If there’s one thing that defines modern life, it’s speed. We get our entertainment, news, and products delivered (thank you drones!) Faster than ever. And if you’ve had an unforeseen accident or your doctor’s bill, the speed at which expenses are incurred can be staggering. In such situations, you are probably looking for a quick money loan that can get your money back as quickly as possible.
But just because you need a quick cash loan, you shouldn’t make a bad financial decision. Take our advice and follow these four simple steps to ensure a safe, smart, and fast solution to your financial situation.
Compare the prices
You would not buy an expensive product like a television or household appliance without comparing prices. The same should apply to personal loans.
The best way to compare the cost of a quick money loan is to know the annual percentages (APR) that a lender offers. The APR describes the cost of a loan over a period of one year, taking into account the simple interest rate plus additional fees or charges. For short term loans such as payday loans and home loans, you need to pay special attention to the APR. To see exactly how much you will owe at the end of the year and if you can afford it, use an APR calculator and dial your numbers.
So take your time and compare the interest rates on many different loans. You don’t want to apply for a loan that you can’t afford.
Compare opinions
If you had to choose between two restaurants, would you choose the one with the glowing reviews from Yelp or the one just posted on the Department of Health website for the wrong reasons?
Reputation is also important for lenders. Check out what others are saying on Facebook, LendingTree, and Google+. If borrowers complain about bad service, deceptive terms, and aggressive fees, this lender should be avoided. On the other hand, if people place a high value on a lender, perhaps they should see it. Read your loan agreement
Don’t miss this loan agreement! Your agreement is a legal document that lists all the important information (such as interest rate, APR, term, payment structure, terms) of the financial agreement you can enter into. However, a recent survey found that only 7% of people read the fine print when purchasing products and services. A fifth of people says they have had negative consequences if they have not done so.
So once you have decided on a loan, you should not just sign the agreement and wait for your money. You should read your loan agreement from start to finish to make sure there are no surprises waiting for you. If you get a loan in person, it may be a good idea to take the loan agreement home so that you can take the time to borrow it fully. Applying for a loan online is a little easier since it is done on your computer. And if you don’t understand something in your loan agreement, you can search for it at any time on Google.
To ask questions
Ask them a lot. Ask how the loan payments are structured. Ask if the loan will be written off. Ask the Better Business Bureau (BBB) about prepayment penalties and grace periods for late payments, as well as the status of the lender. Penn State offers this handy list of questions that you can ask your lender when applying for a quick cash loan.
Here’s some professional advice: ask questions that you already have answered. If you see one thing in the loan agreement, but your loan officer tells you something else, especially if what the loan officer says makes the loan more beautiful than it actually is, then you might be a lender that shouldn’t work. Because remember: you choose not only a loan but also a lender. If you can’t trust them, your loan is certainly not worth it.
