Loan Cover - Watch Out for Payment Protection Sharks

By: Michael Challiner
The Financial Services Authority (FSA) has been investigating the way Payment Protection Insurance is being sold by loan providers which include some of the UK's biggest banks and building societies. And it's big business. Sales of PPI as it's called, earn lenders more than £1billion a year.
PPI is designed to protect borrowers by paying monthly loan repayment in the event that the borrower becomes unemployed or unable to work though accident or illness. Many lenders sell the insurance alongside the loan with around 50% of customers agreeing to the insurance.

However, according to the Department of Trade & Industry, only 4% claim and of these claims 25% are rejected. This may be partially explained by the FSA's investigation which found that around half of the lenders surveyed failed to explain the details and exclusions to customers or make sure the insurance was suitable for the clients. Whilst the investigation reportedly does not find that lenders are compulsorily selling the insurance, it was frequently automatically added to loan quotations without it being disclosed that the insurance was, in fact, optional.

Even worse, some lenders are failing to point out to borrowers that the cost of the insurance for the full period of the loan, was being added as a lump sum at the outset rather than being paid as a monthly premium. This means that the borrower cannot cancel the insurance without redeeming the entire loan and renegotiating a new loan.

And hey, some of these lenders certainly know how to charge for PPI. According to Simon Burgess, Managing Director of British Insurance Ltd, one of the big high street banks typically charge £30 per £100 of loan insured. This, he says, compares with between £4 and £6 if bought separately on the internet. This view is supported by price comparison service uSwitch which says taking out PPI with banks can increase the amount you pay for cover by nearly 500%.

Take an example. Last year a high street bank was charging £5,150 for PPI to cover a loan of £16,000. The cost of PPI was then added to the loan making £21,150 as the total capital repayable and interest charged on the lot. This meant that of the £300 monthly repayment, about £70 represented the cost of the insurance. Equivalent insurance can be bought on the Internet for around £20 per month and cancellable at any time without penalty.

So what are the lessons?

If your lender offers you PPI cover ask for the monthly premium with and without PPI. That way you can see the true cost of PPI.
Find out whether PPI is added to the loan as an initial lump sum. If it is back off!
Shop around for competitive quotes. A search on the Internet for "Payment Protection Insurance" or "Income Protection Insurance" will find you lots of web sites to try.
Check out the conditions on the insurance. Particularly check out the exclusions which invalidate a claim. For example, some policies stipulate that you must have been working continuously for 6 months prior to a claim for a minimum of 20 hours a week. Seasonal or temporary work is usually excluded. When you take the insurance out you must be in good health and know of no impending disability and not be aware that you could become unemployed. Could these exclusions apply to you? If so, the insurance will be of no use to you.

Please don't waste your money. PPI insurance is a good idea so long as it is cheap and on a monthly cancellable contract. After all your circumstances may change. Then check the policy's exclusions to make sure that the insurance is valid for your personal circumstances.

Author Bio
Michael writes for Brokers Online a large UK based financial website. Brokers Online offer most UK financial services including insurance, loans and life insurance. www.life-assurance-bureau.co.uk

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Home Equity Loans Make Financial Sense

By: Mike Hamel
The optimum word in "home equity loan" is equity. Start with the fair market value of a home, subtract the mortgages (first and second) and any liens against the property, and what you have left is the equity. This equity can be used as collateral to secure cash in the form of a loan or mortgage.

The amount borrowed is based on a percentage of the appraised value of the home. The percentage rate can vary from 75% to 125%. The length of the financing will also vary. The two main types of home equity loans are fixed rate loans and adjustable rate loans.

Fixed rate loan - provides a fixed amount of money at a fixed rate of interest, repayable in equal payments over the life of the loan. Fixed rate financing costs more in set-up fees and comes at higher interest than adjustable rate loans. But if homeowners stay put and interest rates go up, they will save money over a comparable adjustable rate loan.

Adjustable rate loan - the interest rate goes up or down according to the index upon which it is based. Adjustable rate loans will have a cap on how high the interest rate can go. Usually called ARMs (Adjustable Rate Mortgages), this type of loan has lower up-front costs and starts at a lower interest rate than fixed rate financing. This means lower initial monthly payments.

Putting home equity to good use
According to the Consumer Banker Association, the top ten reasons for getting a home equity loan are:


10. Vacation
9. Medical expenses
8. Business expenses
7. Household expenditures
6. Investment
5. Major purchase
4. Education expenses
3. Automobile purchase
2. Home improvement
1. Debt consolidation


Debt consolidation, the most popular reason people cash out their home equity, is a smart form of financing because of the money it can save. For example, say you owe $15,000 on a credit card that charges 17% interest. If you get a debt consolidation loan at 9% interest and pay it off in five years, you'll save you over $30,000!

If you're paying more than 15% interest on anything, you should seriously consider a debt consolidation loan. The right terms could drop your monthly payments by 35% - 50%, depending on interest rates, origination costs and tax consequences.

Even for people who have bad credit or who have filed for bankruptcy, a home equity loan is not out of reach. It can be a good way to make a fresh start. Websites like www.easyhomeequitymortgages.com help borrowers with bad credit get the home equity loan that best fits their unique situation.

Author Bio
Mike Hamel is the author of several books and the Senior Writer for AIM Techs (www.salesandmarketingllc.com), an Internet marketing company that specializes in improving visitor-to-sale conversions using proprietary software and advanced SEM techniques.

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Debt Consolidation Loans

By: Jennifer Hershey
Wouldn't it be nice to make just one payment per month instead of several? Most of us not only have a mortgage payment. We have car payments, credit card payments, student loans, etc.

If you have been living in your home for a reasonable amount of time and you have acquired enough equity, you might want to consider a debt consolidation loan.

A debt consolidation loan is using the equity you have acquired in your home from monthly payments and appreciation to pay off all of your outstanding debt, leaving you with one monthly payment instead of several.

Consolidating your debt has the potential to save you a lot of cash on a monthly basis if you have accumulated a lot of debt.

The interest rates on credit cards alone are considerably higher than that which you would receive on a mortgage.

Another benefit is the interest you pay on your debt consolidation loan is tax deductible, unlike your other debt.

Consolidating your debt is a great way to save money, but don't just dive in. Take the time to educate yourself about the mortgage industry and definitely shop around for the best deal. The mortgage industry is very competitive, so let them compete for your business.

Another benefit to consolidating your debt is that it will help your credit score go up.

The accounts you have outstanding that you owe money to are called open trade lines, by paying these off and than closing a few of them to keep your debt under control, you will be effectively increasing your credit score over time, which is how lenders determine your payment history.

Author Bio
Jennifer Hershey has more than twenty years of experience in the Mortgage Industry as a loan officer. She is the owner of a mortgage resource site devoted to making mortgage terms and products easy to understand.

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The Average Profile of Customers Opting for a Payday Loan Cash Advance

By: Angelina Rosario
Payday loans are loans of a small amount, taken for a short duration of time. Payday loans are generally meant to be paid off on the next payday.

Payday lenders loan out thousands of dollars every week to people who are in dire need of money. The Community Financial Service Association of America, payday loan cash advance industry extends to about $25 billion.

Payday lending is often regarded as something predatory and it is of the common belief that payday customers are being used as fodder by the money hungry payday lenders. However, the various researches undertaken throughout the years contradict the view that payday loans are predatory and the borrower is always being preyed upon. In fact, recent studies have shown borrowers preferring payday loans to other loan alternatives.


The huge Annual Percentage Rate (APR), in the range of 391% and higher often makes it intriguing as to the people who opt for these loans. But studies conducted throughout the States show that people from all walks of life consider payday loan cash advance as an affordable option to meet their financial needs.

The US Census report of 2000 show that 22% of the surveyed payday loan borrowers hold a bachelor's degree from college. More than two-thirds of the people surveyed reported an annual income of a minimum $25,555 and has a savings account. Also, 51% of the surveyed population had a retirement savings plan.

Viewing the industry statement, it seems that the payday cash advance customer has more than average level of education than the general US population.

A typical payday loan customer is between 25 to 40 years of age and has an annual income between $25,000 and $50,000. Also people from all walks of life, including teachers, civil servants and corporate employees considers payday loan as an efficient solution to the short term financial emergencies.

For more information on payday loan cash advances, visit:
www.ampmcash.com/money-savings.html

Author Bio
Angelina Rosario is associated with Ampm Cash.com. She is an expert author in the Payday loan Cash advance industry. She has written on different aspects of payday loan cash advance and debt management solutions. Visit her site www.ampmcash.com for the latest articles, news and resources on Payday loan cash advance.

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Cars and Credit Reports

By: Tom Justice
The Problem
I was driving home from the store the other night when I noticed a license plate that made me laugh to myself and then I proceeded to feel sorry for the poor sap driving. The plate read "0 DOWN". It was a white, shiny, new Ford Explorer (probably an 06'). Here's what really got me about the caption: Not only did this consumer purchase a brand new vehicle with no money down, but he was proud of it. DUMB! Commercial advertisements and society as a whole embeds the "Buy Now, Pay Later" method into our heads and it works so well that around 90% of all consumers who purchase new cars do not put $5 down on the vehicle before signing the papers. The sad fact is, is that the average new automobile loses $3,000 as soon as it leaves the lot. Technically, you have gone into debt for something that loses value before you even use it. As if this wasn't depressing enough, the less money you put down on a car and the worse off your credit is, the more you pay for the car. If this isn't one big sand trap I don't know what is!

The Role of Your Credit Report

Your online credit report is affected 2 ways when you buy a new car with no money down. First let's look at the role it plays after you decide you NEED that shiny new sports car. The mass majority of consumers are thinking of one thing when they sit in the 'sales chair' to go through the paperwork: driving the car home (man this is bringing back some bad, bad memories). In order to do this you will need to finance the vehicle which requires pulling up your credit history and your credit report. This can easily be done online right in the sales office while you look around to make sure no one else tries to sneak off with your new toy. The worse off your credit report is, the higher interest rate you will pay. (This is fine though as long as you can still afford to buy food every other week and pay a few bills here and there.)
The other role that your credit report plays in this game is the after-effect. The average new car buyer's car payment is 25-30% of their total income. This creates a nice, big road block on your credit report in itself for when you are ready to make another large purchase. Not to mention when you fall behind on even one payment and your credit file takes a hard blow. Try to keep these factors in mind next time the kid in you tries to make a financial decision.
The Solution

Well you're not going to like the best solution but here it is anyway: PAY FOR THE CAR IN FULL! If you saved the car payment every month in a good money market account; not only would you save time and money, but when you walked into the sales office with piles of hundred dollar bills you would get quite a deal! Okay, so you're more likely to win the super lotto than do that right?

Well here are a few ideas. As long as you practice a few you might get ahead of this nasty game a little bit or at least protect your online credit report. First, consider getting a 2 or 3 year old car. You can still get a shiny one and the previous owner will have taken the major depreciation of the vehicle passing the savings directly to you. Second, if you can, try waiting and searching to find the best deal possible. Trust me, there is more than 1 of those cars in the market. Third, put something down. Anything! For starters you could put down 10 to 15%. This will lower your monthly payment, lower your interest rate and maybe even cut your payoff time down. Lastly, get a bargain. Don't settle for the asking price by any means. Be patient and keep control of your focus. One definition of maturity is learning to delay pleasure.

Author Bio
Tom Justice is the webmaster for Clean Credit Online and does all the designing, marketing, SEO and maintenance for the site. He has a passion for personal finance and how the economy and consumers are affected by money. To see how you can use Clean Credit Online to help you with your personal finances please visit www.cleancreditonline.com

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Easy UK Loans - Loans Now Come Handy

By: Alex Jonnes
You may go for shopping with friends and family. What is the foremost thing you keep into consideration - price or brand? Different people have different perceptions; some of you may be brand conscious while others keep their eyes on price while shopping. Whatever you may be shopping a loan or a home, "convenience" factor plays the key role. Convenience connotes the easiness of shopping and how fast one can get the best thing he or she is looking for. The same factor rules the world of borrowers in the UK who wish to get the loan quickly and with ease.

Finance market in the UK is swamped with vast number of loans. Various forms of loans are available ranging from home to business loan. With the growing needs of the UK residents, lenders are trying to introduce new loan options to cater to their diverse needs. Speed and convenience rules the mind of borrowers in UK. But, is it that easy to choose a loan as it seems. Yes, if you can search for the lenders who can offer you an easy UK loan without much hassles.

First of all, you have to identify which loan you want to borrow. A personal loan can be borrowed to meet personal needs such as consolidating debts, making home improvements, starting up or expanding your business. Personal loans are further categorized as secured and unsecured loans. If you own a home or any property and loves taking risk you can apply for a secured personal loan. But, the process of borrowing takes a bit long time as the lender has to evaluate the value of the property you have put as a security against the loan. A secured loan gives the benefit of low monthly payments and loan with the longer repayment term.

If you are a tenant or a homeowner, you can apply for an unsecured loan. You are not required to keep your home or property at risk. The time taken in the loan process is considerably less. An unsecured loan bears a high rate of interest.

A homeowner can also apply for mortgage loan. He needs to keep his home as a security. Mortgage facilitates loan at better terms based on the equity stored in the home.

Once you decide which loan you want to borrow. Now, you need to search for the lenders who can offer the loan you need. Loan market is filled with countless number of lenders. In the past, borrowers had limited choice offered by traditional lenders, banks and financial institutions.

Entry of online lenders has given a new dimension to the loan market. Online lenders are definitely contributing a lot to the growth of market. Online loans are easy to apply and give complete comfort to the borrowers. Borrowers no longer need to approach physical lenders personally and stand in queues to submit their loan application. And then wait for the lenders decision to find out the status of your loan application.

Everyone wishes to save his or her valuable time. Online loans make it easier to apply for a loan. Borrowers can access infinite number of online lenders by using a computer equipped with latest technology namely internet, from the same place it could be your home or office.

Online lenders offer the convenience of applying for the loan. A borrower just needs to fill up a small and simple online application form which hardly takes few minutes. Loan representatives working for online lenders will go through your application and will give you the in-principle decision within 24 hours. Thus, the online process of applying for a loan offers complete convenience.

But, don't get settled for the very first loan deal you are offered. Accept the challenge to find the best loan. Collect loan quotes from several lenders, compare them and I assure you will definitely end up with the best deal.

The popularity of malls in UK shows that the trend of collection of everything at one place makes it easier for a customer to select the products he wishes to buy from the vast variety of products available. The same convenience is offered by online loans; one can access infinite number of online lenders and loan products and can choose the loan that matches his or her requirements to the best.

Author Bio
Alex Jonnes is associated with Easy Debt Consolidations.
He has a Masters in Business Administration and writes on various finance related topics. To find Debt consolidation loan bad credit, debt consolidation loan lowest interest rates visit www.easy-debt-consolidations.co.uk

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Computer Loans - Become Techno Savvy the Easier Way

By: James Taylor
I read of computer loans as a banner advert on a website. The loan provider had mentioned of easy finance options to help people purchase computers. Suddenly the dream of owning a computer became so easy to realise. It had been my insistence to purchase a branded computer and an insufficient personal income that were obstructing me from the purchase. But, now with the finance options in hand, computers from the best known companies are not far off.

Computer Loans have been born out of the idea of assisting every person in the UK to have a computer of his own. It is difficult to do without computers in the present age. Whether it is a simple classroom work for kids or your own office work, almost everything demands a computer. Such is the craze of computers that people will prefer to have a computer just as people would have craved to have television in its heydays.

People desirous of purchasing computers can easily apply for computer loans. Computer loan is similar to a personal loan, as far as the terms go. Though computer loans have a long list of benefits for borrowers, the best among these is the facility of stretched payments. Payments in a computer loan are stretched over a period called the term of repayment. Had it been for a cash purchase of the computer, borrower would have to pay the price of computer immediately. Only those with enough cash to make the immediate payment would have been able to purchase computers.

However, when computers are purchased through computer loan, borrower does not have to pay to the seller through his own pockets. It is the loan provider who makes the payment instead of the borrower. However, it will appear as though the borrower is making the payment. Bargaining on price, commonly associated with cash purchases can be conducted on purchase through computer loans too. This is because the borrower has the loan proceeds with him and he has the discretion on the manner and the amount up to which he wants to use the computer loan proceeds.

The amount that one had to pay to the computer dealer will now have to be paid to the computer loan provider. The manner in which computer loan is to be amortised is an important decision. The complexity of the decision increases because of the multiplicity of options available for loan repayment. You can either make a balloon payment towards the loan or pay through instalments that accrue monthly or quarterly.

Balloon payments are advantageous for borrowers who hope to lay hands on a sizable sum in the near future. Interest charges are significantly reduced through this method. The alternative method whereby payments are to be made through periodic instalments will bring greater interest to borrower's loan, but suits people with fixed incomes.

Interest is the cost of inflation on the amount lent to borrowers. Typical interest rate on a computer loan ranges from 7.25% to 15%. APR is generally dependant on the amount of loan that is being taken and the borrowers' credit status. Yes credit history is not going to leave you even in computer loans. A good credit history is preferable to get a larger amount for computer loans at cheap rates. Loan providers who work with sub-prime borrowers may arrange good deals for the borrowers with bad credit in computer loans.

As far as the question of mode of application goes, it is easier to apply for computer loans online. Borrowers who are about to purchase computers are already too techno-savvy to be explained the online process of application. In brief, the process of online application will not require the borrower to visit lenders office. By logging onto the lenders website and filling up his details in the application form given there, the applicant can initiate the approval process.

Computer loans help boost the technological revolution by making computers more accessible.

Author Bio
James Taylor holds a Master's degree in Commerce from JNU, he is working as a financial consultant for chance for loans. To find a personal loan or bad credit loans that best suits your needs visit www.chanceforloans.co.uk

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