it was calculated. Our guide to APR versus flat fees explains why the method matters.
How to complain and escalate
- Raise the issue with Sterling first, by phone, WhatsApp or the complaints form, and get a reference number.
- Put the key facts in writing: dates, amounts, loan reference and what you want done (refund, correction or confirmation of closure).
- Track the complaint through Sterling's "Track Complaint" page.
- If Sterling does not resolve it, escalate to the Central Bank of Nigeria, which supervises banks. Our guide on how to complain about a bank or fintech walks through the CBN route.
- If the problem is unfair treatment as a consumer, such as misleading terms or harassment over a debt, you can also file with the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC).
The FCCPC's homepage, read in October 2026, gives a complaint portal at complaints.fccpc.gov.ng, the email contact@fccpc.gov.ng, phone lines 0805 600 2020 and 0805 600 3030, and a toll-free line, 0800 000 2121. Its office address is 23 Jimmy Carter Street, Asokoro, Abuja. The same page reports that the Commission has resumed implementing its 2025 digital lending regulations after a court vacated a restraining order in July. If anyone has contacted your family or employer about a Specta debt, see loan collection harassment: your rights.
What to check first
- Your agreement's due dates and instalment amounts, so you know what a correct debit looks like.
- Your credit bureau record after the loan closes; a paid loan should show as closed. See how credit bureaus work.
- Written confirmation from Sterling that the loan is fully repaid, kept with your statements.
Where Pryme fits
Pryme is not a lender. Loans on Spaces are lent by Solid Allianze Microfinance Bank and can only be spent with merchants in Pryme's Spaces network. Any limit is offered based on how your account is run, and the amount, cost and repayment date are shown in full before you accept. See Loans on Spaces.
Questions people ask
What is the Specta customer care number?
Sterling's contact page lists 02018888822 and 07008220000, and WhatsApp on +234 916 120 1000 (October 2026). Specta is a Sterling Bank product, so these lines handle Specta queries.
How do I complain about Specta deducting money from my account?
Contact Sterling through its complaints form or phone lines with your loan agreement and statement, and get a reference number. If it is not resolved, escalate to the CBN, and to the FCCPC for unfair consumer treatment.
Can I pay off my Specta loan before the due date?
Sterling's loans page does not state Specta's early repayment terms. Ask support in writing for your payoff amount and whether any charge applies before you pay.
Is Specta a loan app or a bank?
Specta is Sterling Bank's digital lending platform. Your lender is Sterling Bank, a CBN-supervised commercial bank.
Sources
- Sterling Bank: Loans (Specta Basic, Specta Xtreme) · accessed Oct 2026
- Sterling Bank: Contact us · accessed Oct 2026
- FCCPC: homepage (File a Complaint portal, contact lines and notice on resumed digital lending regulation) · accessed Oct 2026
This article is general information, not financial, legal or tax advice. Products described are provided under the terms on this site and are subject to regulation and eligibility.