To apply for a payday loan, go to the lending company's website..

When you are applying for a Payday Loan, there are some standard requirements. You need to be a US citizen, 18 years of age, have a checking account, and a minimum monthly income of $1,000. There may be additional requirements depending on what lending company you use. Other requirements may include an employment history of at least three to four months, as well as a checking account for the same timeframe. Some lending companies may settle for a savings account if you do not have your own checking account. If you are self-employed, you will need bank statements that verify your income for a certain number of months. In most cases, with the exception of self-employment, payday loan companies that operate through the Internet will rarely ask you to provide written confirmation of your information.

To apply for a payday loan, go to the lending company's website to find their online application form. The payday loan service will then ask you for information to confirm that you meet their standard requirements for a payday loan. At this time, you will also be asked for your social security number and banking information, so be sure to have this available when filling out your application. Once you have completed the online application, the payday loan service will verify your information through a series of databases they have at their disposal. Rarely will you have to consent to a standard credit check, and in fact, many companies will even provide a payday loan with a guarantee that your credit will not be checked. You will see these advertised as Bad Credit Payday Loans, or No Credit Check Payday Loans. If you end up choosing a payday loan service that runs a credit check on you and then denies your application due to poor credit history, there are still many options available to you for a payday loan.

Once your application is reviewed, the payday lending service will contact you either by phone or by email. At this time, you will come to a mutual agreement on a payment timeframe and the fee for the loan. Any other details on your payday loan will also be discussed at this point, and at this time, you will be told when to expect the funds in your checking account. A wait of three to five business days before you can access the funds from your bank is not unusual, even if your payday lender processes the loan on the same day. Some companies are able to have the money in your account by the following business day. In some cases, the payday loan company may offer same day loans where your funds are wired directly to your bank account as soon as your application is processed and approved. In this case, your bank may charge you a wire-receiving fee, so it is a good idea to check with your bank first for the amount of these fees. You will definitely be able to access your funds immediately, but this convenience can be expensive.

Any time that you apply for an online payday loan, do your research, so you are fully aware of the risks you are taking. You need to be careful about whom you are sharing your sensitive and personal information with in order to protect yourself from harm such as identity theft or other scams. You cannot complete the process of payday loan services without using an online application. This application is necessary for the payday loan company to verify information on your financial status. However, at the same time, the information you're providing on your personal history is private, and you want to avoid the risk of it falling into the wrong hands. In a random survey conducted by the CFA of 100 online payday loan services, companies that offered No Fax Payday Loans, Instant Payday Loans, Bad Credit Payday Loans, and Low Fee Payday Loans were examined. It was found that as many as 28 of those companies were not providing secure connections with their online application pages. That is almost 30%!! What this means to you as a consumer is that anyone who knows how to hack a computer could easily gain access to your personal financial information. Your best protection will be to work with payday companies that take serious measures to protect the security of your personal and sensitive information. Before you apply for a payday loan, ensure that the company you want to work with provides these security measures.

You also want to see that your payday lender is offering a privacy policy on their website. Make sure their privacy policy is clearly posted on the website and that it specifically states that this company does not authorize information sharing for third party marketing purposes.

Receiving a payday loan can be a quick and convenient method to get access to funds if you are in a bind. Before doing so, research the online payday loan companies that interest you the most. Investigating the process and payday loan company beforehand will save you from frustration and stress down the road. By doing your research ahead of time, you will be able to find the payday loan company that is suitable and secure, and one that guarantees they will not sell your personal information to anyone else.

Payday Loans - Good & Bad

Learning more about payday loans-good & bad is critical if you are considering visiting a payday lender. Many people find themselves in need of cash in a crisis, and may need to avail themselves of payday loans. Knowing both the good and bad about payday loans can help you make an informed decision on this important matter that can concern your financial well being.

The CFA and FTC have both expressed serious concerns about "predatory lenders" and "legal loan sharking". Both agencies have called payday loans too expensive, too easy to attain, and questioned whether these loans can contribute to debt among poor Americans. Many Americans find themselves unable to repay their payday loans, thus accumulating even more debt as the fees pile up.

Payday loans are very expensive, and many borrowers may not realize how very expensive they are in relation to other types of loans, including credit card cash advances. While lenders should offer not only the lending fee information, but also a calculation of the annual percentage rate or APR as required by the Truth in Lending Act, many do not. If you do not have a good understanding of loan terms, you may believe that a $20 per $100 loan fee is equal to a 20% APR; however, this is not true. A credit card may charge a 20% APR, or $20 per year on $100 borrowed on the credit card. The $20 per $100 borrowed fee at a payday lender is charged every two weeks, making the annual percentage rate 26 times that of the credit card. Payday loans typically have an APR ranging from 250% to 650%, thus making debt particularly hard to overcome. Needless to say, that $100 loan can quickly become very expensive, particularly if you cannot pay it off when due in two weeks.

Why, when faced with these negatives, would people choose payday loans? Most people opt for a payday loan in a time of financial crisis. A bill is due, the car needs repaired, or perhaps there has been a medical emergency. Payday loans are easy to get, can allow you to have the funds immediately, and if you have bad credit, may be your only option in an emergency.

Payday loans are not intended as a long term financial solution. Most lenders limit the total amount loaned to between $1,500 and $2,500 and the average loan is between $200 and $500. Smaller loans are, not surprisingly, easier to manage for consumers. If a consumer avoids taking out loans that they cannot afford to repay, and repays all payday loans when they are due, they can typically avoid incurring substantial debt.

Consumers with bad credit may have no other alternatives when they need some additional cash. Payday loans can be a good option for these Americans, and can provide them with needed funds. If your choices are taking out a payday loan or bouncing checks, the payday loan, if paid back promptly, will be far less expensive. Bounced check fees can accumulate quickly, and bounced checks will damage your credit.

Payday loans come with many drawbacks, and should be used only if critically needed. These loans are expensive, and borrowers should be aware of all their options, and consider whether they have a credit card cash advance available, can borrow from family, or can make do without the funds. Choose a reputable payday lender who offers not only their lending fees, but also information about the annual percentage rate for the payday loan. Be certain that you have a plan in place to repay your payday loan in a timely fashion.

Say NO to Payday Loans

Even though it is very easy to get a payday loan quickly and the loan application process is a breeze for most people, it might not be the right deal for many people.

The average borrowers who receive their funds from payday lenders are typically either young persons who do not understand finances to any great depth, people who are struggling with debt, persons who are having a hard time with their everyday financial obligations or people who have previously used high-risk lenders. These groups of people can actually have their financial situation worsened by introducing payday loans into the financial decisions. Unfortunately, millions of U.S. citizens who are chronically short of money and for many of these people, a payday loan can be tempting.

One of the problems that can happen is if the term of the loan is too long, the high payday loan fees keep being added for the length of the loan and the finances of the person can be so stretched that the borrower begins to get repeated loans. This situation stresses out a situation where a cash shortage is already a problem. Payday loan fees have an APR that typically ranges from 250 - 650%, which is a high rate compared to the APR of other types of loans.

A borrower should repay their payday loans back as soon as possible to avoid the heavy lender fees. For instance, many payday lenders renew your loan at the end of two weeks. The fee is deducted and the borrower must pay a new fee when this period ends so if the borrower does not repay the loan in eight weeks, the amount of fees will have grown to $100 and the original $100 that was borrowed still is not paid. If the lender kept renewing the loan for a year, the borrower would then fees of $650 and the original $100 would not be paid yet.

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