May 11

A credit report is essentially a detailed account of all your current and past financial history. Credit reports compile information that includes any loans, credit cards and mortgages you have or have paid off, your payment history and any outstanding debts you may have. Credit reports also hold all the details of whether you have been declared bankrupt and any court judgements against you. Many people do not realise the importance of your credit report. It can be easily damaged by missing loan or credit card payments. A poor credit report will stand between you and the money you want. Lenders look at your credit history to determine whether or not to lend money to you.

Credit reports are designed to give lenders an idea of what risk is involved by lending money to you. They are therefore used by lenders to protect themselves against risk. Given the current economic climate many banks and some financial institutions are unwilling to lend to people who are considered to be more of risk – those with poor credit histories. If you do have a poor financial past then you could struggle to get the loan you want. However, everyone should have access to the money they need and there are loan options for people with bad credit.

 Loans are often distinguished between secured and unsecured loans:

May 11

A secured loan is where you are required to put up a significant asset against the loan which is used as collateral. Bad credit loans are often secured loans and are effectively loans which are ‘secured’ against an asset which is usually your home or a car. With a secured loan you will find that the interest rates are likely to be lower. This is because there is less risk involved for the lender because they have the security of your asset. As there is less risk for the lender it also means that you are more likely to qualify and you will be able to borrow more money over a longer period of time than with an unsecured loan. However, this does mean there is more risk for you the borrower. Should you default on payments you risk having your asset seized meaning if you don’t pay what you owe on time you risk having your home repossessed.

May 11

Unsecured Loans

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An unsecured loan is a loan that is not secured against an asset so the borrower does not have to put forward any collateral. Unsecured loans are therefore, considered to be a lot safer than secured loans. While this means less risk for you, for the lender there is more risk involved because you are putting up an asset against the loan. As a result you will find that the interest rates on unsecured loans can be considerably higher. You will also find that because of this you will not be able to borrow as much as you would with a secured loan or for as long. If you have a poor credit rating then this will also stand against you because you are seen as more of a risk but there are lenders on the market who do lend to people with bad credit so take the time to compare the market. Unsecured loans can be very varied and flexible with the exact amount you can borrow depending on the type of unsecured loan you choose and the lender you decide on.

May 11

A payday loan is essentially a payday advance, designed to tie you over until you next payday. If you are looking for an instant cash injection a payday loan can come in handy. Payday loans are unsecured short term loans best used as a last resort to cover emergency expenses. It might be that you need to pay a bill before your heating or electricity gets turned off, you need to have your boiler fixed, or for urgent car repairs. In financial emergencies like these a payday loan can be an important lifeline for many who would otherwise be unable to pay. Sometimes they can even work out cheaper than overdraft charges or going over your credit limit but this is not always the case.

Payday loans are really popular because they are so easy to get hold of and you can have the money the same day you apply, sometimes within 60 minutes. With payday loans there are no lengthy application processes and you can simply fill in a form online.  Payday loans are very accessible because if you have bad credit, have been refused a loan elsewhere or even been bankrupt you can still take out a payday loan because there are minimal credit checks involved. Usually you will find that the minimum requirements are that you have to be 18 or over and be a UK citizen with a bank account.

May 11

The main problem with payday loans is that the interest rates can be considerably higher compared to other loans. This is because anyone can get one regardless of their credit history and as they are unsecured loans there is more risk involved for the lenders. Bear in mind however that payday loans are only meant to be used for short term borrowing. You should never use a payday loan to solve any long term financial problems you may be experiencing. If you are already in debt, a payday loan could make your debt situation worse. If you miss payments then you may be given fines and the interest can keep accumulating which could make the loan very expensive and you could end up paying a lot more than the loan was worth.

May 11

Bad credit loans are aimed for those with bad, little or no credit.  Bad credit loans are ideal for those who have been rejected elsewhere for a loan because of a poor credit history, CCJs, defaults, or those who have been blacklisted. You can generally take out more money for more time compared to a payday loan with a bad credit loan. You will also find that these loans are much more flexible. A great aspect of a bad credit loan is that by using the loan properly, and making your repayments on time it can help to repair the damage to your credit report which will improve your future chances of borrowing. With the right lender, responsible repayment of a bad credit loan can result in improved rates and conditions over time.

May 11

As with payday loans you will also find high interest rates with bad credit loans because of the risk involved for the lender. Although you can take out a bad credit loan regardless of your financial history you may find that the exact amount you can borrow will be affected. You should also bear in mind that that if you do not repay the loan you could end up worsening an already low credit score. You can usually get unsecured or secured bad credit loan. With a secured bad credit loan, you will have to put up an asset against the loan. While this should help lower interest rates compared with unsecured loans, this means that should you default on your repayments you do risk having your home seized.

May 11

-          Loans are serious financial commitments: Before you take out a loan you should access your personal finances to work out whether or not you can afford to take out the loan you want.

 -          Know what the risks are: It is important that you remember that with any loan there is an element of risk involved and if you fail to meet the terms of the loan you could find yourself in a debt situation and you could damage your credit rating.

 -          Research is key: There are some really great loan deals on the market but you have to take the time to research. Using online comparison sites can be really useful because you can easily compare different loans against each other and easily view all the features of different loans. Make sure you always read the terms and conditions fully before applying.

 The interest rate:  The interest rate is the most important aspect to consider but please note that because you are considered to be more of a risk by lenders you will find that the interest rate is higher if you have a poor credit history. The Annual Percentage Rate or APR is the best rate to look at when comparing lenders. There are many aspects that can affect the interest rate on a loan. The longer it takes you to pay back the loan, the more you will pay in interest.

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