Best Emergency Loan Providers & Sites in 2021

Regardless of how well we budget in life, there might come a time where you need access to fast, emergency cash to pay for the unexpected. Whether your car has broken down and you need to pay for repairs, or you have found yourself short at the last week of the month – an emergency loan can often facilitate super-fast financing. While loan sizes are typically small in nature, it is also important to remember that emergency loans typically come with a high rate of interest. In fact, emergency loans are like the best payday loans in all-but name, meaning that a high APR rate is more of a probability than a possibility.

Nevertheless, if emergency funding is something that you do need, then be sure to read our in-depth guide on the Best Emergency Loan Providers & Sites in 2021. On top of discussing the best three emergency funding providers currently active in the UK market, we’ll also explain what you need to know about fees and funding times, and how the end-to-end application process typically works.

Pros and Cons of Emergency Loans

How do Emergency Loans work? Read our step-by-step guide

If you’ve previously applied for a payday loan before, then you should know that the emergency loan funding process is largely the same. In layman terms, this means that you can make an application from the comfort of your own home, and once you have provided information linked to your personal identity and financial standing, the lender should be able to give you a decision instantly. Nevertheless, if this is your first time applying for an emergency loan, then we would suggest reading the step-by-step guide we have outlined below.

Step 1: Find a loan provider

First and foremost, you will need to find an emergency loan provider that has the capacity to facilitate your application on a same-day basis. In fact, if you need the funds in the here and now, then you’re best off finding a lender that can release the money within the hour. On top of fast funding times, you also need to assess how much the lender is able to loan out, and of course – the representative rate that the provider charges.

If you need some assistance in finding an emergency loan provider, we have listed the best three lenders currently active in the market further down in our guide.

Step 2: Start the application

As you will be completing the entire application online, you will now need to head over to the homepage of your chosen provider. Next, enter the amount that you wish to borrow (this is usually a drop-down list or scroll-bar), alongside the amount of time that you need to pay the funds back. The representative rate and monthly repayment amounts should update as you adjust the toolbox, although the specific rate that you get could well be higher.

Step 3: Enter your personal and financial information

As the lender needs to acquire more information about you, they will now ask you a range of question pertaining to your personal identity. Simply enter your name, address, date of birth, driver’s license number (if applicable), and contact details. Moreover, you will also be asked about your current job. Enter the name and address of your employer, how much you earn each month (after tax), and what date you get paid.

Step 4: Provide your bank account and debit card numbers

If you were applying for a traditional personal loan, the lender would typically spend more time running checks on the information you enter on your application. However, as you are seeking emergency funding, the loan provider will attempt to verify your identity without asking you for additional documents.

One of the easiest ways for them to do this is to get you to enter your current account details. This is also the account that the emergency loan funds will be paid into. You will also need to enter your debit card details at this stage of the application. Not only will this allow the lender to further validate your personal information, but this is the payment card that is likely to be charged when it comes to repaying the loan.

Best Emergency loan providers: Reviewer’s choice

Step 5: Review the decision and sign the digital loan agreement

Although the above steps might appear somewhat cumbersome at first glance, the process shouldn’t take more than 5-10 minutes. Once you submit the application, the lender will then run its electronic checks. It does so by cross-referencing your information against third-party sources. Ultimately, it is hoped that the lender is able to give you an instant decision on-screen.

Within 30-60 seconds of submitting your application, the emergency loan provider will typically give you one of the following three outcomes.

i) Loan Approved:

If the lender was able to validate the information you provided in your application electronically, and they are satisfied that you will be able to repay the loan on time, then your decision will be approved instantly. If it is, you will now be shown your digital loan agreement.

This will include key metrics linked to the agreement, such as the rate of interest that you will be paying (both in APR and nominal terms), when the funds will be transferred into your bank account, and the date(s) that you need to make your repayment(s). If you’re happy with the fundamentals, simply sign the loan agreement and wait for the funds to arrive in your account.

ii) Loan Rejected:

If the lender has been able to cross-reference your information with its third-party sources, but they feel that you don’t have the required credit profile to take the debt on, then your emergency loan application will be rejected instantly. This could be because your credit score is too low, or because your stated income does not meet the lender’s minimum eligibility threshold. Either way, this is the end of your application with the lender.

iii) More Information Required:

If the lender was unable to verify certain parts of your application – then they might need to request supporting documentation from you. If the request is linked to your identity, then you might need to upload a copy of your driver’s license or passport. If the request is pertaining to your stated income, then you might be asked to upload a copy of your most recent payslip. In some cases, the lender might need to call you at your place of work to validate that you actually work there.

Best 3 Emergency Loan providers

There are now hundreds of emergency loan providers active in the UK market, each of which will come with its own pros and cons surrounding funding times, loan sizes, and APR rates. As we noted earlier in our guide, emergency loans are merely payday loans in all-but name, so you will be using a conventional payday loan lender in your search for fast funding. The most important thing to consider is that the lender is regulated by the FCA, as this will ensure you are legally safeguarded against unethical fees and charges.

Before you evaluate the three lenders we have chosen to recommend, be sure to read the metrics that we look for in an emergency loan provider.

Criteria used to rank the best Emergency Loan providers

• Lenders with the most competitive APR rates
• Lenders that allow you to complete the entire application online
• Lenders that are transparent on their fees
• Lenders that consider credit profiles of all shapes and sizes
• Lenders that are authorized and regulated by the FCA

Best Emergency Loan Providers in 2021

What is an Emergency Loan?

Emergency loans are tailored to those that need to raise fast cash to help pay for an unexpected life event. This could be anything from emergency repairs in your home, to needing to pay for the costs linked to dental care. Either way, emergency loans often allow you to receive the loan funds on the very same day that you make the application. However, it is important to note that emergency loans operate much in the same way as a payday loan.

This is because both loan types possess the same characteristics of fast funding, small loan sizes, and high APR rates. As such, it is all-but-certain that you will be obtaining an emergency loan via a payday loan lender. When it comes to receiving your cash, this will be paid into your specified UK bank account as soon as the lender is satisfied that you are who you say you are, and that you have the financial means to repay the funds back on time. Moreover, you will likely need to provide your debit card details so that the lender is able to take your repayments automatically on the agreed payment date.

Am I eligible for an Emergency Loan?

If you have a bit of experience in the payday loan space, then you’ll know first-hand that the eligibility requirements are somewhat low. By this, we mean that payday loan providers often approve applications from those on a low income, and in some cases, those that have no income at all. However, this won’t always be the case, especially if the emergency loan provider in question operates under higher standards. Ultimately, the strength of your financial standing will not only determine whether or not you are eligible for an emergency loan, but how much you end up paying in interest, too.

With that being said, we have listed the key factors that emergency loan providers will look at when assessing your application. Take note, the specific requirements will, of course, vary from provider-to-provider, so do bear this in mind.

Glossary of emergency loans

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