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What to check out when you
apply for a payday loan
Are you thinking of going in for a payday loan to meet an unexpected
expense? If yes, look into these seven things before
you finalize one. This checklist can help you make
smarter choices. You might even end up saving some
serious cash! First thing to consider -- do
you really need that cash advance? Sure, you need
cash right away, but have you looked at other
options? The fact is, a payday loan is an extremely
expensive source of funds, with Annual Percentage
Rates (APRs) ranging from 300% to 1000%. So before
you take one, see if you can arrange money by taking
an advance from your employer or from your credit
union. You could also consider borrowing
money from friends or family. Depending on your
situation, credit card funding might be an option
too, because it's usually cheaper than a payday
loan. Be careful with this alternative, though.
Ask yourself how much you can really repay when the
next payday rolls around. Work out an exact number
you can commit to. Take a cash advance only for the
amount you can repay, including all charges that
apply. Obtain funds from other sources for any
additional requirements you may have. Here's
why. If you choose to roll over all or part of the
payday loan, you end up paying much more --
additional charges, late fees, etc. Your APRs start
climbing rapidly and you may even find yourself
trapped in a vicious cycle of payday loan debt. Stay
clear of this trap. Apply only for one
payday loan at a time. Your application gets
reported to a consumer tracking database used by
payday lenders and banks. If you apply for multiple
loans, the lenders may see the multiple applications
and you might end up being rejected by all of them.
Go through the lender's approval criteria very
carefully. Apply only to one where you can qualify.
If you apply to a company that has stringent
criteria and get rejected, that can actually hurt
your chances of getting approved by another company
with more relaxed criteria. If you're applying
online, ask yourself if the lender's website seems
professional and well-organized. Do they have clear
information and guidelines on the site? A
comprehensive FAQ? If you need clarifications
on anything, call up and ask. In fact, it's a good
idea to ask a few questions to each loan provider
you're considering. That way you get a feel for
their responsiveness and get additional information
to base your decision on. Most important -- do
they have an SSL certificate on the application
page? This indicates data is being transmitted
securely. Secure pages have web addresses that begin
with "https:"instead of " http:"and in addition,
you'll see a lock symbol displayed in your browser.
If a lender is using a non-secure page to collect
information about you, find another lender!
This article is the property of
www.bestcashloansonline.com, which has been
offering Payday Loan services since 2002. To find
out more visit
www.bestcashloansonline.com
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