Being Aware

Practical advice on avoiding common lending pitfalls and understanding your borrower rights. Topics include hidden charges, debt collection practices, and risky loan types.

Bank Charges and How to Avoid Them

Stop paying bank charges by managing your account carefully and avoiding overdrafts, missed payments and bounced cheques.

Common Loan Scams to Look Out for

Watch out for upfront fee and pre-approved loan scams that target desperate borrowers and drain your money fast.

Consequences of Non Payments and Defaults

Missing loan payments can wreck your credit for years and lead to debt collection, court action, and repossession.

Debt Collectors and Knowing Your Rights

Debt collectors have strict legal limits on what they can do, know what harassment looks like and when to report them.

Early Loan Repayment Charges

Many lenders charge fees if you pay off a loan early, usually around two months' interest, so check your terms before borrowing.

Juggling Loans and Clearing Debt

Moving money between loans might feel smart, but it often traps you in debt longer with higher fees and interest charges.

Last Resort Loans to Avoid

Avoid secured loans and high-interest borrowing by only taking what you can afford to repay comfortably each month.

Loan Lenders to Avoid

Watch out for high interest lenders and no credit check loans that target people with bad credit and charge steep fees.

Mis-sold Payment Protection: Your Rights

If you were sold payment protection insurance, you may be entitled to claim back thousands of pounds in overcharges.

New Laws: Fairer Deal for Credit Card Borrowers

Credit card companies must now give borrowers 30 days notice before raising rates and offer options to freeze accounts under new government rules.

Recognising That You Are a Borrowing Risk

A poor credit record limits your borrowing options and raises your interest rates—understanding why lenders see you as risky is the first step to fixing it.

Recognising the Signs of a Bad Lender

Watch out for predatory lending tactics and unfair practices that can trap you in debt and harassment for years.

Secured Loans Pitfalls to Be Aware of

Secured loans put your home or assets at risk if you can't keep up with payments, so weigh the downsides carefully.

The Latest Loan Fraud Scams

Scammers are targeting people in debt with fake loan offers that look legitimate but drain your bank account instead.

The Pitfalls of No Credit Check Loans

No credit check loans come with sky-high interest rates and can trap you in a cycle of debt despite their initial appeal.

The Right Time to Use High Interest Loans

High interest loans can help rebuild bad credit or cover emergencies, but only if you can meet the repayment schedule reliably.

The Truth About Payment Protection Insurance

Payment protection insurance can help with loan payments if you lose your job or get sick, but it's often overpriced and not necessary for everyone.

Why It's Becoming Harder to Borrow

High interest rates make borrowing harder, but loans are still possible if you understand why banks tightened their lending standards.

Why Reliable Borrowers Are Paying for Bad Debtors

Good borrowers are paying higher interest rates because banks are passing the cost of bad debts onto everyone else.

Writing Off Bank Loans

Bank loans can be written off, but the debt doesn't disappear and may still haunt your credit history.