According to the good folks at FICO, the credit scoring developer, approximately 25% of the US population qualifies as having poor or bad credit. For these people, borrowing money from a bank can be a time consuming and frustrating chore – if they can even qualify. Once a person’s credit dips below the 600 level, they are no longer considered a “prime borrower” to lenders and thus are considered a "high-risk borrower" and fall into the subprime category.
What Is A Bad Credit Loan? Is it different than a payday loan or short-term cash advance?
To meet demand, the credit industry created more flexible and relaxed borrowing guidelines for people with no, limited, fair, poor and bad credit. The resulting loan, also called a payday loan or “cash advance”, is typically a short term unsecured personal loan with higher interest rates and fees. Advocates support these loans citing they are fast and relatively easy to obtain and can help people deal with life’s unexpected financial emergencies. Critics claim that people pay too much in fees and interest and risk spiraling further into debt if they can’t repay the loan on time and in full and/or borrow repeatedly (read about the “Hamster Wheel effect”).
How Do Bad Credit Loans Work?
A bad credit unsecured loan works when a consumer (with less than “good” credit) agrees in a contract that they will repay the principal loan amount, plus and interest and fees, in short order – typically on or by their next payday. In most cases, a borrower needs to be employed with payroll records and have a checking account at a US bank. They pre-date a check when applying online and funds are then automatically withdrawn from their checking or savings account on the pay date.
All lenders are directed by law to disclose all the fees and interest penalties beforehand without any hidden conditions. Loans are not available in all states and borrowers should be sure to understand all terms including any fees or charges associated with late payments, the non-payment of a loan and the repeated use, renewal, and extension of any loan. The general borrowing range for this type of loan is $100 - $1000 USD. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (“CFPB”) are two federal consumer governmental agencies that oversee various aspects of the finance and credit markets.
Unsecured Bad Credit Personal Loan
