Debt consolidation loans

Guide to debt consolidation loans

If you are currently in a tricky situation with your finances and juggling payments to more than one lender, you are not alone. Britain as a nation, owes over £1 trillion. But rather than trying to pay off the minimum amount for each debt, a debt consolidation loan could reduce your debt to one manageable monthly payment. However, you need to look at all of the relevant issues as a debt consolidation loan may not be right or available for you.

The Best Debt Consolidation Loans from uSwitch

What is a debt consolidation loan?

In its simplest terms, a debt consolidation loan will pay off your existing debts and transfer the monies owed into one loan with one manageable, monthly repayment. You will still have to pay back all the monies owed, but with a debt consolidation loan you may be able to reduce your monthly outgoings, pay a lower rate of interest, or be able to spread the costs out over a longer time period.

How can a debt consolidation loan help with debts?

If you are careful about managing your spending, a debt consolidation loan can help by:

• reducing your monthly payments. By spreading out the term of the debt you will often be able to reduce your monthly repayments to a manageable level. Most people are often paying the 'minimum payment' allowed on the existing debts. This often just means covering the interest component of the loan while leaving the actual total amount owed unchanged.
  
  
• improving your credit rating. If you are able to pay off the loan and accrue no further debt, this will be seen as a positive impact on your credit rating. It is also a good idea to check your credit report before you apply for a debt consolidation loan - you can get online access to your credit report with a free trial of Credit Expert from Experian.*
  
  
• reducing the interest you pay. If your debts are with store or credit cards that have a high interest rate, then you will generally pay back less interest on your debt with a loan. Make sure you stop spending on your cards though.

How do I get a debt consolidation loan?

To see if you are eligible for their loan, a lender will look at how much debt you have outstanding and your credit risk.

If you have a previous history of bad credit or large debts, a lender may only consider offering a secured loan. This will require you using your property as security against the loan, reducing the lender's risk. You need to be very sure you will be able to cope with the loan repayment, as your house could be at risk if you default.

More types of debt consolidation loans

Today, the majority of personal loans can be used to consolidate your debts. As with any other borrowing the lender will look at:

• the amount you want to borrow
• your credit history
• how long you need to repay the debt

If your outstanding debt is low and you have no problems with your credit rating, a personal loan could help you consolidate and reduce your debt.

How do I find the best debt consolidation loan?

The easiest way to find a good debt consolidation loan is to compare the loans available on the uSwitch.com loans comparison service. Our service is free and we provide an impartial and independent comparison of the UK's personal and secured loans to help you compare loans more easily.