Important Tips About Payday Loans

Here is some important information about the practices used by many of the payday lenders we list on money.co.uk. To find out about the specific practices and charges applied by your chosen payday loan lender you will need to check their website and read their terms and conditions carefully before you apply.

The financial implications of non-payment
You should always make repayments on your payday loan on time and in full. The interest rates and information we list in our comparison tables assume that you will do this. Payday loan lenders each have their own policies regarding non-payment, this affects the additional interest and charges they apply and the debt collection practices they use.

If you do not make your agreed repayments on time then you are likely to be charged extra interest and additional fees. Some lenders will also take legal action if you repeatedly fail to repay. How much extra you are charged and the collection practices used for non-payment will depend on the payday loan lender you have borrowed from; you should check this before applying. Your payday loan payments will be taken out of your account automatically. However, if you do not have enough money in your account to cover the payment you are likely to incur extra charges. You are also likely to be charged interest on your balance at that point; this may be more than the original amount you borrowed.

If you think you may have difficulty making a repayment you should contact your lender immediately. Failure to do so could impact your credit score and result in additional charges.

The impact of non-payment on your credit score
Non-payment will also be recorded on your credit file. Repeated non-payment may have a negative impact on your credit rating and affect your eligibility for future borrowing. You should always make repayments on time and in full to avoid any repercussions on your credit rating.

Renewal policy information
It is not advisable to renew or extend a payday loan. However, if you do need to you should contact your lender to arrange an extension before they try to take payment. Most payday loan lenders will charge you an extension fee and additional interest on your total outstanding balance. Some lenders will automatically renew or extend your payday loan if you do not make an agreed repayment. This is likely to cost you extra in additional fees, interest and charges. You should check your chosen lender’s approach to payday loan extensions before you apply.

Payday loan collection practices
If you fail to make an agreed repayment on a payday loan most lenders will contact you by phone, post or email to rearrange your repayment. If you repeatedly fail to make repayments then they may use collection practices or take legal action. You should familiarise yourself with the collection practices of your chosen payday lender before you apply.

Financial difficulty
If you are struggling to make repayments on a payday loan you should contact your lender right away. You can also get free advice from debt charities like StepChange, Citizens Advice Bureau and the National Debtline.