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Have you considered a 0% purchase credit card?
These cards offer an introductory period where you’re not charged any interest at all. Clear your debt before that period expires and your borrowing won’t have cost you a penny (although some cards do come with a monthly or annual fee).
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Read the full methodologyHave you considered a credit card?
If you’re looking to make a large purchase but don’t have the cash to pay for it upfront, you might be considering borrowing the funds. Depending on the purchase you need to make, you could use either a personal loan or a credit card.
A credit card will generally be the better choice for regular spending or if you are borrowing smaller amounts. Credit cards can also be a good option if you want to have some flexibility over repaying the debt.
Use our guide to see how credit cards and loans work so you can decide what’s right for you.
Improve your credit history with LOQBOX
- Save from £20 to £200 a month
- Build and improve your credit history
- Once you’ve finished unlock your savings
Improve your credit history with LOQBOX
- Save from £20 to £200 a month
- Build and improve your credit history
- Once you’ve finished unlock your savings
Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage or any other loan secured on it.
Have you considered hire purchase?
- Get a decision in minutes
- Won't affect your credit score
- No deposit options
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Can’t see what you’re looking for?
Unsecured loans powered by Loans Warehouse
- One simple form to compare lenders
- Good or bad credit histories considered
- Including Santander, HSBC and M&S Bank
- Loans from £1,000 to £50,000
- See your quote before you apply
- Good and bad credit history accepted
- Quote won't affect your credit score
Late repayments can cause you serious money problems. See our debt help guides.
How do I know if I’ll qualify for a loan?
Lenders assess each would-be borrower on a case-by-case basis. They aren’t always transparent about exactly what they’re looking for, but the good news is that you can use the form above to check your likelihood of approval for multiple lenders in one go.
There are a few standard criteria you’ll need to meet to qualify for any personal loan in the UK from any lender:
- Be at least 18 years old
- Be a UK resident
- Have a regular source of income
- Have a UK bank account
Can I apply for a loan without affecting my credit score?
You can check your eligibility for personal loans with no effect on your credit score. Lenders conduct what is known as a “soft” credit search, which doesn’t affect your score and is only visible in your credit record to you.
This means you check which lenders will say “yes” and even get pre-approved for a loan, without it having any effect on your credit score.
When you’ve chosen a suitable lender and proceed to the actual application, the lender will need to run a full, “hard” credit search. This has a small negative impact on your credit score and will also be visible on your credit file. The negative impact to your credit score is then typically quickly recovered through the first few repayments on the loan.
Can I get a loan with no credit check?
No, you can’t really get a personal loan without having gone through some kind of credit check, but as mentioned above, the soft check that’s carried out when you first check your eligibility with lenders does not affect your credit score.
What do I need to apply for a loan?
When you apply for a loan, the lender will want to confirm a few things before they approve your application. This includes that you are who you say you are, you live at the right address, and you have a legitimate source of income.
When you apply online, this information is generally verified through credit reference agency (CRA) such as Experian, Equifax or TransUnion, depending on the lender. This means you won’t need to provide documents that confirm your identity, but the lender may still request these documents later in the application process.
If you apply in a branch, you’ll need to provide identification documents, including proof of address, proof of income and a recognised form of ID. You can find out more about what you’ll you when applying for a loan in our guide below.
The documents needed when applying for a personal loan
What can I get a personal loan for?
Most lenders will let you use a personal loan for any worthwhile purpose, and this includes things like:
- Home improvements
- Buying a new car
- Paying for a wedding
- Consolidating debt
- Paying for a holiday
- Buying furniture
You’ll generally need to provide the reason for your loan when you apply.
There are some things you won’t be able to get a loan for, including:
- A deposit on a property
- Gambling
- Business purposes
- Share trading or investing
How do I repay my loan?
Once you’ve been approved for a loan, the lender will send you a loan document explaining the details of your loan. This will include your payment schedule, which lays out the size and frequency of your repayments, which will generally be made once each month via direct debit.
You’ll need to continue making these monthly repayments until you’ve paid off the full loan amount, as well as any interest that’s accrued on the loan. Some lenders will let you make additional repayments to help reduce how much interest you pay, and may also let you pay off your loan early.
Ready to compare rates?
We compare lenders including:
Finder.com has selected Accepty Technology Ltd to provide details of credit products and whether you may be eligible to get them. Accepty Technology Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN: 839295). Accepty is acting as a credit broker, not a lender, and may receive a payment from a credit provider if you take out a credit product.
We show offers we can track - that's not every product on the market...yet. Unless we've said otherwise, products are in no particular order. The terms "best", "top", "cheap" (and variations of these) aren't ratings, though we always explain what's great about a product when we highlight it. This is subject to our terms of use. When you make major financial decisions, consider getting independent financial advice. Always consider your own circumstances when you compare products so you get what's right for you.
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