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Choosing the wrong loan could cost you dear

If your new year’s resolution is the tackle your debt by consolidation, tread carefully as you could be caught out by high interest rates and over priced insurance on personal loans.

Consolidating your debts onto one personal loan can prove an ideal solution. It could cut your monthly payments and see your interest bill lower. Also for those less disciplined, the fixed monthly personal loan repayment might offer the structure you need to commit to repay the debt within a given time.

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Firstly you need to decide if a personal loan is the best option for your situation. Of course 0% balance transfer credit cards are the most competitive method to borrow, but this can be dangerous unless you are strong willed enough to stick to a fixed monthly payment and not to continue using your credit card. This method may also only be suitable for smaller amounts of borrowing, typically less than £5000 and currently is only available up to a maximum term of 15 months.

If your budget shows that you need longer than 12-15 months to repay the debt, a low rate balance transfer credit card deal may offer a better solution. First Direct for example offers a 4.9% balance transfer credit card deal for five years, while Citi has a Life of Balance MasterCard with a 5.8% rate until the credit card balance is repaid. These rates are substantially lower than any personal loan rate currently on the market.

The credit crunch has caused the personal loan market to tighten, lenders have withdrawn from the market and rates have seen a continuous increase throughout 2007. Don’t be fooled into thinking that your existing bank or building society will always give you the best personal loan deal, just because you have a relationship with them. With detailed computerised credit scoring systems used these days, loyalty makes little difference. The difference between the best and worst personal loan interest rates can be almost double, so choosing the wrong personal loan provider can be a costly mistake.

While personal loan interest rates should be relatively easy to compare and evaluate if you are getting a good deal, there is the added complication of typical and personal priced loans. In fact 89% of personal loans are priced on a typical rate, meaning that 66% of accepted applicants will receive the advertised personal loan rates, while the remaining 33% of applicants could be offered a higher or lower personal loan rate depending on their individual credit rating.

But the biggest area to be aware of in the personal loans market is the insurance you may be offered. The payment protection insurance (PPI) generally provides cover against accident, sickness and unemployment but could also include features such as hospitalisation benefit and even critical illness cover.

The difference in the most competitive and most expensive cover can add an additional £1760.40 to a £5000 personal loan over three years or as much as £4157.40 to a £25000 personal loan over five years.

Remember, a personal loan is usually a large long term fixed financial commitment, so don’t blindly plump for the first deal you see. Make sure you know you are getting a competitive rate. If you are taking the PPI, consider the option of an independent provider, make sure you know the level of cover you are getting and read the exclusions and terms and conditions carefully.

Getting the best deal will mean your monthly repayment will be cheaper and you can escape from your debt burden much earlier.

Personal Loan Best Buys - £10000 over five years

Personal Loan Best Buys - £5000 over three years

Credit Card Best Buys – 0% balance transfers