Applying for a Loan and the Impact on your Credit

Loans and credit are inextricably related. Your ability to pay back loans, and to do it on time, is reflective of your history of paying back lenders. While there is the possibility you will boost your credit score by paying back a loan, it is more likely that you will negatively affect your credit score by applying for a loan. This can be quite annoying, but if you know what you are getting into you can anticipate the interest, fees, and ways it will impact your credit score.

How Loans Affect your Credit

Even before you are approved for a loan, it will affect your credit history, file, and score. Loan applications will make an impact on your score, so it is best to do your research and apply only to the lenders that are likely to lend to you. Before you apply for a loan, you should do your best to raise your credit score.

Not only will applications have an effect on your score, they will be visible on your file. Lenders perform in-depth searches when it comes to lending money, and credit reference agencies don’t report whether the application was successful or not. Some believe that the negative marks on your file go away after a while, but it depends on a few factors.

It will also hurt your chances of getting a loan in the future. When you apply for many loans, banks and lenders may see this as you struggling to manage money or make enough. After taking out a loan, if you haven’t paid all the repayments on time your credit score will be negatively affected. Even if you pay all the money back, and do it on time, some view loans as evidence of financial struggle. It may hurt your chances to get a loan or mortgage in the future.

How You Can Avoid This

According to the site MoneyPug, a site used to find cheap personal loans, it is prudent to only apply to a few lenders but if you want to take out a loan there are certain risks you take. It is a good idea to research loans carefully and check their minimum eligibility criteria before applying. The overall impact of applications on your score is minimal, but you should do your best to pay the money back on time after you are approved. Repayments stay on your credit file permanently and will show if you paid it late. The best way to avoid negatively impacting your score is to avoid taking out loans altogether, and improve your credit beforehand if you need to take one out.

Prepare before Applying

You should know that lenders will not only consider what you have provided on your application, but what they find out about you on their own. They will also check one to four credit reference agencies and examine your credit history.

Increasing your score before you apply for a loan is relatively simple. One way to do this is to register to vote. Even if you don’t plan on voting, registering usually increases your credit standing. If you are connected financially to a mortgage, a joint bank account, or a person with bad credit, sever ties before applying for a loan. Pay your bills regularly and provide evidence of your stability. Lenders will also be interested in your employment status, where you work, and how long you’ve worked there. Living in the same place can also benefit you, and owning your own house is even better.

Loans with Bad Credit

Taking out a loan with bad credit is more difficult to pay back. You will be charged higher interest rates, given a smaller credit limit, and you may even be charged additional fees. Lenders don’t have to offer you the interest rate they are advertising and have the ability to raise your interest if your credit score increases. It doesn’t matter if the loan has already begun, your credit score will still change your interest rate and therefore your ability to pay the loan back.

If a lender uses the rate-for-risk model, they can charge you whatever they want if they think you won’t pay the loan back. It is key to do your research to find the most reasonable rates for your budget and situation. Do the work and you can find an affordable loan that you can pay back on time.