Posts Tagged: Consumers


28
Jan 10

A Personal Finance Loan Requires a Responsible Attitude

It is becoming more and more important to understand personal finance. Loan methods exist in order to benefit both the lender and the borrower. It is your responsibility to understand how your finances work. There are a number of ways to educate yourself in this regard. The need for consumers to manage their finances in order to grow their wealth and not have debt has grown over the last few years. There are many websites offering this service. Some are free while others do request a fee. One very simple way to keep track of your finances is to keep a record of every cent you spend. Before the credit crunch most consumers would have regarded this as extreme. However, if you want to keep on top of your finances this is necessary.

A personal finance loan is usually taken out for more general needs and the lender is not concerned about how you will use the money. It is important to note there are lenders who do require you to use the money for the reason it was borrowed. You can choose either a secured or unsecured loan. If you do not own assets of value then you will have to opt for an unsecured loan. In this case, the lender will not expect any collateral in order for you to get the loan. Many borrowers find this is less of a risk to them and are prepared to pay higher rates for an unsecured personal finance loan.

It is because consumers were given too much credit that they found themselves in debt they could not control. It is true this has tarnished the image of the lending industry. However, if both the borrower and the lender are responsible regarding the amount of credit involved then there is every reason it can work for both parties concerned.


22
Oct 09

Loans – What Does FSA Authorised And Regulated Mean?

If you are thinking of taking out a loan for any purpose you will find that there are a number of loan providers to choose from, and deciding which lender to go through can prove to be a difficult decision, particularly if you don’t know much about the loans industry and what to look out for. However, one thing that you should always check when comparing lenders is that the company that you are planning to use to get your loan is FSA regulated, as this means that you will have consumer protection against unfair or unprofessional practices.

What is the FSA?

The Financial Services Authority is a UK financial regulator, and is funded by the financial industry itself. This non-government body has a panel that is selected by the Treasury. The members of this panel set out the overall policies of the FSA.

The FSA provides regulations, procedures, and policies that have to be followed by companies and sectors that it regulates, and a number financial services and areas are regulated by this agency. The aims of the FSA are to protect consumers against unfair practices, to raise market confidence in financial services, to reduce financial crime, and to raise public awareness of the finance industry.

Why choose a company that is FSA authorised and regulated?

When you go through a company that is FSA authorised and regulated you will have the peace of mind that the company has to adhere to FSA rules and regulations, and this in turn means that you get to enjoy the protection that the FSA offers to consumers of FSA regulated lenders. You should look out on the website or literature of the companies that you are looking for, as it will state if the company is FSA authorised and regulated. If it is not, then you could be taking a huge risk with your borrowing because the lender or company will not be obliged to adhere to these regulations.

The FSA sets the necessary standards for the finance industry, and those companies that are regulated and authorised by the FSA will have to work in line with these set standards. In short part of the aim of the Financial Services Authority is to protect the consumer and it does this through the provision of standards, policies, and regulations that its members must adhere to. This means that if you take out a loan through an FSA authorised and regulated company you will enjoy this additional protection and will be able to take action in the event that you are concerned about unfair treatment and practices by the company.

By: David Lynes