Second charge mortgages
If you already have a mortgage on your property and you need access to a sum of money for things like debt consolidation or home improvements, it might be worth thinking about a second charge mortgage. Our guide covers the key facts you should know, and answers some common questions.
Personal loans
Here's some useful information to consider if you're looking for a loan:
What are personal loans?
A personal loan gives you flexibility to borrow a specific amount of money and pay it back over a fixed period with regular monthly payments. Personal loans can allow you to cover larges costs like home improvements, or even consolidate existing debts.
How does a personal loan work?
A personal loan gets issued as a lump sum which gets deposited into your bank account. When you take out a loan, you'll need to pay interest on it. This means you'll pay back more than you initially borrowed.
Interest is calculated as a percentage of the original loan amount and is what the lender charges for letting you borrow their money. Borrowers need to pay back the loan over a fixed period, this period can vary from on lender to the next.
How can I check if I have bad credit?
'Bad credit' is a term used to describe a low or adverse credit score. You could have bad credit if you fail to pay bills on time, have missed payments or even if you've had a lack of credit agreements in the past.
Consider checking your credit report before you apply for a loan or credit card. There are three main Credit Reference Agencies (CRAs) in the UK - Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion - and you can check the details on your report with each.
What are soft and hard credit searches and how do they affect my credit file?
A 'soft search' or 'soft credit check' means you or a lender can check your eligibility for credit without affecting your credit score. Although 'soft' searches are recorded on your credit file, they're not visible to companies and won't affect any future credit applications.
A full credit check usually happens if you apply for credit and will be recorded on your credit file as a 'hard search' or 'hard credit check'. Too many hard credit checks with different lenders over a short period of time can affect you credit score, reducing your ability to get credit in the future.
A person with bad credit may find it difficult to borrow money, or if they can it will likely come with higher interest rates. Your credit, good or bad, is something that lenders take into consideration before agreeing to lend to you.
What does "APR" mean?
APR stands for Annual Percentage Rate and is used to show how much interest you'll pay each year on money you've borrowed through a loan or credit card. It's important to check the APR when comparing loans, as a higher APR normally means you'll pay back more overall. To be sure, make sure you check the total amount you'll have to pay back.
