Having a bad credit score can land you with limited lending options, as most banks need you to have a good credit score above 680 to get a loan with a decent interest rate. You can end up having a bad credit report due to many reasons other than failure or delay in repayment.
At times it can happen due to financial issues or can be a case of not applying for a loan in history. Lenders usually are hesitant to provide loans in any of such changes. But the good news for you is that applying for personal loans with bad credit can help you build a better credit history.
Ensure considering the below-mentioned things before selecting your lender and availing of the loans.
What Kind of Personal Loan can You Take?
There can be various reasons for taking a personal loan like renovation, buying a car, or anything that can help you enhance the quality of living. Below is a list of loans you can take for yourself:
- Car
- Holiday
- Wedding
- Renovations
- Medical
- Debt consolidation
- Furniture and appliances
After you have decided the kind of loan, you need to know the types of personal loans available like secured or unsecured loans, student loans, fixed and variable rate personal loans, etc. These come with their merits and cons, and you need to look for the most suitable option.
What do you need when applying for personal loans with bad credit?
In case you don’t have a good credit history, you need to ensure the following documents are appropriately maintained and provided while applying for a loan:
- Identity proof: like passport, Medicare card, driving license
- Income proof: payslips
- Financial details: these include your assets, liabilities, expenses, income, and debts
- References: can be from your landlord or any valid entity
The process of getting your loan approved comes with some charges such as setup and monthly loan fees, early exit penalty, and late repayment charges. Make sure before applying, you read through all of these conditions.
Features to Look for Before Selecting Personal Loans
When you approach any financial company to borrow money with a low credit score, you will come across lenders who might exploit you with a heavy interest rate and will end up creating a debt cycle for you. Here are a few things to check with the company to get a genuine loan:
- Low fees: opt for a minimal fees structure
- Flexible repayments: having some flexibility in repayment can help you maintain a better score if you find it challenging to repay the loan immediately
- Feasible borrowing: take a loan that you can afford to repay, don’t get under pressure of borrowing large amounts from lenders.
- Variable or fixed rate of interest: it depends on you whether which one you find suitable, but go through the benefits of each before choosing
If you are wondering whether a personal loan can benefit your credit score, the good news is that it does. A variety of credit mixes can help you increase your report and credit score. But you shouldn’t be taking a loan only for this purpose, ensure you need the money.
You can’t expect a single loan to boost your score a lot, but if you repay the debt with your credit card, it can increase your credit score, which impacts your credit utilization rate in a good way.
