What Are Payday Loans?
Payday loans, sometimes referred to as payday advances, are short-term, unsecured loans, usually for small amounts. The only collateral that is generally required to apply for these specific loans is some form of employment records, like pay stubs, although the term payday loans has become a shorthand for any type of small, short-term loan even if it’s not technically backed by a direct reliance on a borrower’s next paycheck. Payday advances, like any loan vehicle, are regulated heavily. These regulations vary widely from state to state in the United States, and from country to country internationally.
Payday Loans Are A Booming Business
Payday lenders have had seen booming success worldwide, and credit that success to offering a service that was not formerly available. They point out that emergency cash loans offer an attractive alternative to people who are not able or willing to use less expensive conventional routes to borrow money. Some companies that offer emergency cash advances in the UK have described their approach as a handy financial service for young, Web-savvy borrowers, accustomed to the ease and convenience of instantaneous online communication. These applicants often feel left out of the conventional banking system. Today’s modern consumer, raised entirely with social media, can even apply for these micro-loans using their smartphones, with money transferred to successful applicant’s bank accounts within minutes.
Compare Payday Loans With Other Loan Types
Many types of short-term loans can seem expensive when the fees associated with the loan are factored as yearly APR. For that reason, payday lenders prefer to compare their loan products to bank overdraft fees and other charges that traditional lenders use to recoup funds. Many payday lenders don’t even characterize their business as banks, simply as another form of Internet technology, used to connect willing borrowers with willing lenders.
Payday Loans Are Available 24/7
As traditional outlets for loans become harder to find and are requiring larger and larger amounts of paperwork for even small loans, payday advances have stepped in to fill the vacuum. They’re available day and night, seven days a week, and in many cases the process is so fully automated that loans are granted without the borrower ever having to speak to another person. After applicants have established a track record of successfully paying off cash advance loans, some lenders only require applicants to text the amount of the desired loan, and the term of the loan desired, and the money is instantly made available.
So Why Would I Pay the Added Interest?
Sometimes it’s an unexpected emergency, or it may be that an opportunity has come up you couldn’t possibly pass up. Is it tickets to the playoff? Has a friend obtained access to ringside seats at the “fight of the century”? Or maybe you have committed an unforgivable sin and forgotten your significant others birthday…
Whatever the reason, you’re short on cash. If you haven’t got credit cards and maybe your friends and family are not in a position to help out. What do you do?
It’s increasingly common for those in immediate financial need to approach a short-term lending company for a “payday loan”. These loans are often unsecured, meaning the borrower has no collateral to provide. This makes the loans a high-risk cash advance for the lending company. If the borrower bails, there’s nothing of value to collect. They compensate for the increased risk by charging very high-interest rates.
The applicant usually must provide proof of employment, and government issued identification. The idea is that when the applicant’s next pay check is issued, the funds will be used to pay off the loan. In some cases, the loans may be made for the borrower to purchase a car or other big-ticket item. In these cases, there is somewhat less risk involved for the lender. The item may be re-possessed should the applicant fail to repay the loan as promised.
So What is the Bottom Line
Companies around the world offer payday loan services including Canada, the United States, Australia and Great Britain. The rules and regulations regarding how much interest may be charged, and limits on the amounts of the loans vary depending on the country, state, province or county where the payday loan company is located.
The industry is growing; possibly the fastest in the UK, where there are fewer regulations on how payday loan companies may operate. UK firms have expanded into Canada and Australia. In a few states in the United States, super high-interest loans (such as those provided by payday loan advance firms) are illegal.
On the spot check-cashing is another service that is frequently offered by payday advance companies. Perhaps the customer does not have a bank account or wants immediate access to the cash. A flat charge or percentage of the check amount will be charged as a fee. Short term loan companies often open early and close late to take advantage of those who need immediate access to cash.
Many companies now offer online applications for payday loans. They usually offer a quick decision on the client’s application, sometimes within an hour. The cash can then be deposited into a bank account or collected by the borrower at a company office.
