If you are thinking of applying for a loan it is important you shop around first, especially in the current financial climate. The personal loan market in the UK has been extremely competitive for the last five years and even though the knock-on from the sub-prime crisis in the USA may have had some effect there are still plenty of willing lenders who have readily available funds to advance to borrowers, albeit at slightly higher interest rates.
The advance of the internet and the extensive roll-out of broadband have made shopping for loans even easier. As well as the traditional high street, telephone and broker routes you can now search and apply online. There are many comparison engines on the internet which effectively do the same job as a financial broker if you chose to use one.
Credit scoring is one of the main factors in the decision made by a lender to offer a loan, and in most cases also affects the interest rate offered to the prospective borrower; the better your score the more likely that you will be offered a lower interest rate. Other important information that is sought by lenders when you apply for a loan includes: is the applicant a homeowner? Do they appear on the electoral register? Are they married and if so, what is the credit history of their partner?
This criteria, in conjunction with the applicant’s credit history, will allow the lender to assess suitability for a loan. But what is also assessed is how often an applicant has recently applied for credit. Before you submit any application think of the effect this will have on your credit rating, especially if it is currently a good one. Each formal application made to any lender will result in a search of your credit rating. Every search leaves an imprint and several imprints from different lenders in a short period of time will adversely affect your credit score. This is because many lenders will see it as a desperate search for credit.
So when you are looking for a loan, make sure you compare headline rates first. Then ask those with the best deals for a quote based on your individual circumstances. The difference between a quote and a formal application is that your credit rating remains unaffected. A quote does not require an imprint of your credit record.
It is definitely worth shopping around for deals, especially online, before you apply for a loan. Do your research and ask for quotes in the first instance, before you submit a formal application. It could make a vital difference.
Andrew Regan is an online, freelance author from Scotland. He is a keen rugby player and enjoys travelling.
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