“No Credit Check Loans”
There are a number of loan options where the decision to lend is based more on your current circumstances than on your credit history.
No credit check loans don’t exist
A lot of people search the web for “no credit check loans” in the hope that such a loan exists. However, the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) requires that all lenders perform a sufficient assessment of the creditworthiness of an applicant before entering into a regulated credit agreement. So, a lender will always credit check an applicant. There are two forms of credit checks a lender can perform – a “hard” credit check and a “soft” credit check.
A soft credit check allows lenders to review basic information about an applicant that allows them to make a safe lending decision – this will apply to simpler forms of credit of a typically low value (e.g. short-term loans). Such checks are not recorded on an applicant’s credit file.
A hard credit check goes deeper into an applicant’s credit file and is itself recorded on the file. Too many hard credit checks in a short time become a negative flag to credit providers, and so frequent searches should be avoided.
Lenders will turn an applicant’s financial history into a credit score. It’s often this score that can undermine the lending decision. However, we have a series of loan options where the lending decision is more dependent on an applicant’s current status than their credit rating.
There are no “loans with no credit check”
As we’ve said lenders will always credit check you if for no other reason than to check your identity. However, all of the loans below depend less on your credit score and so should be easier to obtain if you have a credit problem:
Credit checks vs credit scoring
Credit checking and credit scoring are intertwined but are subtly different. Income information is not stored by the credit reference agencies so a credit provider will do a separate affordability assessment.
Credit scoring
Credit scoring is the process used by credit providers to assess the risk of lending to a person. They use the data held by the UK’s credit reference agencies to create a risk profile. They compare this against their internal rules to accept or reject the application. Some lenders also use the credit score to adjust the interest rate they are prepared to lend at. The lower the risk the lower the interest rate. It’s worth noting that it is the provider of credit that does the credit scoring and not the credit reference agencies.
Credit checking
Credit checking is at the very least the process by which lenders verify an applicant’s identity – that they know precisely who has made the application and to whom the credit is to be provided. They will probably go further and look at the applicant’s historic repayment behaviour. Detailed searches are likely to be recorded on the applicant’s credit file.
How to get a loan
You must apply for a specific type of loan as there is no one product called a “No Credit Check Loan”. You must explore your loan options and decide which meets your needs. Small loans such as payday and instalment loans are the fastest loans to obtain. At the other end of the spectrum are secured loans that can take up to 3 weeks to organise, but you can borrow very large sums of money.
1: Consider what you need
Review the options mentioned on this page. Make sure you understand how they work.
2: Compare Your Loan Options
With your needs in mind weigh up the pros and cons of each product. Choose the one you are happiest with.
3: Complete Your Application
Visit the product page and follow the application process outlined.
4: Get Your Money
Depending on which product you choose your loan could be paid out instantly or after a few days/weeks if a guarantor or security is required.
Consider one of these loan options…
… because you:
- have a very bad credit rating or no financial history (making borrowing difficult)
- think you’ve been “financially checked” enough
- want to start improving your financial status by successfully repaying your loan (better rates in future)
The way to borrow with less emphasis on a credit check and your credit score is for you to provide reassurance to the lender. This can be in the form of a guarantor or an asset as security.
- Want an unsecured loan? Then you need to provide a guarantor – someone (e.g. parent, relation, close friend) who knows you better than any credit check or score ever can.
- Happy to secure your loan? Then the form of security will determine the type of loan: a logbook loan (a vehicle acts as security), or a secured/homeowner loan (a house is the security).
Our Money & Credit Guides
If you’re uncertain which type of credit might suit you or you have a money problem then one of guides may help you. We summarise each type of loan and their pros and cons, and address issues regarding debt and credit ratings.
"No Credit Check Loan" FAQs
Answers to Your "No Credit Check Loan" Questions
You can’t get a loan with no credit check but you can get loans that don’t depend so much on your credit rating and credit score. We list these here, and also give you a 4 step approach to making the right choice.
There are various types of loan that could be right for people with credit problems. And each of these types has numerous lenders competing for business. So, overall there are lots and lots of lenders.
The easiest way to approach finding a lender is to use our free§ broking service. See the 4-step approach to getting your loan with no credit check.
You can’t avoid a credit check as these are used for the checking of identities at the very least. The precise working of any given loan depends on whether you are required to provide a guarantor or some other form of security. You can find more information on our website regarding each type of loan.
You’re hoping to find a definition here that simply says that they are loans that don’t require a credit check. That if you have credit problems in the past that these won’t be held as relevant to a future lending decision. There is no such loan, unfortunately.
However, if you have a bad credit history and a poor credit rating there are still loans that you may be able to get even with a poor credit history.
Any of the loans we talk about above could suit someone with a poor credit history. But as always there is the question of affordability. You should never borrow more than you can afford to repay. And remember that failure to meet your repayment obligations will lead to a further deterioration of your credit rating.