How Payday Loans Work

By: Rachel Mork

If you're considering taking out quick cash loans, you'll want to make sure you understand how payday loans work. Quick cash advances can get you through a tight spot, but they are expensive for any long-term or consistent loan situation. Consider the pros and cons of these loans as listed below.

Pros Of Quick Cash Loans
1. Quick Cash Today
The primary advantage of a payday loan is the fact that you can get money now. A quick cash loan does not take weeks to get approved, and you can pay off a bill that needs to be taken care of right now, today. Payday loans are most useful for emergencies when you absolutely cannot wait until your next paycheck and have to pay for something now.

2. No Need To Qualify
There are no restrictions on payday loans, with the exception that you haven't defaulted on a payday loan in the past and sullied your reputation with a particular lender. This is especially helpful for immigrants and people with poor credit reports who may not qualify for loans elsewhere. With credit restrictions tightening, more and more people do not qualify for loans in the traditional lending environment, causing more and more people to consider quick cash loans.

Cons Of Quick Cash Loans
1. Extremely High Interest And Fees
Quick cash loans typically charge around 20% in interest and fees. This is a steep usury charge in comparison to traditional loans. Access to quick cash without questions comes at a price.

2. The Consequences Of Not Repaying On Time Are Significant
Most payday loans are for a very short period of time, usually one week or two weeks. If you are unable to repay the loan-plus interest and fees-in the time period specified, the amount owed will increase dramatically. Some lenders charge double the interest; some charge the same interest rate on the amount owed plus the interest and fees all rolled together. Others institute steep late fees. This means you end up even further in the hole, making it even harder to repay the loan.

In summary, payday loans are best if you are in a situation where you need cash today (perhaps to extend an insurance policy before it cancels, costing you a great deal to get the policy reinstituted), but you are sure you can repay the loan and fees in the time frame specified.

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