Guides

Borrowing How to Get a Loan With Bad Credit in the UK Check your file, work out what you can afford and use an eligibility search before you apply.

Borrowing Can You Get a Wedding Loan With Bad Credit? Set a wedding budget, do the morning after test and compare the full cost before you borrow.

Credit basics What Counts as Bad Credit in the UK? Missed payments, defaults, CCJs and thin files explained, and how lenders read them.

Credit basics How to Check Your Credit File for Free Where to get your report from each agency and what to look for when you do.

Credit basics Soft Search vs Hard Search Explained The difference between the two checks and which one an eligibility check uses.

Credit basics How to Improve Your Credit Score Fix what is wrong, stabilise what is happening now and build a stronger record over time.

Credit basics How to Fix Errors on Your Credit Report Build a dispute letter, track the case and know where to raise it with each agency.

Borrowing How Much Can You Borrow With Bad Credit? Why the amount offered depends on affordability and the lender’s rules, not just your score.

Borrowing Understanding APR and the Total Cost of a Loan What APR means, how representative APR works and how to compare monthly repayments and total cost.

Borrowing Choosing the Right Repayment Term Shorter and cheaper, or longer and lower each month. How to decide.

Borrowing What Lenders Look at Beyond Your Credit Score Credit risk, affordability and identity checks: the two questions behind every lending decision.

Borrowing How a Credit Broker Works What a broker does, how it is paid, and how that differs from a lender.

Repaying What Happens if You Miss a Repayment? Check, contact and protect: what may happen next and the steps to take now.

Repaying Can You Repay a Loan Early? Ask for the settlement figure, compare it with the repayments left and check the real saving.

Borrowing Loans, Overdrafts and Credit Cards Compared What happens to the same £500 with each product, and how to compare structure before rate.

Repaying Continuous Payment Authority Explained Card permission, not bank instruction: how a CPA works, how it differs from a Direct Debit and how to cancel one.

Repaying Refinancing or Rolling Over a Loan Where the new loan really goes, why a smaller repayment can cost more, and the rules lenders must follow.

Getting help Where to Get Free Debt Help Free, confidential advice services across the UK, when to call and what to have ready.

Getting help Alternatives to Borrowing Payment plans, benefits, emergency grants, supplier support and saving for costs that can wait.

Getting help How to Make a Complaint About a Lender or Broker Who to complain to, what to include, the eight week deadline and when the Ombudsman can step in.

Getting help How to Spot a Loan Scam Upfront fees, guaranteed approval, clone firms and what to do if you have already paid.

Getting help Glossary of Borrowing Terms Plain-English definitions of the words you will see in a credit agreement, with a search.