There are several different short-term loans out there, and many people get confused between them. At Loans for Less, we offer everything from car title loans to personal loans to help you get that quick cash you need. What are the differences between personal loans, title loans and payday loans? Let’s look at each of these, plus clear up some common confusion from within the person loan realm.

Bogus Personal Loans

A common misconception is that a loan with no credit check and no collateral is a personal loan – this is incorrect, and in reality, this is a cash advance. We’ll discuss what both these options are in a moment.

Title Loans

Title loans, quite simply, are loans that allow you to borrow money for a short period of time using your vehicle as collateral. You sign over the title of the car at the time of the loan, though you’ll be allowed to continue driving it unless you fail to pay the loan back. There is no credit check required, and only minimal income verification. However, if you cannot pay the loan back appropriately, you risk repossession.

Payday Loans and Cash Advances

These are extremely short term loans, typically only a couple weeks. They require no credit checks or collateral, though on the flip side, they offer higher interest rates and fees.

Real Personal Loans

Real personal loans, also called unsecured loans or signature loans, come with interest rates ranging from 5 percent to about 30 percent, depending on credit. Terms range from 12 to 60 months, and the application requirements are stingier than for other types we’ve discussed – you complete an application, provide bank statements and pay stubs, and authorize the lender to view your credit report. Want to learn more about the different kind of short term loans we offer? Speak to the brokers at Loans for Less today.

Personal loans and car title loans are some of the quickest and easiest ways to get qualified borrowers the cash they need, but that doesn’t simply mean you’re a guarantee to be accepted for one. Different loans have different requirements, and there are situations where credit, derogatory marks or other factors could keep your personal loan application from being approved. What do you do if this happens to you? There are a few proper steps to take. Let’s have a look.

Credit Report

Credit might be one of the central reasons why your application was denied, but there can be errors in a given credit report that lowers your score to an unacceptable range. By law, you’re given 60 days after a credit report to request a free copy of the report, and the score the lender used to evaluate your creditworthiness. Look the report over closely for errors. Maybe a late payment was reported that you can prove never took place, or maybe an account you didn’t open appears on your credit report. If there’s any chance that incorrect reporting may have caused your denial for a loan, look into getting this remedied as soon as possible.

Credit Building

If your score is correct and credit was indeed the reason you were denied, it’s time to take steps to rebuild your credit. The credit report will come with “reason codes,” which are the most important factors impacting your score – they might tell you it’s time to focus on paying down debts, or they might indicate you need to apply for a new account. Through these and other smart financial methods, you can create a plan to raise your credit score back to where it needs to be.

Consider Alternatives

If you’re still badly in need of a short-term financial fix, you’ll have to consider other options besides a personal loan. A balance transfer credit card is beneficial to some people, and others find success within a reputable debt management program – you’ll pay a fee, but these services can help you reduce your overall debts much more quickly. To learn more about any element of title loans or personal loans, speak to the experts at Loans for Less today.

There are a few different specific designations within the world of personal loans and signature loans, and one such designation refers to installment loans. At Loans for Less, we offer a variety of installment loans for people who fit their criteria. What exactly is an installment loan, and how can it potentially benefit you? Let’s take a look.

Basic Definition

Put simply, an installment loan is a loan with a set number of scheduled payments over time. In reality, many of the most common conventional loan types on the market are installment loans – auto loans and mortgages, for instance. Credit cards are not an installment loan, as they require a monthly payment but don’t carry a set time period for payments.

Example

Within the personal loan sphere, installment loans take on a specific role. For instance, let’s say you’re looking to borrow $1,000 to help pay for a graduation party for a loved one. You take out an installment loan that spans 24 months, at a 25 percent interest rate. In this case, you’d receive a check for $1,000 up front, and then you’d make regular payments of $53.37 for 24 months – in the end, equating to a repayment of the $1,000 plus the appropriate interest.

Comparison to Payday Loans

In general, payday loans come for a shorter duration. They also have higher interest rates than installment loans, and can be paid back in a lump sum – often on the borrower’s next payday, hence the name of the loan. Installment loans, on the other hand, spread payments out evenly over a longer period of time.

Bad Credit Assistance

One of the primary uses for installment loans is building up credit. Credit bureaus want to see regular payments toward debts over time – because this is exactly the format required by installment loans, they’re a good way to build credit up quickly as long as you can make the monthly payments on time. Want to learn more about installment loans, or any of our signature or title loan options? The brokers at Loans for Less are standing by to assist you.

Life can bring many unexpected twists and turns, especially within the realm of finances. For people who might be in need of a little extra flexibility now and then for a variety of reasons, personal loans through a company like Loans for Less are a great option. What are some of these reasons that might cause a need for a personal loan? Here are a few of the most common.

Debt Consolidation or Payoff

The most common use of a personal loan is to consolidate outside debts. A lump payment can allow certain people to combine multiple debts into one more manageable payment, or to lower monthly payments so they can make payments at a level commensurate with what they have available. A personal loan can also be used to pay off credit cards, which can lead to a lower interest rate and create “light at the end of the tunnel” when it comes to an end-point for credit debt.

Home Remodeling or Moving Expenses

If you need to install a new roof, remodel your bathroom or add in an amenity like pool or a hot tub, a personal loan can be a great option – especially if you don’t currently have equity in your home and don’t want to get a home equity line of credit. Additionally, moving expenses are just the sort of one-time payments that can be perfect for a personal loan. Larger moves can be expensive, and particularly if they’re a move with a new job in mind, there might be a situation where cash funds are low right now, but will be on the upswing soon. This makes a temporary personal loan a great choice.

Personal Event

Large life events are another example of a great use for a personal loan. This might be a positive event like a wedding or a graduation, but it also could be a sudden and sad event like a funeral where funds are needed in short order.

Bills or Emergencies

Various bills, especially medical bills, may require immediate payments to avoid major additional expenses. Things like dental services, cosmetic surgery or fertility treatments can come with large cost attachments, and may come up as emergencies that cannot be avoided. A personal loan can be the simplest way to solve these temporary issues. Interested in learning more about personal loans, or about any of our title loan solutions? Talk to the brokers at Loans for Less today.

So, you’ve got yourself a car title loan from Loans for Less. You’ve used that cash for a pressing need or emergency expense, and any crisis has been averted. Well, now it’s time to pay your loan back. A default could lose you your car or cause a number of other problems – how do you make sure you avoid that? Better yet, how can you get things done ahead of schedule and provide a boost to both your finances and your credit score? Let’s look at a few simple tips for paying off your title loan earlier than expected.

Round Up Payments

Let’s say your scheduled monthly payment is $68.99, just for example. If you can round that up just a little to a round figure, say $75 or even $100, you could be making much more headway than you think. That little bit of extra per month will chip away slowly at your total interest, and after several months, you’ll all of a sudden find yourself with a much smaller amount – despite paying what seems like a trivial extra amount each month.

Don’t Miss Payments

It may sound obvious, but the downsides of missing payments in a personal loan situation can be extreme. In the case of title loans, any serious delays in payment may cause you to default on you loan, which would in turn lead to you losing your car. Plus, even if you manage to avoid default, missing a payment will raise your interest and the eventual amount you’re forced to pay off.

Make Extra Payments

If you’re scheduled to make payments monthly, but you think you have the flexibility to do so more often, make it happen! There are also ways to split up your payments in ways that allow you to contribute a little extra every now and then without putting a major financial strain on yourself: Instead of a $400 payment once a month, try paying $100 once a week – for months with five weeks or close to it, you’ll end up paying a little extra without causing a major dent in your pocketbook.

One Big Yearly Payment

If you can afford it, a sizable chunk once a year can go a long way. It can knock out a big portion of interest, and may even get you far enough ahead to feel comfortable paying down other debt simultaneously. At Loans for Less, our experts are standing by to assist you with all your personal and title loan questions.

Following the 2008 economic crisis, many Americans became prudent with their spending habits. However, that cautious spending mentality may be coming to an end this 2014. According to a report from Wicked Local-North Andover, many US citizens are once again starting to be more open to securing personal loans: