Bad Credit Loans in Kelowna, BC - What to Do When You Need Money

	People with bad credit in Kelowna can actually get help to avoid the fees, high interest, and payments of expensive personal loans.
		The Most Important Question Why are you looking for a bad credit personal loan? Depending on your reasons, you might actually have other options available to you that can resolve your debt problems, repair your credit, and get your finances back on track. However, it's very important to first ask yourself, "Why do I need this loan?" Click on the answer below that's closest to your answer to see if there are better alternatives for you: This is for an emergency. Your car needs to be fixed, your pet is sick, you have a large dentist bill, you need to travel to see a sick relative, or something else like this. You would like to rebuild your credit or improve your credit score. You are looking for just one loan with one payment. You’re hoping to work out a more affordable payment by paying off your debt over a longer time period, or your existing interest rates are too high.

When you have bad credit, loans can be challenging to get whether you live in Kelowna or anywhere else in Canada. So if you need money, what can you do? Maybe you're struggling to make your rent or mortgage payment, you've got household bills to pay, and your credit cards are maxed out. You may have tried looking for online loans and are now contemplating - or have tried - payday loans. But honestly, in the back of your mind you're wondering if any of these are really going to help improve your financial situation.

The truth probably is that you’ve gone through some difficult things recently, and right now you really aren't aware of a better way to handle things than to apply for a loan for bad credit. So to help you out, we explain some things below that you can do to try and obtain a loan in Kelowna, BC when you have a bad credit rating. However, if you’re interested in finding another way to deal with your debts (one that is usually way more effective), scroll down to the last part of this article.

Why Personal Bad Credit Loans Have High Interest Rates & Fees

The first thing you need to be aware of with bad credit personal loans is that they are very expensive. The reason for this is due to the fact that people with poor credit default on their loan payments far more often than those with good credit. So lenders view anyone with poor credit as a big risk. Because of this, they charge high interest rates and upfront fees to compensate for their higher losses and to ensure they get the most out of someone before they default on their payments. This may not be fair, but that's often the way it's done.

Can a Personal Loan Repair My Poor Credit Rating?

You also need to be aware that obtaining a bad credit personal loan - be it secured or unsecured - won't repair your payment history. Your credit rating didn't fall overnight. It took time, and it will take even more time for it to go back up again. A new loan won't magically fix the problem; however, managing your money better - over time - will improve your poor credit rating. That's one of the good things about Canada's credit rating system - it recognizes that bad things happen to good people. So it's possible to repair your credit without using personal loans with high bad credit interest rates and fees.

Related: How to Fix Your Credit Rating and Improve Poor Credit.

How to Get a Loan with Bad Credit - Income Verification, List of Assets, Monthly Expenses, Debts & Credit Report Questions

When you apply for a bad credit loan, it's best to be prepared with your financial information. A lender will want to know your income and what you earn each month from all sources. They'll want to know if you have any assets you could offer (pledge) as security (collateral). They may want to know what your monthly expenses are too. You should also be prepared to answer any questions they might have about your debts, poor credit, and payment history.

To verify your income: collect your pay stubs, government assistance payment information, alimony or child support records, bank account statements and/or tax returns with assessment notices.

If you have assets: bring a list of what you own and what each item is worth. It’s the big things that matter, like cars, trucks, boats, ATVs, motorcycles, trailers, and other vehicles and items that can be appraised. Jewellery, coin or stamp collections, antiques and other heirlooms can only be used as collateral for a loan if they have an authentic, verifiable appraisal certificate to accompany them. Tools, musical instruments, electronics and other expensive household goods can be sold or consigned at pawn shops but can’t typically be used to get a loan. However, some high interest lenders will have people pledge them as token security.

Jotting down your debts & monthly expenses: this can often be the toughest part for most people. When you begin listing everything out, you realize how much you owe and how much you spend. Begin by writing down your housing costs and home utility bills. Then list the essentials such as food, groceries, and medication. Also include transportation expenses and work-related costs too. If you find it a bit tricky to remember all your different expenses or debts and aren't sure of the best way to organize them, we have a great budget calculator that lists and organizes everything and guides you as you create your budget and does all the number crunching for you. You can access if for free here. You can also learn a whole lot more about budgeting here.

To address concerns about your credit report: get a copy of yours and have a look. You can easily obtain one for free from both Equifax and TransUnion. Click here to see how to get a free copy, and if you're wondering how your credit report and score are created and what the difference is between the two, click here to learn more.

Better Ways to Solve Debt and Money Problems than Getting Bad Credit Loans

Trying to get the money you need by shopping around for bad credit loans in Kelowna takes a lot of time and patience. At the end of the day, there’s no guarantee that when you find someone who will lend you the money, that they will offer you a loan with terms and conditions you can afford. It's likely that you already kind of know this. So if you really want something that's going to solve your debt and money problems, here is the single best thing you can do: call a local non-profit credit counselling service and book an appointment to discuss your situation with one of their Credit Counsellors. Appointments with non-profit Credit Counsellors are usually free of charge, completely confidential, and can happen either in person or over the phone. These guys are typically experts in everything that relates to bad credit loans, consolidating, and dealing with debt. They help people explore all their options - including debt relief and consolidation options that most are unaware of. Having a conversation like this could quite possibly be the best thing you've done in years and can make a world of difference in helping you get your finances back on the right track as soon as possible.