Ways to Get a Loan if You Have a Bad Credit Score
An excellent credit score comes with many advantages. But the real struggle is maintaining this score, and it’s only possible when you have a complete understanding. For instance, getting personal and other loans with lower interest rates would be easier if you have a high credit score. A bad credit score is frustrating and has many disadvantages. Lenders measure the ability to repay the loan on a priority basis, and they do it by checking the credit score. In short, the score summarizes your repayment and credit history. So, there are different factors that lenders use to determine whether granting a loan to you is risky or not. We will provide information in this writing if you think you can’t get a loan with a bad credit score.
What is a bad credit score?
In America, three main credit bureaus are working names, Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax. These bureaus use your credit profiles to determine your credit score. However, the assigned number shows the risk percentage if someone agrees to give you a loan. Here are the following factors that credit bureaus use to determine the score:
| Payment history
(Contribute up to 35% to FICO score) |
Credit utilization
(Contribute 30%) |
Credit history length
(Adds 15% in FICO score) |
| Types of credit that you have used
(Adds 10% in score) |
New credit on your account
(Contributes 10% to FICO score |
So, if you aren’t in a hurry, you should wait to get a loan until your credit score improves. But if you get a loan with a bad credit score, it would be harder to get, and you will pay a high-interest rate.
Bad credit personal loan:
If you have bad credit, it doesn’t mean you can’t get a loan. In this, you will have to narrow your search and find lenders willing to give loans with bad credit scores. These types of loans could be of two types: secured and unsecured. The terms and conditions, type of loan, interest rate, and terms vary by the lender.
How to secure a loan if you have a bad credit score? Tips to follow:
It’s crucial to sort/manage finances even if you are self-employed and have high-income skills. The best thing you can do for this purpose is to maintain your credit score. Here is the chart that shows different levels of the credit score:
| 760-850 | Excellent |
| 700-759 | Very good |
| 660-699 | Fair |
| 620-659 | Poor |
| Under 620 | Extremely poor |
It’s also true that the definition of good and bad credit scores varies from lender to lender. Some lenders don’t give loans if the score is under 650, and few show willingness. So, if your score is imperfect, then keep in mind these points to get a personal loan:
Keep checking your credit reports & score:
If you want to apply for a personal loan with bad credit, then keep an eye on your credit report and score. Three credit bureaus provide free credit reports once in 12 months. So, you can visit the main sites to request a free credit report. The bureaus don’t display credit scores, but you can see it by paying a nominal fee. In this way, you can identify any errors on time and take action to resolve the mistakes. You can file a complaint or open a dispute if there are mistakes. These are corrective measures that you can take before applying for personal loans.
Compare different lenders:
If your score is terrible and you want to get a loan, then it’s wise to compare different lenders. You can lock a loan with a lender offering the best terms and conditions. If one company isn’t offering the best rate, don’t assume others will do the same. You may get a good deal by visiting banks and financial institutions. Moreover, few reputable lenders offer loans to people with average credit scores. Some institutes provide personal loans with an interest rate as low as 5.67%. So, don’t rely on only one option; search the market to grab a good deal.
Get a loan if you can repay:
If you think you can’t repay the loan, don’t get it because it can worsen your score. So, while shopping for the loan, estimate your monthly payment and when it will be due. Many services provide calculators where you can calculate monthly payments while making a repayment plan.
Go for a secured loan:
A secured loan is backed by assets like homes, cars, or other equity. The secured loans are better than the insecure ones, and you can get a better interest rate in this type of loan. In short, a secured loan is the best option if you have a bad credit score. But if you don’t focus on a repayment plan, it can result in losing your precious asset.
Pre-qualify:
Pre-qualification tells you the rate, loan amount, and repayment terms you expect. But while deciding on these factors, don’t forget to choose those that don’t affect your credit score. It helps a lot to determine whether you qualify for the loan program or not. There are many online lenders and financial institutes that offer these services. But while applying for the loan, gather these important supporting documents:
| Personal information | Driver’s license | Personal loan info |
| W-2 forms of the last two years | Federal tax return for the previous two years | Most recent bank statement |
| Attach current copies of real paystub | Utility bills | Mortgage statement |
Moreover, before applying for the loan, be prepared for the hard credit check/hard inquiry because your lender will do this. The hard credit check lowers the credit score, and if there are too many in your record, you are applying for loans you can’t afford. So, be careful and well prepared before applying for many loans.
After taking all these actions, if the lender still denies the loan, you can request a copy of the credit report within 60 days. However, later you can decide whether you want to reapply somewhere else or not. The best thing is to make a soft inquiry before applying for a new loan because it could result in a hard search.
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