Loans that do not use an asset like a home, car etc. as collateral are unsecured loans. They are usually available for smaller amounts and for short periods of time. These loans are riskier for the lender as they cannot sell your property in the event of any default on the repayment schedule and therefore a higher interest rate is charged which makes them more expensive. However, inability to repay can get you blacklisted, which can limit your options when trying to get any further credit including mortgages. If you don't have a asset to use as security then you can only take out unsecured loan in the UK.
On the other hand, Secured loans are given against assets like your home. More suitable for borrowing larger amount over long periods of time, secured loans are cheaper than unsecured loans, however you need to be careful as non-repayment puts the security (your home) at risk .
Unsecured loans in the UK are available for sums between £500 and £15,000 depending on the circumstances of the borrower, for instance, credit history and the purpose of the loan. The loan period is generally between 6 to 10 years. The lender can charge fixed or variable rates of interest and while fixed rates give a clear picture of the monthly repayment amount, variable rates change which means your monthly repayment will also change.
Unsecured loans in the UK can also help with debt consolidation, which can beneficial as all the borrowings can be rolled in one monthly payment and at the same time bad credit can be repaired. A loan often has lower interest rates than credit cards and can allow you to pay off your debt more easily and with lower monthly payments. By using a debt consolidation loan you to steer clear of further damaging your credit by making lower monthly repayments.
Although value is not directly linked, the borrower's assets are looked into to determine the amount that can be safely lent. Credit history and employment status are also factors that are taken into account by lenders during the decision making process.
The borrower has several advantages with unsecured loans. Unlike secured loans where the amount that can be borrowed depends partly on the value of the asset, the borrower going for an unsecured loan can assess the amount needed based on the reason for which the loan is required. This is obviously done independently without the lender?s calculations. Comparison of companies and their terms based on the figures the borrower already knows they needs becomes easier. Also secured loans take longer to process because of the checks that need to be made.
There are two advantages for those seeking bad credit or poor credit unsecured loans. One is that they will not loose their asset in the event of a default in repayment. The second is that such a loan can improve their credit rating as the lenders generally report the payments through a credit agency.
If you want to find the best unsecured loan for yourself, you must do some research. Ask friends and relatives, surf the Internet for loan comparison sites like moneyeverything.com. Get quotes from 2-3 lenders and improve your credit rating for the best deals whilst making sure you are clear about how much credit you need and can afford. Also be sure to check the repayment period, interest rate and any other conditions which make up the terms of the loan like early repayment penalties.