Personal loans are offered by lenders such as banks and building societies and are available in a variety of formats, each of which may differ in the possible size, term and purpose of the loan you need. The internet has widened the choice of lenders available supplying personal loans online. The maximum loan value and length of time over which the loan is repaid will not be the same for all types loans for instance. The repayment term available may depend on the purpose for which you require the Credit, and may be restricted accordingly e.g. Loans for holidays and travel may be restricted to a 12 or 24 month term. The amount available usually ranges from ?500 to ?25,000 over a term of 6 months to 10 years. This will vary between lenders and products that they offer. The amount borrowed is subject to an interest charge, which will be quoted as a percentage. This rate is known as the Annual Percentage Rate (APR). As a general guide, it is advisable to compare the A.P.R's of different products, as this will help you to determine how competitive the different creditors are.

The way lenders quote interest rates varies. A fixed interest rate will stay the same throughout the length of your loan, regardless of any changes in the bank base rate. If the rate offered is a variable rate, it may rise or fall in line with any changes the Bank of England makes to the base rate during the term of your loan. When lenders quote their APR's they will state whether these are "typical" or whether they are set at one rate for all successful applicants, regardless of the risk they present. The typical rate is a rate that is offered to over 55% of successful applicants at the time, and the exact rate offered to you will depend on your personal circumstances.

Personal loans are normally repayable monthly. The lender may permit over-payments and lump sum payments, which allow you to clear the loan over a shorter term than that agreed at the from the start. It is VERY important to remember that some lenders will charge you a penalty for repaying your loan early this can be up to 2 month's interest or more. Lenders may offer "payment breaks" or "repayment holidays" as part of their personal loan package and these allow you to take a break from your repayments at the beginning of the loan or at any agreed point during the term you can some times set this with the lender so you don't pay in August or December so you have more money for holiday times. Interest may still accrue on the balance outstanding so the exact terms should always be verified with the lender before you sign.

Unsecured loans can be difficult to obtain, particularly for those with an impaired credit history, who will be forced to pay a fairly high rate of interest if any willing lender can be found be very careful not to end up paying over the odds it may seem good at the time but you will regret it later trust me.

All loan products are advertised with their Annual Percentage Rate. The APR on a loan reflects the true cost of a loan to the customer, taking into account the loan interest rate and any additional charges. This makes it easier to compare loans with different up-front charges and introductory discounts, meaning you can make an informed choice when you decide which one to go for.

George McGonigal

George is webmaster of an online personal loan resourcs website for UK borrowers. We bring under one roof lenders who offer online quotations to allow our visitors to compare rates in the comfort of their own homes. Why not visit us at UK Personal Loans Online: Compare online loan rates for secured or unsecured personal loans in he UK.