With unsecured consumer loans, lenders will set interest rates higher than secured loans, making these a more expensive loan after it has been paid in full. If you have less-than-favorable credit, the lender will add to that interest rate, and there will be fees and charges associated with the interest.

The best and only way to get lower rates with an unsecured product is to present with an excellent to good credit profile. Lenders use creditworthiness and financial standing to gauge the structure of the loan. Borrowers can wait to apply until they can improve their credit scores.

That’s not as difficult as it may seem, requiring that debt be paid consistently and promptly, with some being eliminated if there’s an excess compared to income.

If a borrower needs the funds urgently, forcing them to accept a higher rate, it is possible to still make improvements and, at some point, refinance to try for the lower interest rate. It’s also possible to reduce the total loan cost so the product doesn’t end up as expensive as it could have been.

How can you make a loan less costly than it was initially? Let’s look at a few ways to decrease the expense of your consumer loan.

Tips on Reducing the Overall Cost of a Consumer Loan

In order to get a consumer loan, lenders review creditworthiness and financial standing.

Eligibility criteria vary from one lender to the next; however, because these are unsecured products, most assign lower interest rates to clients with excellent to good credit. Go to forbrukslånlavrente.com for details on consumer loan products.

Many borrowers fall between good and average credit, leaving them with a higher interest rate, creating a more expensive product. Several opportunities exist to reduce the overall cost of a loan if you need to accept the higher interest rate initially, including improving credit, paying off debt, or even refinancing later.

How can you reduce the overall total loan cost, the borrowed amount, plus the accrued interest over the loan’s life, from what it would have been with the initial structuring? Let’s explore.

·    Limit the Borrowing Amount

Regardless of what borrowing amount you’re approved for, it’s crucial to request only the amount you need to cover your expenses. Before making that decision, you’ll need to review the agreement with the lending agency to find out the loan’s overall total cost.

If the need is not dire and the expense is more than you want, it may be worthwhile to consider an alternative financial solution or wait until your credit and finances are in a better position. At that point, the rate and terms could be more favorable, and the loan cost could be reduced.

You can also save on the expense and borrow an even lesser amount. Lenders will offer lower rates for smaller borrowing amounts since these are easier and faster to pay back.

·    Pay When You Can

Pay frequently and early to reduce the total loan cost. A priority before taking this step is to review the loan terms to find out how it’s structured regarding making payments ahead of schedule. With some lenders, there are exceptional fees that come under prepayment penalties.

If there’s no clause, you have the freedom to pay as often and as much as you like, even paying it off if you happen to get a windfall. Many loan providers allow flexible paying on unsecured consumer loans without imposing penalties. It relieves them of considerable risk.

Another step you can take in this same vein is increasing the monthly minimum with the regular installment. Lending agencies calculate this payment based on your income and what they perceive as your ability to repay. You agree to these installments for a set term based on your current financial status.

If your income increases and you find yourself in a better financial position, you can start making larger monthly payments to reduce the overall product expense.

•    Sign on for Auto Pay

Most loan providers offer borrowers a discount for signing up for automatic payments, which accounts for roughly 0.25 to 0.5 percent based on the lending agency. The benefit of autopay is you don’t have to worry about a delayed or missed payment. Consistent and prompt repayments boost credit scores.

With an improved credit profile comes many opportunities, including the potential for qualifying loan options with other providers with better rates and more favorable terms. You can also approach your current agency to renegotiate your existing product to see if it’s possible to get better terms.

Before reaching out to any provider, you’ll want to pull your credit reports from the bureaus to review the debt and check for inaccuracies. While your score has gone up, you could increase it by eliminating possible errors on the reports.

For any discrepancies, contact that particular bureau to have it resolved and removed from that report. You’ll need to go into each bureau individually because they can differ.

Another thing to consider is if any collections are noted; these should be satisfied if possible. The collector’s office must be contacted to confirm payment has been received and the account marked as paid in full.

A request should be made to remove it from the credit report or mark the account as paid for in full.

Final Thought

It might be challenging to get the lowest interest rate off the cuff when applying for a consumer loan. These unsecured products already have higher interest than secured products, with the lowest rates reserved for individuals with excellent to good credit.

That doesn’t mean the total loan cost needs to be expensive. You can reduce the overall cost by making improvements to your credit, refinancing, paying off debt, and on.

You can even pay extra, and frequently if the loan structure doesn’t include prepayment penalties. A higher interest rate initially doesn’t have to mean an expensive loan when all is said and done.