We've all heard the stories of loans without credit checks, but do they actually exist?
Here in the UK, all lenders must follow responsible lending practices - like conducting a creditworthiness assessment for loan applications - as outlined by the Financial Conduct Authority.
Some lenders will provide a quote for your loan with a soft credit search, which doesn't leave a mark on your credit file. But ultimately, every responsible lender must look into your creditworthiness before handing out a loan.
What's the difference between a hard and soft credit check?
A hard credit check is when lenders or other institutions access your full credit report to make an assessment of your financial history. This type of inquiry involves contacting credit reference agencies and can impact your credit score for up to two years. It appears on your report as a 'hard inquiry.'
Soft inquiries, however, occur when lenders or other institutions only view certain parts of your credit report — like your payment history and debt-to-income ratio — without accessing your full report. Soft inquiries will not affect your credit score and appear on your credit file as a ‘soft inquiry.’
Problems with no credit check loans
Some lenders advertise ‘no-credit-check loans’, which typically require you to provide proof of income or employment instead of accessing your complete credit reports (i.e., a soft inquiry).
On the other hand, most lenders still conduct some type of background check before approving a loan request — even if that check isn't a full one (i.e., a hard inquiry).
Therefore, it's important to be aware that even if you take out what's advertised as a ‘no-credit-check loan,’ chances are there will still be some kind of credit and affordability checks conducted by the lender during the approval process.
Finding a solution with CashASAP
CashASAP is a direct lender that offers same-day and multi-month loans to help you manage the cost of living safely and responsibly. A payday loan can be helpful for those who need to borrow money right now - especially with the current UK economy.
Our bad credit loans aim to help real people with real money issues. That's why our decisions are based on several factors - such as your credit rating, money management, and whether you can afford to make the necessary repayments.
If you’re concerned about a bad credit score - you can ask us to review your application manually so we can help rebuild your credit history over time. There are no guarantees - each decision is personal to the applicant.
All in all, ‘no-credit-check loans’ may not be exactly what they seem. While these types of loans typically don't involve running an applicant's full credit report, many lenders still perform some type of background check during the approval process.
With CashASAP, you can apply for a loan to help cover costs right now and improve your credit history over time.
Just remember to read through all terms and conditions before signing a loan agreement with us, or another lender, so you know precisely what you're signing up for.
