Mistakes to Avoid when Applying for a Bad Credit Loan


Poor rating or little exposure to credit will compromise your ability to borrow because many lenders consider such applicants at risk of default. However, there are ways to go about this and mistakes to avoid.

Your Report
Not checking your credit report for inaccurate or outdated information is a huge mistake. In case of inconsistencies and errors, ask your credit card issuer to update the information and submit relevant documents to support your case. This is a way to improve your score and chances to get approved for a bad credit loan.

Terms and Interest Rates
Even if you apply with your local bank, you will be offered a higher interest rate compared to creditworthy applicants. You also have to show proof of steady income to qualify. Applying for a loan with poor credit without knowing the requirements is yet another mistake. Your debt to income ratio is another factor that financial institutions take into account. You may want to calculate it before applying for a loan. You may either use an online calculator or calculate it by yourself. If you use a calculator, you need to plug in your gross monthly income and recurring monthly debt (the amount of your monthly credit card and loan payments).

The Purpose of the Loan
Obviously, using a loan as a substitute of income is a mistake. The purpose is to meet unexpected expenses such as hospital bills and repairs. A bad credit loan is a solution in case of emergency. It is better to focus on rebuilding or building your credit instead of financing frivolous purchases.

Amount to Borrow
Applying for a large loan is a mistake because you are considered high risk. Your application will be rejected by most banks. Rather than this, you may want to apply for a small amount and make regular payments. A small loan comes with affordable monthly payments which makes it easier to repay the outstanding balance. Even if your financial institution is willing to offer a larger amount, you will ruin your credit if you default.

Repeated Borrowing
Many people apply for a loan, get approved, and start spending more. The problem is that their expenses exceed their income and they are unable to make payments. There are two options – default and applying for a new loan to cover the outstanding balance. Given that the new loan will increase the debt to income ratio, applicants are usually offered unfavorable terms and conditions. Cycle financing or repeated borrowing is the easiest way to find yourself knee-deep in debt, with expensive loans to pay off. Many borrowers resort to hard money and payday lenders that offer extremely high interest rates.