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Looking for loans for bad credit? You’re in the right place. Over 1,000,000 customers have successfully borrowed through Sunny. We specialise in bad credit loans UK, connecting you with FCA-regulated lenders who offer £100 to £2,500 with flexible repayment terms from 3 to 36 months. Let’s get you an instant decision today.
If you’re searching for loans for bad credit, you’re definitely not alone. Over 5.8 million people in the UK have poor credit scores, but that doesn’t mean you can’t get the money you need when life throws you a curveball.
Bad credit loans are designed specifically for people who’ve been turned down by high street banks because of their credit history. Unlike traditional personal loans that need excellent credit scores, these loans look at whether you can afford to pay back the money now, rather than dwelling on past money troubles.
Today’s bad credit loans in the UK are completely different from the old payday loans you might remember. Since the FCA stepped in with new rules in 2015, they’re much safer and fairer. Here’s how you’re protected:
What does this mean in real terms? If you borrow £1,000, the absolute most you’ll ever pay back is £2,000 – even if things go completely wrong. That’s guaranteed by law. Want to know more about different types of loans available?
Our panel of lenders specialise in poor credit loans and will consider your application even if you have:
Even if you need loans for extremely bad credit or very bad credit loans, we’ll do our best to find you a suitable lender. After all, 67% of our successful customers had already been turned down somewhere else. Why not try our free eligibility checker? It won’t affect your credit score.
Sometimes you just need a small amount to tide you over. Our small loans bad credit options are perfect for those unexpected bills or urgent repairs. You can borrow exactly what you need and spread the cost over 3 to 6 months. Because you’re borrowing less, you’ll pay less interest overall – and successfully paying it back helps rebuild your credit too. Check out our small loans guide or specific amounts like £200 loans or £500 loans.
Need a bit more? Personal loans for bad credit can help with bigger expenses like car repairs, home improvements, or getting several smaller debts under control. These unsecured loans for bad credit don’t need any collateral – your home and car are never at risk. You can choose to pay back over 6 to 36 months, whatever suits your budget. And unlike guarantor loans, you don’t need to rope anyone else in.
When you urgently need a loan bad credit won’t get in your way. Our fast loans with bad credit can get money in your bank in as little as 15 minutes after approval. In fact, 83% of our customers get their cash within 15 minutes, and nearly everyone gets it the same working day – yes, even on weekends and bank holidays. Find out more about same-day loans and 24-hour loans.
Got a credit score under 500? Our specialist lenders know that your credit score doesn’t tell the whole story. They’ll look at your current situation – your income, your outgoings, and whether you can realistically afford the repayments. Even with loans for real bad credit, you could still get approved. For urgent situations, have a look at our emergency loans options.
We believe in being completely upfront about costs. Before you apply for a loan with bad credit, you’ll see exactly what you’ll pay back, down to the penny. No nasty surprises, no hidden charges. Try our loan calculator to work out your personal quote.
Amount | Time | Monthly Payment | Interest | Total to Pay | Daily Cost |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
£200 | 3 months | £80.00 | £40.00 | £240.00 | 44p |
£300 | 3 months | £120.00 | £60.00 | £360.00 | 67p |
£500 | 6 months | £104.17 | £125.00 | £625.00 | 69p |
£1,000 | 12 months | £95.83 | £150.00 | £1,150.00 | 41p |
£2,000 | 18 months | £144.44 | £600.00 | £2,600.00 | £1.11 |
£2,500 | 24 months | £135.42 | £750.00 | £3,250.00 | £1.03 |
APRs for poor credit loans can look scary (89%-1,721%), but remember – that’s what you’d pay if you borrowed for a whole year. For short-term borrowing, look at the actual pounds and pence instead. Borrow £1,000 for 6 months and you’ll pay around £150 in interest. That’s your real cost.
While truly low APR loans for bad credit are hard to find, you can keep costs down by:
And remember – thanks to FCA rules, even with cheap loans bad credit searches, you’ll never pay back more than double your original loan. Need money quickly? Check our quick loans guide.
Before you apply for a bad credit loan, it might help to know where you stand. You can check your credit report free at:
Here’s something interesting – 1 in 4 credit reports have mistakes on them. Fixing these could instantly improve your chances with loans low credit applications. Read more in our credit report guide.
When you apply through Sunny, we start with a soft credit check. This brilliant little check:
Our clever technology matches you with lenders for bad credit who are most likely to say yes. You’ll see:
Pick the offer that works for you and complete the lender’s final checks. Once you’re approved:
Need it even faster? Look at our fast payday loans option.
To qualify for loans with poor credit through our lenders, you’ll need
Not sure if you qualify? Our free eligibility checker will tell you without affecting your credit score.
Today’s bad credit loans lender decisions focus on what matters:
Gambling transactions (31% of turn-downs) | Wait 90 days after your last bet |
Too many recent applications (23%) | Wait 30 days between applications |
Asking for too much (19%) | Try a smaller, more affordable amount |
Details don’t match up (15%) | Double-check everything before applying |
Too many existing loans (12%) | Think about consolidating instead |
Want to boost your chances? Read our money management tips.
When looking for finance for bad credit, you’ve got two choices:
Want to know more about how Sunny works?
Any decent loans company for bad credit should have:
If you ever have any problems, our complaints process is here to help.
Looking for banks who loan to bad credit? We’ll be honest – traditional bank loan bad credit options are pretty rare. Most high street banks want:
That’s exactly why specialist online lenders now help with bad credit personal loans UK – they’re more flexible and much quicker. If your credit’s improving, you might want to check our loans for fair credit options.
⚠️ Important: No legitimate lender can offer bad credit loans guaranteed approval or a 100% loan without checks. FCA rules say they must check you can afford it – it’s to protect you from getting into trouble. Learn why in our no credit check loans guide.
If you see adverts promising guaranteed loans for bad credit, be very careful. These could be:
We can’t guarantee you’ll be approved, but with our 89% acceptance rate, most people looking for guaranteed loans for bad credit do get the money they need. We do this by:
If your credit’s getting better, have a look at our credit builder loans to keep improving.
Before taking out loans very poor credit, it’s worth checking if there’s another way:
For more money-saving ideas, pop over to our Good Vibes blog for tips like 20 stress-free ways to save money.
Find out if you’re a savvy saver with our quiz and learn some superhero money saving habits.
If you’re thinking about loans for bad credit to pay off other debts, please get some free advice first. These brilliant organisations can help:
📞 0800 138 1111 | 🌐 stepchange.org
Free debt management plans that really work
📞 0800 144 8848 | 🌐 citizensadvice.org.uk
Help with benefits, bills, and everything else
📞 0808 808 4000 | 🌐 nationaldebtline.org
Great for self-employed people, with free guides
Remember: There’s absolutely no shame in asking for help. Thousands of people have been where you are and got through it. You will too. Maybe debt consolidation could help?
Want to know more about this loan type? We’ve answered some of the most common questions to help you make the right decision. If you have other questions before you submit your application online, our customer support team are also on hand to help.
Yes, you absolutely can. We specialise in helping people with loans for extremely bad credit – in fact, 67% of our successful customers had already been turned down somewhere else. Even with scores as low as 300, CCJs, defaults, or missed payments, you could still get £100-£2,500. Why? Because our lenders care more about whether you can afford the repayments now than what happened in your past. Check out our very bad credit loans guide if you want to know more.
It’s easier than you might think! Getting loans with bad credit through Sunny takes just 3 simple steps: First, fill in our quick form (takes about 90 seconds). Then we’ll do a soft search (won’t hurt your credit score) and match you with lenders who are likely to say yes. Finally, pick the offer that works for you and get your money – 83% of people have it within 15 minutes! The clever bit? We send your application to 30+ specialist bad credit loans lenders all at once, which is why 89% of people get approved through us versus just 23% going direct. Ready? Start your application here.
Good question! A soft check (what we do first) is like having a sneaky peek at your credit file. Other lenders can’t see we’ve looked, and it doesn’t affect your score one bit – you could do a hundred and it wouldn’t matter. A hard check (only happens if you say yes to an offer) does show up on your file and might knock a few points off temporarily. That’s exactly why our eligibility checker is so brilliant – you can see your real chances without any risk.
We need to be honest here – guaranteed loans for bad credit and 100% loan approval promises are actually illegal. Since 2015, the FCA says all lenders must check you can afford to repay (it’s for your own protection). Anyone promising bad credit loans guaranteed approval is either trying to scam you or they’re a dodgy lender. But here’s the good news – with our 89% approval rate, most people looking for “guaranteed” loans do get the money they need. We just can’t promise everyone will.
Really, really quickly! Our fast loans with bad credit live up to their name: you’ll get a decision in 3 minutes, and if approved, 83% of customers have their cash within 15 minutes. We’re here 24/7, even weekends and bank holidays. The best bit? It doesn’t matter if you have excellent credit or very bad credit – the speed’s the same for everyone. Have a look at our same-day loans and instant loans guides for more.
Let’s talk real money, not confusing APRs. Our poor credit loans have APRs from 9.3% to 1,721% (representative 89% APR) – but that’s not what you actually pay. Here’s what you really pay: Borrow £500 for 6 months = £125 interest (so £625 total). Borrow £1,000 for 12 months = £150 interest (£1,150 total). And thanks to FCA rules, you’ll NEVER pay back more than double what you borrow – that’s the law. Looking for low apr loans for bad credit? Pick a shorter term to pay less interest overall. Try our calculator to see your exact costs.
Of course! Our small loans bad credit start from just £100 – perfect for those smaller emergencies. Popular amounts are £100 loans, £200 loans, and £500 loans. Even with these smaller amounts, you can spread the cost over 3 to 36 months. Borrowing less means you’ll pay less interest, plus successfully paying it back helps rebuild your credit score. Win-win!
Yes, definitely. Lots of our lenders are happy to accept benefits as income for loans with poor credit. As long as your total income (including Universal Credit, PIP, ESA, Child Benefit, or Tax Credits) adds up to £500 or more each month, you can apply. The lenders understand how benefits work and can match your repayment dates to when you get paid. Check out our loans on benefits guide for all the details.
Nope! All our loans for bad credit are unsecured with no guarantor needed. We look at whether you can afford to repay, not whether you can rope someone else in. Your home, your car, and your relationships all stay completely out of it. Want to know more? Have a look at our no guarantor loans guide.
For bad credit loans UK applications, you’ll need a few bits and pieces: some ID (passport or driving licence), bank statements (usually the last 3 months), proof of where you live (like a utility bill), and proof of income (payslips or benefit letters). The good news? Most lenders now use Open Banking, which means they can check everything instantly online. Just have your online banking login details handy and you’re sorted.
Technically yes, but here’s the thing – responsible lenders for bad credit will check what else you’re paying. If you’ve already got several loans on the go, it might be a sign you need help with debt rather than another loan. If that sounds like you, think about consolidating your debts or getting free advice from the lovely people at StepChange (0800 138 1111).
It really can! Successfully paying back personal loans for bad credit shows future lenders you can be trusted. Every payment you make on time gets reported to the credit agencies, and lots of our customers see their scores go up by 50-100 points over a year. Just make sure you never miss a payment – that would knock your score back down again.
The FCA stepped in back in 2015 and changed everything for the better. Now, all bad credit loans UK borrowers are protected by strict rules: interest is capped at 0.8% per day, default fees can’t be more than £15 total (even if you miss several payments), and you’ll never pay back more than double what you borrowed. Every single lender we work with is FCA authorised – you can check any lender yourself at register.fca.org.uk. Our reference number is 821471.
Well, here’s the thing about bank loan bad credit options – they barely exist. Most banks want credit scores over 650, which rules out a lot of people. But through Sunny? You get your application sent to 30+ specialist lenders with one form, an 89% approval rate (versus 23% going direct), a soft search that protects your credit score, results in just 3 minutes, and it doesn’t cost you a penny. We’re especially good at finding very bad credit loans when the banks have already said no.
First thing – don’t panic! Call your lender straight away. They have to help you by law and they’ve got options like payment holidays, reducing your payments, or giving you more time. The most they can charge for a missed payment is £15 total. You might also qualify for ‘Breathing Space‘ which gives you 60 days’ protection while you sort things out. Whatever you do, don’t just ignore it – that always makes things worse. If you’re struggling regularly, the brilliant people at National Debtline (0808 808 4000) can help for free.
Absolutely! There are never, ever any penalties for paying off early. Clear your low credit loans whenever you want and you’ll save money on interest – you only pay for the days you actually have the loan. Pay off a 12-month loan after 6 months and you’ll save about 40% on interest. Nice!
Completely safe, as long as you stick with FCA-regulated lenders (which all of ours are). Since the 2015 regulations, finance for bad credit is strictly controlled and much safer than it used to be. Your data’s protected with bank-level encryption and GDPR rules. You get a 14-day cooling-off period to change your mind, proper complaints procedures if something goes wrong, and access to the Financial Ombudsman if needed. Just steer clear of any lender that’s not on the FCA register and you’ll be fine.
No credit history often gets treated like bad credit, but don’t worry – we can still help. Our loans for low credit scores include people who are borrowing for the first time. Lenders will look more at things like your income, whether you’ve got a job, and how well you manage your bank account. Starting with one of our small loans bad credit amounts is a great way to begin building your credit profile.
Yes! Our unsecured loans for bad credit can be used for anything legal – emergencies, car repairs, bills, even a holiday if that’s what you need. Common reasons people borrow include car finance, home improvements, weddings, and consolidating other debts. You don’t have to tell us why you need it – it’s your money to use how you need.
Life doesn’t wait for perfect credit scores. When your boiler packs up in January, your car fails its MOT, or the washing machine floods the kitchen, you need help now – not a lecture about your credit history. That’s exactly what bad credit loans are for. While banks might turn you away, our panel of specialist lenders understand that past financial troubles don’t define your ability to repay today.
Yes, the interest rates are higher than standard loans (89%-1,721% APR) – but here’s what really matters: borrow £500 for 6 months and you’ll pay about £125 in interest. That’s your actual cost. Plus, FCA rules mean you’ll never pay back more than double what you borrow, no matter what happens.
Here’s the brilliant bit – successfully repaying your loans for bad credit actually helps rebuild your credit score. Every on-time payment gets reported to Experian, Equifax and TransUnion. We’ve seen customers improve their scores by 50-100 points over 12 months, opening doors to better rates in future.
These are short-term solutions for life’s emergencies, not for ongoing money troubles. If you’re borrowing to pay other debts or struggling to make ends meet, please get free advice from StepChange (0800 138 1111) first. They’re brilliant and won’t judge. Remember: only borrow what you need and can afford to repay.
To apply for a bad credit loan in the UK, you must meet a number of criteria. For example, you will need to be at least 18 years of age and a resident of the UK. You must also not be bankrupt, and be able to show you have a steady income and access to a bank account. Remember, you will also undergo a credit and affordability check as part of your application for a bad credit loan.
Here at Sunny, our aim is to help you tackle unexpected expenses quickly so that you can get back to the important things in life. That’s why we believe bad credit loans may be the best choice for those who need credit now, and have been turned away by their bank or other credit providers. When you apply through Sunny, you also enjoy the following benefits.
Apply for a loan and receive an instant decision, even with bad credit. You could receive your cash today#.
You don’t need to worry about those extra fees. There are absolutely no application fees and no admin fees.
With most loan providers, you can pay early and save on interest. Plus, it’s easy to manage your account online to stay on top of your upcoming payments, and even pay a bit extra or early.
Feel like you have a good understanding of how bad credit can affect your loan application? If you feel confident you will be accepted, then hit the apply now button below and receive an instant decision. If a lender approves your loan, you could have the money in your account today#.
Representative 89% APR