Fast Money: A Guide to Fast Secured Loans
By John Mussi
Here is a useful guide to fast secured loans. Sometimes it seems as though there's nothing you can do… you need money and you need it now, but you don't get paid for another week or more. You need to find a fast secured loan, but banks can sometimes take weeks to process your application and there's still no guarantee that you'll get the money that you need. Luckily, there are other options available for fast secured loans.
Cash Advance and Cheque Cashing
Cash advance stores and cheque cashing services are one of the simplest forms of fast secured loans. You go in and fill out some paperwork, write them a cheque for the amount of your loan plus their service charges, and walk out with either cash or a cheque that you can take to the bank. You usually have two weeks to pay off the loan, and may or may not be able to make partial payments. If you haven't paid your debt within the appropriate timeframe, then they'll submit your cheque to the bank for payment… and if you don't have the money, the cheque will bounce and you'll be looking at service fees from both the cash advance store and your bank.
Title Loans
A title loan is another form of fast secured loan, working much like the cash advance store but with the loan provider putting a lean against your car title (meaning that they have loaned you money, and therefore are considered to be legal owners of the vehicle) instead of you writing a cheque. Title loans usually allow for greater amounts to be loaned, and in almost all cases you get to keep your car… the down side is that if you don't pay the loan back in time, then the lender is able to repossess the vehicle. If you don't pay them back after they've repossessed (as well as pay for the repossession fees), then they're free to sell the car in order to get their money. Title loans usually aren't recommended unless you have a dire need for money, and know that you'll be able to pay back the loan before the payments get out of hand or behind.
Pawn Shops
One of the most popular forms of fast secured loans is the pawn shop. The way that a pawn shop works is that you bring in some item of value (ranging from rings to computers, and sometimes even your car title) and they loan you the amount that they estimate it to be worth. Their estimation will be much lower than the actual value, and they'll keep the item as collateral; when you pay back the loan (usually within 30 days), then you'll get your item back. If 90 days pass and you haven't picked up your item or made payments on the loan, then the pawn shop is free to put it on their shelves and sell it to whoever wants it.
As you can see, fast secured loans are fast and can get you the money you need if you have a desperate need… but they have some drawbacks as well. Use caution when deciding whether you really need the money that badly, and go in with a definite plan for paying the money back.
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