Getting the Most Out Of Consolidation Loans Uk
By John Mussi
Before letting too much debt or too many payments get the better of you, consider applying for consolidation loans UK.
If you're wondering what they are, consolidation loans UK are loans that are designed to “consolidate” debts of various kinds… paying them off with the amount of the loan, leaving the one loan payment in the place of the multiple payments you were having to make before.
The end result is fewer debts hanging over your head, fewer cheques to write, and an easier time keeping your all of your finances under control.
A variety of options exist for consolidation loans UK… secured loans, unsecured loans, and a variety of interest rates and terms.
Some consolidation loans UK are designed for people who have debts beyond their ability to reasonably repay, and others were created so that people with multiple loans with the same bank or finance company (perhaps an automotive loan, a boat loan, and a personal loan) can combine their loans and refinance them at a lower interest rate.
A matter of collateral
The difference between secured and unsecured consolidation loans UK is collateral, or property that has some value which is used to guarantee or provide security for a loan.
A secured loan is one in which collateral is provided, with the collateral acting as a guarantee that the lender will get their money back no matter what happens. When the loan is taken out, a lien (which is a legal claim to the property) is placed on the property… once the loan is repaid, the lien is removed.
Should the borrower fail to repay the loan, then the lender can exercise their legal right and take possession of the property in order to sell it and get their money back.
This repossession can be expensive for the lender, however, so most banks and finance companies would much rather receive the money for their consolidation loans UK from the borrowers than from selling repossessed property.
Unsecured loans are those consolidation loans UK that do not require collateral to guarantee the loan. These are much less common than the secured loans, and almost always have higher interest rates.
The increased interest rates are due to the increased risk of these loans… without the collateral as security, there is no guarantee that the lender will get their money back should the borrower default (or not pay) on their loan obligation.
These types of consolidation loans UK are usually only offered to borrowers who are consolidating multiple loans with a single lender or to those who have exceptionally good credit.
The risk of unsecured loans is often too great to allow them to be granted to people with poor or bad credit.