Bad Credit Loans in Saint John – How to Get the Money You Need

	People in Saint John can actually get help to avoid the fees, high interest, and payments of expensive bad credit personal loans.
		The Real Important Question Why are you searching for a bad credit personal loan? Depending on what your answer is, there could actually be other options available to you that can resolve your debt problems, re-establish your credit, and set your finances back on the right track. However, the first thing you need to ask yourself is, “Why do I need this loan?” Click on your answer below to see if there are better options for you: This is an emergency. You have a big dentist bill, your pet is sick, your vehicle needs to be fixed, you have to travel to see a sick relative, or something else that’s similar to this. You would like to improve your credit score or rebuild your credit You’d like to have just one loan with one payment each month. Your current interest rates are too high, and/or you’d like to work out a more affordable payment by stretching out your debt payments over a longer time period.

When you have bad credit, loans can be challenging to get whether you live in Saint John 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 a rough patch recently, you feel like you’re out of options, and you really don’t know of a better way to handle things right now other than to try and get a loan for bad credit. So below we explain some steps you can take to try and get a loan in Saint John, New Brunswick when you’re saddled with a bad credit rating. However, if you would much rather find another way of dealing with your debts (one that’s very often far more effective), jump down to the last section in this article.

Why Personal Bad Credit Loans Have High Interest Rates & Fees

First, recognize that if you do manage to get a personal loan somewhere, it will be really expensive. Because a lot of people with bad credit often do not repay their debts, lenders see anyone with poor credit as a huge risk. So they charge fees upfront along with high interest rates so that when someone does default, they’ve already paid as much as the lender can get from them. Whether you like it or not, this is the way it’s usually done.

Will a Personal Loan Fix My Poor Credit Rating?

You should also recognize that getting a bad credit personal loan – whether it’s secured or unsecured – won’t fix your payment history. It took time for your credit rating to fall, and it will take a lot longer for it to go up again. One loan won’t magically fix it; however, time and managing your money better will help your poor credit rating recover. That’s the great thing about the credit rating system in Canada – it recognizes that bad things can happen to good people. So you can fix your credit and avoid personal loans with high fees and bad credit interest rates by managing your money and situation better.

Related: How to Repair Your Credit Score and Improve Bad Credit.

Things You’ll Need to Get a Loan with Bad Credit – Proof of Income, List of Assets, Monthly Expenses, Debts & Credit Report Questions

When you apply to a lender for a bad credit loan, be prepared with your financial information. They will want to know your monthly income from all sources, whether or not you own any assets you could give (pledge) as collateral (security) for the loan, and what your expenses are each month. You should also be ready to answer any questions they may have about your poor credit, debts, and payment history.

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

If you own assets: jot down a list or make a mental note of what you own and the value of each item. It’s the valuable things that can be easily appraised and sold that matter – things like cars, trucks, trailers, boats, ATVs, motorcycles, or other vehicles. Antiques, heirlooms, jewellery, and coin or stamp collections can only be used to secure a loan if they are accompanied by an authentic, verifiable appraisal certificate. Electronics, tools, musical instruments, and valuable household goods can be sold or consigned at pawn shops, but they usually cannot be used to obtain a loan. However, at times some high interest lenders will ask people to pledge household goods or appliance as token security for a loan.

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 find answers to questions about your credit report: take a look at your own. You can get a free copy from both TransUnion and Equifax if you request it over the phone. Here are instructions on how to get your credit report for free, and here you can learn how your report is created and the difference between your credit report and your credit score.

Better Ways to Resolve Debt and Money Problems Instead of Getting Bad Credit Loans

Shopping around for bad credit loans in Saint John to get the money you need takes time and a lot of patience. And there’s no guarantee that when you find a lender, that they’ll give you the loan with terms and conditions you can afford. You probably already kind of know this. So if you want a better solution to your debt and money problems, here’s the best thing you can do: contact a local non-profit credit counselling agency and make an appointment to speak with one of their Credit Counsellors. Appointments are very low cost, completely confidential, and can be done in person or over the phone. They are experts in everything related to bad credit loans, getting out of debt, and unconventional ways of consolidating and getting rid of debt. They’ll help you explore all your options – including little known debt relief options that most people have never heard of. Having this conversation will likely be the best thing you’ve done in years and can make all the difference in getting your finances back on track as soon as possible.