How & Where can I get a Loan with Bad Credit?
Due to the current inflation, the majority of people are low on their monthly budget. In such situations, taking loans is something every individual who is low on budget needs. South Africa, as one of the most prominent developed countries worldwide, offers different loan services to help its people.

Now the problem is, most banks offer loans to people with a good credit history. Hence, people with bad credit scores have very low chances of getting a loan from traditional banks. The question arises, where can an individual with a bad credit score take a loan from?
If you have a bad credit history and want a loan from any department or bank in South Africa, the following article is all you need.
What’s a Bad Credit?
Before digging into the details of a loan with bad credit, one must have enough knowledge of bad credit. If you are new at taking loans and banking, you might be unaware of what bad credit is. Don’t worry, the details in this article will clear your confusion.
When an individual opens an account in a bank, he has two types of credits. A good credit history means that a person has paid his bills on time. On the contrary, bad credit means an individual has a history of not paying his bills on time.
A person with a bad credit history has a low credit score, which affects the loan amount. Many people with a bad credit history are on the brink of the blacklist. Hence, most banks do not give loans to people with bad credit. Now the question is, where can one get a loan with bad credit in South Africa?
How To Get A Loan With Bad Credit History?
Check Credit
When I was new at taking loans, I thought there is no such thing as a credit history and that everyone can apply for a loan, but I was wrong. Most lenders have a limit on credit history.
In other words, if your credit score falls from the minimum limit, you might face difficulty in getting a loan. Therefore, you must check your credit history before applying for a loan.
Numerous financial companies offer services to help you check your credit score for the loan application. You can check your credit score, find errors and fix the error to increase your credit score.
Lenders’ Comparison
One of the most significant factors to consider, when applying for a loan with bad credit, is the lenders’ comparison. Let’s suppose two lenders have offered you the same loan amount you require.
Now, you have to choose the best one between both. How do you choose the most suitable lender? Well, the best thing one can do is compare the lenders and the facilities they offer.
First, you have to look for the best bad credit lender that offers an affordable rate, a fast funding system, and an online source to manage loans. In short, lenders’ comparison plays a vital role in the loan application with a bad credit history.
Pre-qualification
Another prominent factor to consider when applying for a loan application includes pre-qualification. A pre-qualification system allows you to check loan amounts and repayment terms and conditions.
Remember, this procedure does not affect your credit score. Additionally, this process is ideal for individuals who want to check if they qualify for a certain loan. You can also use this procedure to compare lenders’ offers.
Application
Once you choose a lender, you should gather all documents and apply for the loan. Some of the most essential documents required for a loan application with bad credit include financial statements, pay stubs, and social security numbers.
Where To Get A Loan With A Bad Credit?
If you are a South African citizen looking for a loan with a bad credit history, the following details can solve your problem. South Africa has many online lenders that offer loans to people with bad credit histories.
One of the most prominent drawbacks of them is that online lenders are more expensive than other sources. Apart from online loan services, many people use tailor-made loans.
Such loans are ideal for people with a bad credit history. To apply for a tailor-made loan you must provide proof of timely loan repayment. Furthermore, you can add collateral that the lender can collect in case of no refund.
When it comes to getting a loan with bad credit, traditional banks are of no use because most traditional banks do not offer loans to people with a bad credit history. In such situations, bad credit lenders are the best.
You can find an online bad credit lender and apply for a loan. I suggest looking for more than one lender for better rates. In short, before applying for a loan, one of the things you must remember is to choose a registered lender to avoid inconvenience in the future.
In other words, you should choose a lender who follows the rules and regulations set by NCA. Though you can have multiple lender options, you must choose only one lender to get a loan because lending money from more than one person adversely affects your credit history.
One of the factors you must remember when applying for a loan with bad credit is that online lenders cost you more money and have an interest rate as compared to traditional banks.
Credit Unions
If you have a low credit score and are a member of a credit union, your problem regarding a loan is solved. Credit unions are one of the best sources to get a loan with a bad credit history.
The only requirement for borrowing money from a credit union is that one must be a member. If an individual shares a good relationship with a credit union, he can get a loan from the credit union.
One of the most significant advantages of borrowing money from a credit union is that their annual percentage for the rates is 18%. On the contrary, online lenders have a rate percentage of up to 36%.
Online Lenders
As I stated earlier, traditional banks do not offer loans to people with bad credit. In such situations, online lenders are the best source for loans.
You can find numerous online bad credit lenders. All you need to do is find some authentic and registered online lenders and check their rules and regulations. Furthermore, you should compare some online lenders to check which one suits you the most.
When looking for online lenders, you might come across people who don’t check your credit history and offer you a loan. You must avoid such online lenders. Though they don’t check your credit score, they have a high-interest rate compared to others.
Government’s Role To Help People With A Bad Credit
Though people with bad credit can’t take a loan from traditional banks, South Africa’s government manages different agencies and companies that support people with bad credit by offering them loans. Most loans offered by these companies are short-term loans that one has to repay on his next payday. In short, you can borrow money from these sources for emergencies.
P2P Loans
Another prominent method to get a loan with bad credit is through peer-to-peer lending. It is a platform that enables people to borrow money from a private person. In such a platform, no credit history or bank details are required.
It is one of the best ways to borrow money because every person has different financial criteria. The only thing you must be concerned about is that you should sign a repayment contract with the lender to avoid inconvenience and improve your credit history.
Secured Loans
If you have a bad credit history and want a loan, secured loans are one of the best options for people who can add collateral to secure their loan. For those who don’t know, collateral acts as your security. In case of no repayment, the lender will cut your money from your collateral.
FAQs
How to get a loan with really poor credit?
You can get a loan with a poor credit score from different sources. If you are a member of a credit union, you can borrow money from a credit union without worrying about your credit score.
What is a bad credit score?
A bad credit score means a person needs to pay his bills, etc on time. Such people can’t get a loan from traditional banks.
Where do I get a loan from with a bad credit history?
Apart from credit unions, you can choose an authentic online lender with a low-interest rate to borrow money. Furthermore, you can also borrow money from government agen or companies for emergencies.
The above article is helpful for people who want to borrow money and have bad credit. You can get a loan from a credit union with a bad credit score, but you must be its member.
Moreover, online lenders are the best option to get a loan, but their interest rate is more than traditional banks. You can also borrow money from a private person through the P2P platform.