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Consolidation can make sense
You pay higher interest on smaller loans. If you have several smaller loans, it could be much cheaper to consolidate them into one larger debt
Felicity Hannah, journalist -
Timing is everything
You can keep your monthly repayments low by choosing a longer time to repay your loan. But be warned - that can dramatically increase the total interest you pay
Felicity Hannah, journalist -
Don't go application crazy
You want to know which lender will give you the best deal, but that doesn't mean you should apply to them all. Lots of applications can damage your credit score, meaning you could end up with higher quotes
Felicity Hannah, journalist -
No-one likes rejection
Loan applications show on your credit history and can make it harder to borrow elsewhere if you're turned down. Use our smart search tool to find the lenders that want you
Felicity Hannah, journalist -
Bad credit history?
What's your credit history like? If you've had some problems in the past then you probably won't get the cheapest rates. Take a look at our bad-credit loans to see some more realistic options
Felicity Hannah, journalist -
Should I consider a payday loan?
Payday loans should be treated as an absolute last resort. They can be an incredibly expensive way to borrow and we've uncovered a long list of poor practice by lenders. A temporary overdraft extension can be a much cheaper, safer way to borrow, so if you're struggling to get to pay day then the first thing you should do is talk to your bank
Richard Lloyd, executive director at Which?
Why choose Gocompare.com's loans comparison service?
With the help of our partners LoveMoney* you can quickly compare the best rates and terms for both secured and unsecured loans with the reassurance that your search will not impact on your credit rating.
Loans are available for a huge variety of purposes and the right one for you will depend on your individual circumstances. Learn more about the options by reading our guides
Our easy-to-use form will ask you how much you want to borrow and the borrowing period - figures that you can quickly change to weigh up your options. The page then presents the loans available, with key information on each product including the lender, interest rate (APR), monthly repayment amount and total repayment due.
When you select the deal you're interested in you'll be asked additional questions such as the purpose of the loan, your employment and marital status, gross annual household income, whether you're a homeowner and if you have a bad credit history. This allows our smart search facility to show you which deals you're likely to be accepted for, limiting the risk of damaging your credit rating by having a loan application turned down.
Loans are available for a huge variety of purposes and the right one for you will depend on your individual circumstances. Learn more about the options by reading our guides, where you'll also find the answers to frequently asked questions on loans. Look out for dedicated pages on personal, homeowner, secured, bad credit and debt consolidation loans.
Our guides offer more information on key areas such as fees, fixed rates, variable rates, payment protection, social lending, rebuilding credit scores, early repayment of loans, payment breaks ('holidays') and deferment. We also consider when a credit card may be a suitable alternative to a loan, and tell you why we think payday loans are a rather bad idea!
Did you know…?
- In October 2011 the UK credit card debt was approximately £56.5bn and the average standard interest rate being charged on them was 16.73%**
