Five Things To Check Out When You Apply For a Payday Loan


Are you thinking of going in for a payday loan to meet an unexpected expense? If so, look into these five things before you finalize one. This checklist can help you make smarter choices. You might even end up saving some serious cash!

  • First thing to consider -- do you really need that cash advance? Sure, you need cash right away, but have you looked at other options? The fact is, a payday loan is an extremely expensive source of funds, with Annual Percentage Rates (APRs) ranging from 300% to 1000%. So before you take one, see if you can arrange money by taking an advance from your employer or from your credit union.

    You could also consider borrowing money from friends or family. Depending on your situation, credit card funding might be an option too, because it's usually cheaper than a payday loan.

  • Ask yourself how much you can really repay when the next payday rolls around. Work out an exact number you can commit to. Take a cash advance only for the amount you can repay, considering all charges as well. Obtain funds from other sources for any additional requirements you may have.

    Here's why. If you choose to roll over all or part of the payday loan, you end up paying much more -- additional charges, late fees, etc. Your APRs start climbing rapidly and you may even find yourself trapped in a vicious cycle of payday loan debt. Stay clear of this trap.

  • Apply only for one payday loan at a time. Your application gets reported to a consumer tracking database used by payday lenders and banks. If you apply for multiple loans, the lenders may see the multiple applications and you might end up being rejected by all of them.
  • Go through the lender's approval criteria very carefully. Apply only to one where you can qualify. If you apply to a company that has stringent criteria and get rejected, that can actually hurt your chances of getting approved by another company with more relaxed criteria.
  • If you're applying online, ask yourself if the lender's website seems professional and well-organized. Do they have clear information and guidelines on the site? A comprehensive FAQ?

    Most important -- do they have an SSL certificate on the application page? This indicates data is being transmitted securely. Secure pages have web addresses that begin with "https:" instead of "http:" and in addition, you'll see a lock symbol displayed in your browser. If a lender is using a non-secure page to collect information about you, find another lender!

  • Acting on the above points will help you make better choices about payday loans. The best solution is, of course, to get your personal finances into excellent shape so that you never need to borrow in an emergency.

    About the Author

    Prakash Menon is a financial expert and writer specializing in managing personal debt and providing wealth building solutions. He has written on alternatives to payday loans, personal debt management and other topics.



    RELATED LINKS

    Accept Credit Card Payment Online

    Accept credit card payment online and increase sales by 400% or more.... Find out how ...

     

    Advanta Credit Cards

    Apply for an Advanta credit card with 0% APR, rewards and cash back.

     

    American Express Credit Card Application

    Apply online for a new AMEX rewards credit card. See special offers.

     

    Best Airline Miles Credit Card

    Earn Frequent Airline Miles for Every Dollar Spent with No Annual Fee.

     

    Best Cash Back Credit Card

    Earn Up to 5% Cash Back on Every Day Purchases. Apply for Yours Today.

     

    Best Reward Credit Card

    Compare & Apply for the Best Reward Credit Cards with Up to 5% Cash Back Rewards and more.

     

    Business Credit Card Online Application

    Compare Business Credit Cards from All Major Banks. Apply Online Now

     

    Chase Credit Card Application

    Find Credit Card Applications from Chase & Apply Online in Seconds.

     

    Citi Credit Card Application

    Citibank offers credit cards that have 0% APR balance transfer options, Rewards, Cash Back, and much more

     

    Credit Card Application For Bad Credit

    Great card for bad credit just got better. 8.9% APR, instant decision.

     

    Credit Card Balance Transfer Deal

    Great Rates: Balance Transfers and Purchases. Capital One Credit Card

     

    Debit Cards

    Control Your Spending with a debit card. Guaranteed Approval.

     

    Discover Credit Card Offer

    Discover Credit Card Offers with 0% for 12 months, no fees & cash back.

     

    Gas Credit Card Application

    Save money at the gas pump with a new gas credit card. Apply now.

    Fast Easy Payday Loan

    Get the fast cash you need with an easy payday loan. Compare and apply

     

    Hotel Rewards Credit Card

    Earn Free Stays with a Hotel Rewards Credit Card. Apply Online Now.

     

    HSBC Credit Card Application

    Get 0% Intro APR, No Annual Fee, Great Service, Benefits. Apply Now.

     

    Low Interest Credit Card List

    Compare & Apply for Credit Cards w/ 0% Intro APR for Up to 15 Months

     

    Master Card Application

    Apply for MasterCard Credit Cards with 0% APR, Cash Back & No Fees.

     

    No Annual Fee Credit Card

    0% APR with No Annual Fee. Compare No Fee Credit Cards & Apply Online.

     

    Online Car Loan Application

    Loans and Refinancing for New and Used Cars. Online Approval.

     

    Online Debt Consolidation Services

    Consolidate your debts today - ease the strain of monthly bills.

     

    Online Foreign Currency Trading

    FOREX is a serious game. Play it with the pros. Start with just $50. The best trading platform available today. Start Trading and see why.

     

    Online Mortgage Application

    Apply online for a mortgage for your home. It's fast and easy. Great Rates!

     

    Online Visa Credit Card Application

    Compare & Apply for Visa Credit Cards with 0% APR and No Annual Fee.

     

    Prepaid Credit Card

    Get a Prepaid Credit Card with Free Direct Deposit. No Credit Check.

     

    Shopping Reward Credit Card

    Shopping Reward Credit Card. Fast Online Credit Card Application ... You have found the best shopping reward credit card site on the Internet!

     

    Student Credit Card Application

    Pay 0 Interest for 6 Months & Earn Rewards with a Student Credit Card.

     

    Travel Rewards Credit Card

    Compare Frequent Flyer Credit Cards Apply Now and Start Earning Miles.


    MORE RESOURCES:

    New York Times (blog)

    Revamping the student loan industry
    Washington Post
    What the legislation does: It would end the Federal Family Education Loan program, under which the federal government subsidizes banks and other lenders to ...
    Bill Proposes Increased Aid to the Needy for CollegeNew York Times
    UT, A&M joining others in transition to federal direct loan programAustin American-Statesman
    Student loan reform shares health care fateCNNMoney.com
    San Bernardino Sun -Chronicle of Higher Education (subscription) -Education Week News
    all 136 news articles »


    NuWire Investor (blog)

    SBA loans spur Houston economy
    Community Impact Newspaper
    Now, the SBA and area banks involved in lending SBA-backed loans must wait for Washington to create new legislation to continue the program. ...
    MetroWest businesses get help with loansMetroWest Daily News
    Small business chief pushes for more loans to little guyMiamiHerald.com
    Are Direct Loans from the Small Business Administration a Bad Idea?Going Concern (blog)
    Red, White, and Blue Press (blog) -Earthtimes (press release) -Mountain Xpress (blog)
    all 63 news articles »


    MonitorBankRates.com

    Mortgage rate on 30-year US loans little changed
    Asbury Park Press
    Bond purchases from Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and Ginnie Mae, which buy home loans from lenders and package them into securities, brought down yields and ...
    Bank of America Refinance Mortgage Rates – Home Loans Lower on March 18Subprime Blogger (blog)
    US mortgage demand tepid even as loan rates sinkReuters
    Citigroup Home Loans—Low Mortgage Rates Available For RefinancingRed, White, and Blue Press (blog)
    TopNews United States -New York Times
    all 339 news articles »


    DSNews.com

    US hotel loan default rate may double by 2012-Fitch
    Reuters
    NEW YORK, March 18 (Reuters) - Hotel loan defaults could double in the United States, reaching 30 percent, by 2012 as the lodging industry struggles with a ...
    Hotel Loan Delinquencies to Double by 2012, Fitch Ratings SaysBusinessWeek
    Delinquent hotel loans to double by 2012Crain's New York Business
    Hotel Reservations: Fitch Expects Hotel CMBS Defaults to Hit 30%DSNews.com
    Economist -BusinessWeek
    all 19 news articles »


    The Money Times

    Sallie Mae sells bonds of $1.5bn
    The Money Times
    According to the Bloomberg data, Sallie Mae has not sold unsecured debt since June 2008, as rising delinquencies on student loans and falling issuance of ...
    Paying student loan interest can create savings after graduationCredit Loan (blog)
    Sallie Mae sells bonds in first offering since June 2008Washington Post
    Student loan reform bill triggers protestsRochester Democrat and Chronicle
    The News Journal -Campus Progress -MarketWatch (press release)
    all 74 news articles »


    Pennsauken loan firm ceases business in Pa.
    Philadelphia Inquirer
    P. Angelo closed in the late 1990s after federal officials determined it had issued more than 200 fraudulent loans. The reverse-mortgage program is now one ...

    and more »



    Asia-Pacific Loan Prices Soar as Lending Slump Ignites Trading
    BusinessWeek
    March 19 (Bloomberg) -- Asia-Pacific corporate loan prices rose to the highest in two years after syndicated bank lending slumped to the ...

    and more »


    ABC News

    Wells Fargo signs up for loan modification program
    The Associated Press
    The modification program offers lenders who made "piggyback" loans — second mortgages that allowed consumers to make a small or no down payment during the ...
    Wells Fargo agrees to modify home-equity loansFinance and Commerce
    Dems and GOP Disagree on HAMP SuccessHULIQ
    Wells Fargo extends debt relief to 2nd mortgages: The move by the nation's ...Trading Markets (press release)
    Red, White, and Blue Press (blog) -Credit Loan (blog)
    all 212 news articles »


    RBS Cuts Loans to Clean Energy in Snub to Brown's Initiatives
    Bloomberg
    The Edinburgh-based institution that received the world's most expensive bank bailout was lead arranger on six loans worth $499 million in 2009, ...

    and more »

    Google News

    home page | article index | site map
    Credit  |  Currency Trading  |  Debt Consolidation  |  Debt Relief  |  Insurance  |  Investment  |  Leasing  |  Loans  |  Mortgage and Refinance  |  Personal Finance  |  Real Estate  |  Stocks and Mutual Funds  |  Taxes

     

    © Copyright 2006 - SmarteCredit.Com. All rights reserved