Payday loan APR explained

Payday loans are one of the most expensive ways to borrow, so if you’re planning to get one, it’s important to compare lenders. While this type of borrowing is meant to tide you over for a short time, choosing the wrong loan could just create more financial strain.

But, frustratingly, choosing a loan isn’t always as straightforward as just scanning through annual percentage rates (APRs) to see which is lowest – with the apparent “lowest” rate not always the best deal.

What is APR?

The annual percentage rate (APR) is designed to provide a summary of the annual cost of borrowing, taking into account the interest and any mandatory charges. All companies issuing loans or other credit based products like credit cards, mortgages and overdrafts have to calculate the APR for their product in the same way. The watchdog – the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) – says that lenders must tell you the APR before you sign a loan agreement.

How does it apply to payday loans?

First off, it’s crucial to appreciate that these loans are eye wateringly expensive, no matter how much lenders try to justify their rates. That said, the APR can be misleading when used in relation to payday loans, for the following reasons.

• Payday loans are very short term products, traditionally covering terms of up to a month. Many payday lenders now let borrowers spread repayment over a few months, but these loans are still typically much shorter than a year. So talking about, say, a 30 day loan in terms of an annual rate can make very high interest rates (like 292%) sound sky high when expressed as an APR (more than 1,000%). If you were to borrow £50 from a friend, and buy them a pint a week later to say “thanks”, that would translate into a similarly enormous APR.
• Payday loans charge simple interest, not compound interest. The formula that lenders must use to calculate the APR of loans is really based on loans that charge compound interest – that’s where you pay interest on interest.
• Many lenders charge different rates of interest depending on how much you want to borrow, and how long you want to borrow it for. However they may only display a single representative APR figure on their site, summarising the full range of loans they offer. This goes for some payday loan comparison sites too, where you may see loans with similar projected costs but wildly different APRs.
• The rate you’re offered can depend on your particular circumstances. Lenders are only obliged to award the representative APR to 51% of borrowers (that’s one of the reasons why it’s referred to as “representative”) – if they think you’re particularly high risk, they might offer you a higher rate. In reality, the FCA has capped payday loan interest at 0.8% per day, and many lenders pitch their rates right on, or just below, this threshold.

So how should I compare lenders?

If you can’t trust the APR, what do you do? Fortunately the answer is actually quite simple.

When comparing lenders, you should first consider how much money you really need to borrow. Once you know how much you need, compare different lenders by focusing on the overall cost, also sometimes referred to as the “total payable”. Aim to keep this figure as low as possible, while ensuring you can comfortably afford the repayment schedule.

The repayment period you opt for will normally depend on the affordability of repayments. While you’ll want to pay off your loan as soon as possible, make sure the repayments are realistic for your budget so you don’t end up with further financial pressure. Many lenders charge late payment fees of up to £15, which could dramatically increase your overall bill.

We compare payday/short term loans from

Dos and don’ts for comparing payday loans

Bottom line

When comparing short term loans, the APR can be pretty useless, and shouldn’t be your guiding factor when looking for the best deal. Focus on the total repayment amount to guide your decision, which can vary depending on the loan amount, the size and frequency of the repayments, and your credit history.

A payday loan should always be considered your last option when you’ve explored all other alternatives. It remains one of the most expensive ways to borrow, despite an FCA crackdown a few years ago.

If you do decide to apply, make sure the repayment plan and costs are realistic to your financial status.

Frequently asked questions

• Can I use a broker to find the best loan?

  Yes, there are specialist payday loan brokers which can match you with a willing lender. Brokers can save time as you’ll normally only have to fill out an application form once. Just remember that most brokers don’t compare the whole market (they’ll usually have a panel of lenders that they’ve opted to partner with) meaning there could still be cheaper loans out there.

• Is the loan with the lowest representative APR always the cheapest option?

  No. Don’t be misled by APR but focus on what the overall cost of borrowing will be.

• Can I get a payday loan with bad credit history?

  Payday loans are used by many customers with poor credit who find it difficult to secure longer-term personal loans or credit cards. However, remember that you face the possibility of making your credit history even worse if you don’t keep up with repayments. Payday loans should never be considered as a method to help you out of long term debt.

• Will I be charged for paying off a payday loan early?

  Many lenders allow you to pay your loan off early without a fee, and will only charge you interest for the days on which you borrow. It’s crucial to check a lender’s policy on early repayment before you apply.

• What’s the difference between a secured and unsecured loan?

  Payday loans are generally “unsecured” loans, which means they’re not protected against anything you own, such as your home. Products like student loans and credit cards, along with personal loans, are usually unsecured, while mortgages, logbook loans, and “pawning” assets fall into the category of secured loans.