In the current economic climate, alternative means of obtaining
money to make ends meet are becoming increasingly necessary. Some
alternatives include borrowing money from friends/relatives; cash
advances from employers; pawning personal effects and payday loans.
Also known as a check/cash advance loan or deferred deposit check loan,
the payday loan is the most popular among these. As payday loans grown
in popularity, more and more people want to know just what a payday loan
is, and if it is the right solution for their situation.

SO, WHAT IS A PAYDAY LOAN?

A
payday loan is an unsecured, short-term loan of anywhere from a few
hundred dollars to as much as fifteen hundred dollars in some instances.
A borrower generally secures the loan by post-dating a personal check
for a specific amount of money to be posted against their account on
their next pay period. Payday loans are designed to help out in
situations when you need quick cash to cover an unexpected bill or an
emergency situation until your cash comes through or is made available.

A
payday loan is NOT a revolving line of credit. It is short-term and
that is a key factor in this type of loan. The idea is to take out the
loan to cover a small bump in the road or to smooth out any rough
financial edges until your next payday. If you are thinking of the
payday loan as way to repair a much bigger financial problem, the advice
is to STOP! A payday loan can create bigger problems down the road
when used as part of an overall troubled cash flow situation.

SO, WHAT IS A PAYDAY LOAN?

The
most important thing to remember about payday loans is that they must
be repaid on time in order to avoid paying insane fees that could
potentially equal or surpass the amount of the loan itself! It is the
renewing of the loan and failing to repay it on time that can create a
major financial dilemma for the borrower.

Most loans have a
repayment period of four to eighteen days depending upon the terms
negotiated with the lender. The repayment schedule and the method of
repayment is arranged at the time the loan is disbursed. More often
than not, the borrower will agree to pay the loan in full with cash on
or before the due date. Additionally, some lenders may opt to collect
on the loan by depositing the borrower’s post-dated check against
his/her bank account on a mutually agreed upon date.

With payday
loans, there is a fixed rate fee calculated into repayment on each loan
disbursed. The average rate is $15.00 to $20.00 dollars per $100.00
dollars borrowed. Due to the nature of the quick turn-around time of
payday loans, the annual percentage rate or (APR) is generally very
high. It is not uncommon for the (APR) to be 100%, 200% or even as high
as 400% in some cases.

If a borrower is unable to repay a loan at
the scheduled time, the lending institution may agree to rollover the
loan allowing more time for repayment. The drawback to rolling a loan
over is that additional fees are added to your account. For example, if
the fee to borrow $100.00 is $15.00 and the borrower rolled over the
loan three times, then the new fee would be $60.00. That is the
original $15.00 fee plus three times that fee itself added to each
$100.00 borrowed.

WHAT ARE THE REQUIREMENTS FOR A PAYDAY LOAN?

Generally,
the only major requirement for a payday loan is that you have a job.
Your job is your assurance that you will be able to repay the loan. It
is expected that you will be receiving a paycheck, and therefore, the
money to cover the loan. Good credit isn’t necessary or even required
for the payday loan to be approved. The lending institution only wants
to see that you are employed and have a steady income. In essence, your
job is your collateral

Getting a payday loan is actually a simple procedure.
You apply, and if approved, sign paperwork that indicates your promise
to repay the loan on the lender’s terms. Be sure to take the time to
carefully read the terms of the loan and do not be afraid to ask
questions about what those terms mean. Often, these kinds of contracts
are written in a legalized, financial jargon that is not easily
understood by the average consumer.

BORROWER BEWARE!

If you
feel the lender’s representative is not able to fully answer your
questions, please say so! If the terms of the loan are not clear to
you, do not take the loan until you fully understand them. Teachers
always say that the only stupid question is the one you don’t ask. This
is true! Again, if you do not understand all the terms of the loan, do
not sign paperwork until those terms have been fully explained to you.
Otherwise, you are legally bound by those terms that could prove
disastrous for you if you fail to act in accordance with the terms of
the loan. We would like to think that everyone is above board, but not
all lenders are. Unfortunately, there are unscrupulous lenders out
there who intend to make a profit at your expense.

It has been
noted by the NAACP and the Department of Defense that payday loan
offices have strategically opened offices near military bases and in
socio-economically disenfranchised areas where the demographic is
largely African American and Hispanic. Many reputable financial
institutions, consumer groups, and civil organizations are doing all
they can to shut down payday loan offices, but their efforts to date
have been largely unsuccessful.

BORROW IF YOU NEED TO, BUT BE SMART ABOUT IT!

With
the often strict guidelines used by reputable lenders, many people are
getting caught up in the cycle of payday loans because of their
immediate benefits. When emergencies occur and cash is needed, payday
loan companies offer fast, hassle free cash. More often than not, most
have no minimum credit requirements and do not perform background
checks. In most cases, all that is needed to secure a payday loan is a
recent pay stub and proof of a checking account. In these regards,
payday loans and cash advances do offer consumers financial options in
emergencies. On the other hand, more and more people are getting caught
up in this vicious cycle of borrowing which can lead to financial ruin.
This is not good, especially considering that the loan was probably
taken out to avert a financial disaster in the first place. With pros
and cons like these, it would seem that the best advice would be to
borrow if you absolutely must, but do so with extreme caution.

Being
proactive is probably the best strategy or, as conventional wisdom
holds, “an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure”. Take an
honest look at your family finances and come up with creative ways to
not have to borrow. Consider trimming the fat out of your budget,
pledging to save a little money from each paycheck, and reducing credit
card and revolving debt.

A little effort on your part can make a
huge difference not only in your financial situation, but in your
quality of life as well. Nevertheless, if you must take out a payday
loan, remember the following key points:

- Payday loans are NOT revolving lines of credit

- Repay your loan on time!

- Do not plan on rolling your loan over. Plan, instead, to pay it off

- The only “stupid” question is the one you don’t ask

- Payday loans have terms & conditions of repayment. Know and abide by them

- Payday loans can ruin your finances and jeopardize your job if you are not careful

- An ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure

What are payday loans?

Payday loans are short-term loans
that are extended between two pay days. A payday loan is normally
provided for 14 days. The borrower, on acceptance of the loan
conditions, provides a check favoring the lender as security against the
loan. On the due date, the lender deposits this check to recover the
loan dues. The due date is generally the next pay day of the borrower.
No credit checks are conducted for granting payday loans. Therefore, the
FICO score of the borrower is irrelevant. It doesn’t matter whether the
borrower has a bad credit history, or has no credit history, or has
declared bankruptcy.

Qualifications for payday loans

To qualify for a payday loan, the borrower needs to fulfill all of the following conditions. There are no exceptions.

o You must be a US citizen.

o You must at least 18 years of age.

o You must be at a full time job currently and must be at this job for at least three months.

o You must either have an active checking account or a savings account.

o Your after tax salary should be at least $ 1,000 or you must have a fixed income of $800.

Cost of payday loans

Payday
loans carry a very high cost. Generally the lender fees for a $ 100
payday loan is anywhere between $15 and $25. It should be remembered
that this fee is for 14 days as the loan itself is extended for these
many days only. If one considers the cost on an annual percentage rate
(APR) basis, the average is 391%, which by any standard is exorbitant.
By law, it is mandatory for the lender to specify the APR to the
borrower. Many lenders do compare the cost of payday loan against other
forms of financing; but the common denominator of such a comparison is
that all of them are very expensive.

When to avail of payday loans?

Payday
loans should be availed only during emergencies. Considering the fact
that the cost of carrying a payday loan is very high, it should be a
resource of last resort. If one implements good budgeting techniques and
has a good financial plan, the need for borrowing by way of payday
loans can be minimized. Moreover, one must ensure that a payday loan is
paid on time. Payday loans should not be rolled over or extended as
within no time the borrower will find himself or herself in a debt trap
where money may have to be borrowed just to repay the interest.

Profile of a payday loan borrower

o A
typical payday loan customer is between 25 and 40 years of age with an
annual income anywhere between $ 25,000 and $ 50,000.

o According to the US Census report of Year 2000, the results of the payday loan borrowers survey are:

22% of those surveyed hold a bachelor’s degree.

51% of those surveyed have a retirement savings plan.

In excess of two-thirds of those surveyed have a savings account.

More than two-thirds of those surveyed have an annual income of at least $ 25,555.

Why are Payday loans popular?

They are popular for a number of reasons such as:

o Credit checks are not required. The personal check that you make payable to the lender acts as security.

o Approval is quick. If all the necessary documents are submitted, your loan application maybe approved in minutes.

o
The paperwork involved is simple. Generally one or two
documents would suffice which explains the loan process and your
obligations.

o The repayment process is without hassles.
The check submitted as security is encashed on the next payday by the
lender. You could extend the loan to subsequent paydays for a fee.
However this is very expensive.

o Easy availability.
Payday loans are particularly appropriate for emergency situations
provided the amount required is small and one is willing to bear the
high cost of the loan.

In summary, payday loans might be a viable
option if you need cash and need it fast. You still should be careful
who you are working with to obtain your loan. If you don’t need money
right away, there is probably a better solution for you.

Repayment is automatically debited from the bank account, with the amount and the interest calculated, on a given date agreed upon through Online Payday Loan Scams transaction. Basic requirements for a quick cash advance loans involve minimal age of 18 years with permanent employment status. An active bank account with direct debit operation facility is also needed.

Besides these, particular lenders have their own eligibility criteria with reasonable restrictions and exclusions. If one shop around, one can easily find a particular lender with custom made terms and conditions that suits one’s credit necessities. Honest and verifiable information should be given to get access to your . Many companies outright reject applications which has doubtful data. Lenders also perform credit check and pertinent information via social security code. So a good credit history is also necessary to be sure of any credit.

For getting approval, one also is aware that loan repayment issues are important aspects. Carefully read the conditions applicable while paying off. Otherwise one can land in an embarrassing situation.What is the interest rate for Online Payday Loans?Payday Loans Online offers liquid cash without putting down any collateral. Legislation of different countries has been keeping vigil on this Instant Payday Loans Online as the interest rate is very much high.

To have control on the excessive and unreasonable interest rate on Payday Loansome jurisdictions have set limit on the APR alias Annual Percentage Rate. Still the interest rate is surmountable if repayment is done according to deadline. But if a borrower misses the deadline to repay the Online Payday Loans then he/she has to pay interest regarding rolling on loan which is as much as 200% sometimes. In USA if an applicant of Online Payday Loan borrows $300 for 30 days, then his payable amount is $375, that suggests Interest of $75, Interest rate (pa) is 1737% APR (variable).

Unfortunately, there are just some circumstances in life that leave people with no choice but to go ahead with getting an unsecured loan. This is especially true when there are expenses that that are not part of the monthly budget. These expenses could come in the form of emergency vehicle repairs, unexpected hospitalizations, urgent repairs in the house and even unexpected visits from family or friends.

Just as in any decision you make in life, taking out an online payday loan requires some thought. Borrowers should make sure to compare the offers of lenders before getting online payday loans so that they will make informed decision as to which lender can give them the best offer. The reason for this is that payday loan lenders online offer different products and have different interest rates as well as repayment plans.

A lot of payday loan borrowers no longer care about the annual percentage rate of interest (APR) charged by their online payday loan lenders. The reason for this is that payday loans are only for a short duration of time, mostly to be repaid within a one-month period. However, knowing the APR for the loan you are getting is significant so that you will know whether you are getting the best deal from your lender. You see, the APR allows you to see the true cost of the loan you are getting compared to other options you have available.

For instance, if you need $300 for an emergency repair in your home’s sewage system you can consider two options: first, you can take a credit card cash advance with an 18% interest rate and second, you can take a payday loan cash advance for a two-week period with a 15% interest rate. At first glance, it would seem that the payday loan is the better option because the interest rate is lower. However, you have to remember that the loan is only for a 2-week period. In reality, a two-week period with a rate of 15% actually has an APR of 390% (that is 15% multiplied by 26 2-week periods in a year).

Don’t be fooled by the “low interest rates” advertised by online payday loan lenders the next time you find yourself in immediate need of cash. The US Federal Reserve Board require all lenders, including payday loan lenders, to disclose their APRs so take advantage of this regulation and demand for its disclosure at all times because this requirement was placed there by the Board to protect you as a consumer.