Payday loans are small cash advance loans. Usually the loan is secured by the borrower writing out a check that is dated for their next payday, as collateral. These types of loans can be very helpful in some situations, although extreme caution should be taken when deciding to borrow money this way.
Payday Loan Fees
For a fee of between $15 and $50, the borrower can get money for an emergency or money shortage to tide them through until their payday. If borrowers decide to roll what they owe over for another fortnight, they are responsible for another fee at the same rate.
Who Needs A Payday Loan?
The need for this type of service has arisen since banks and other lending institutions generally don’t lend small amounts of money on these terms. The trouble with a payday loan is the interest rates they offer is extremely high, the amount of interest is calculated at around 300% per annum.
Often borrowers fall into the trap of borrowing money from a payday loan provider every fortnight, in order to stretch their income further, in this case a payday loan is a very dangerous choice. People who get caught up in the trap of borrowing money from these companies, and rolling the money over more than once run the risk of getting further in to debt.
The RIGHT Way To Use A Payday Loan
The only way to borrow money from a payday loan company is to understand the associated costs, and only do it in an emergency, where the option of borrowing money from friends, colleagues or family, and giving them a forward dated check is not available.
Care should be taken to make sure that the company is legitimate; one of the leading causes of fraud is from companies posing as payday loan companies. Find out where the company is situated, ask for their company phone number before signing up, and try ringing it. Look over the Internet for reports or information on the company, and from other people who have lent money from them.
Be very wary of payday loan companies that ask for a fee before forwarding money to the borrower, and avoid giving out bank account numbers. Borrowers should opt for wire transfers from western union rather than give out bank account numbers and details as they run the risk of a fraudulent company accessing their accounts and creating further money problems. Some payday loan companies are scams, and the borrower lends money at their own risk, so care does need to be taken to choose legitimate companies.
The best way to deal with a payday loan company is to understand how their fees and charges work. Know exactly how much it is going to cost you to borrow the money, and what will happen if you can't pay it back after payday. Be very choosy with payday loan companies, some offer you a better deal than others.
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Sunday, April 05, 2009
Why would you choose not to get a payday loan?
Now that we’ve looked at the convenience of payday loans, let’s take a fair look at the disadvantages. Throughout the U.S., governments on every level are looking at payday loan outlets with increasing concern. Many people think that they take advantage of low-income people in financial trouble. Some go as far as to say they “prey” on them. Their argument to that is that they’re filling a need and they’re not doing anything illegal. So the controversy continues – let’s examine why.
Remember back when you thought you’d solved your problem and you could get on with your life? Well, what if your next paycheck, after your budgeted expenses, wasn’t enough to pay back the loan?
If you came up short again, you needn’t worry – payday loans are renewable, or extendable. This process is called “rollover” and, if you do it too many times, it could end up costing you a lot of money. Let’s look at an example: Say you borrowed $100 for 14 days (until your next payday). You write a check to the lender for $115 (includes your $15 fee). The APR (annual percentage rate) of that loan is 391%! If you can’t pay back the $115 on the due date, you can rollover the loan for another two weeks. If you rollover the loan three times, the finances charge would reach $60 for a $100 loan. That’s pretty high interest, don’t you think?
These are things you need to consider when you’re deciding if a payday loan is the right choice in your particular situation. Yes, the cost of the loan is high, but it provides you with the money you need, when you need it, thus avoiding a lot of stress and trouble. It’s very true in consumerism today that convenience costs money. But is it worth that much? That’s a question you’ll have to answer for yourself.
Payday loans are controversial – but they do fill a need
Now we’ve clearly shown both sides of the argument – and it’s a huge argument these days. So which party do you side with? That depends on your immediate situation. If you really just have to have it, and you don’t have any other choice, then a payday loan is probably the wise thing to do. At least you’ll be able to keep your sanity, even if it does cost you a few dollars.
When you find yourself in that situation, use it as an opportunity to learn. Remember, there are no mistakes – just lessons. If you have to get a payday loan, make sure you don’t roll it over too many times – that’s when it becomes a problem. And in the meantime, try to build up an emergency fund so you will be able to cover those unexpected costs. Become a good financial manager. Then you’ll have an alternative, and you won’t have to rely on a payday loan as ”your last resort”.
Remember back when you thought you’d solved your problem and you could get on with your life? Well, what if your next paycheck, after your budgeted expenses, wasn’t enough to pay back the loan?
If you came up short again, you needn’t worry – payday loans are renewable, or extendable. This process is called “rollover” and, if you do it too many times, it could end up costing you a lot of money. Let’s look at an example: Say you borrowed $100 for 14 days (until your next payday). You write a check to the lender for $115 (includes your $15 fee). The APR (annual percentage rate) of that loan is 391%! If you can’t pay back the $115 on the due date, you can rollover the loan for another two weeks. If you rollover the loan three times, the finances charge would reach $60 for a $100 loan. That’s pretty high interest, don’t you think?
These are things you need to consider when you’re deciding if a payday loan is the right choice in your particular situation. Yes, the cost of the loan is high, but it provides you with the money you need, when you need it, thus avoiding a lot of stress and trouble. It’s very true in consumerism today that convenience costs money. But is it worth that much? That’s a question you’ll have to answer for yourself.
Payday loans are controversial – but they do fill a need
Now we’ve clearly shown both sides of the argument – and it’s a huge argument these days. So which party do you side with? That depends on your immediate situation. If you really just have to have it, and you don’t have any other choice, then a payday loan is probably the wise thing to do. At least you’ll be able to keep your sanity, even if it does cost you a few dollars.
When you find yourself in that situation, use it as an opportunity to learn. Remember, there are no mistakes – just lessons. If you have to get a payday loan, make sure you don’t roll it over too many times – that’s when it becomes a problem. And in the meantime, try to build up an emergency fund so you will be able to cover those unexpected costs. Become a good financial manager. Then you’ll have an alternative, and you won’t have to rely on a payday loan as ”your last resort”.
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