Bad Credit Loans in Dartmouth – What to Do When You Need Money

	People with bad credit in Dartmouth can actually get help to avoid the fees, high interest, and payments of expensive personal loans.
		The Really Important Question Why do you need a bad credit personal loan? Depending on your answer, you may actually have other options that can resolve your debt problems, re-establish 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 vehicle needs to be repaired, you have an unexpected dentist bill, your pet needs to see the vet, you have to travel to see a sick relative, or something else along these lines. You are looking to rebuild your credit or increase your credit score. You’re wanting just one loan with one monthly payment. You’re hoping to find a more manageable payment by paying off your debt over a longer period of time, or your current interest rates are just too high.

When you have bad credit, loans are difficult to get whether you live in Dartmouth or anywhere else in Canada. So what should you do if you really need money? Maybe your credit cards are maxed out, your rent or mortgage payment is past due, and you need to pay your household bills. You may be trying to get any kind of online loan you can find, and you may be even contemplating payday loans. But in the back of your mind, you’re honestly wondering how much these are really going to help you.

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 Dartmouth, Nova Scotia 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.

Personal Bad Credit Loans Have High Fees & Interest Rates

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 Repair Your Credit Score and Improve Bad Credit.

What’s Needed to Obtain a Loan with Bad Credit – Income Proof, List of Assets, Monthly Expenses, Debts, & Credit History Questions

When you approach lenders for a bad credit loan, come prepared with your financial information. They will want to know how much you earn each month from all sources, if you have any assets that you could give (pledge) as security (collateral), and what your monthly expenses are. You should also be able to answer any questions they might have about your poor credit and debts.

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: create a list or make a mental note of the items you own and the value of each one. It’s really the big things that matter here, like cars, trucks, RVs, boats, motorcycles, ATVs, trailers, and other vehicles or items that can be easily appraised. Coin or stamp collections, jewellery, antiques and other heirlooms can only be used as collateral for a loan if they have been authenticated and valued with a verifiable appraisal certificate. Musical instruments, tools, electronics and other high priced household goods can be consigned at pawn shops or sold but usually cannot be used to get a loan. However, there are some high interest lenders who will ask you to pledge all your household goods or appliances as token security for a loan.

Work out your monthly expenses and debts: this is often the most difficult part for a lot of people. When you begin jotting them all down, you realize how much you spend and how much you actually owe. Start by writing down your housing expenses and utility bills. Then jot down what you spend on groceries, food, medication and other essential things. Make sure to include transportation costs and work-related expenses as well. If you find it a bit challenging to organize your expenses and remember all the different things you spend money on, this free budgeting calculator spreadsheet might really help. You can also learn a lot more about how to create a budget or spending plan in the budgeting section of our website.

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 Resolve Debt and Money Problems Instead of Getting Bad Credit Loans

Trying to get the money you need by shopping around for bad credit loans in Dartmouth 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 very low cost, 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.