It’s no fun to have bad credit. Sometimes it feels as though no matter what you do, things just get worse. Good people have bad credit. It can happen with a job loss, a medical emergency, or a car accident. It can also happen when good people lose control of their finances.
So what happens when good people with bad credit have an emergency need for money? Maybe a parent is ill, maybe the car needs repair, or maybe they need to see a doctor and don’t have any insurance or money. Whatever the need, whatever the emergency, good people with bad credit have limited options.
What they need is a personal or unsecured loan. One option that many people turn to is “payday loans.” Payday loans are often a double-edged sword. These loans are short term, small amount, high-interest loans. Usually, they are limited to amounts under $500. The borrower writes a post-dated check for the next pay date in the amount of the principal and interest. The interest rate is extraordinary ranging from annual percentage rate of 300% to 1500%.
The major drawback with payday loans, however, is their incredibly short term. Borrowers, who are already stretched thin, have difficulty repaying the loan in a two-week period. This leads to rolling over the loan, which in turn leads to more fees. Too often it becomes a vicious cycle. Fortunately, as word of these predatory lending practices has filtered into the media, other institutions have stepped up to offer short-term personal loans.
Credit unions have been one of the first to meet this need. There are many advantages to seeking a short-term personal loan from a credit union. First, the interest rates are much lower, second the term of the loan is usually around 90 days, and finally the credit union usually limits the number of short-term loans you can get in a year. In addition credit unions can provide free credit counseling and perhaps help you find some long-term solutions.
Emergencies are stressful. They can be even more stressful if the individual has bad credit. The most important thing for individuals with bad credit to remember is that often there is more than one choice for a quick personal loan.