Home
Loans

Loans

Q: Can I make changes to my loan?

Yes, most lenders should allow you to make certain changes to your loan. You’ll often be able to increase the amount you’ve borrowed by taking out a second loan or taking out a new deal entirely. The best way to do this is to contact your lender directly. You should also let your lender know if you: Get into financial difficulty Have a change in personal circumstances Need to update your contact details, address, name, or employment status

Q: Can I pay off my loan early?

Yes, in most cases, you should be able to pay off your loan early. But you might be charged a fee to do so. Many loans come with an early settlement charge baked into them. This is a fee you agree to pay to cut your borrowing term short. It varies from provider to provider, but the earlier into your term you end your loan, the higher it’s likely to be. In some cases, it can actually be cheaper to allow your loan to run its course and end naturally, rather than paying this early exit fee to end it early. This is why it’s important to consider whether you may be better suited to other borrowing options before you commit to taking out a loan. Things like credit cards may be better for short term borrowing, for example.

Q: What if I’m unable to pay off my loan?

If your circumstances change and you find yourself unable to meet your monthly repayments, contact your lender as soon as possible. They’ll often have schemes in place to help borrowers who find themselves in financial difficulty. There are also debt relief charities available for those facing serious financial hardship.

Find the right loan for you in minutes

Confused is a credit broker, not a lender, for consumer credit.

Our services are provided at no cost to you. We may receive a commission from the companies we refer you to, but this does not affect what you will pay for the product you choose.

We've partnered with Experian to provide you with our best deals on loans
Compare quotes from a wide range of trusted providers
Check eligibility without affecting your credit score

What types of loan can I compare?

Personal loans

These are loans taken out to pay for things like weddings, home improvements or a new car. With a personal loan, you borrow a fixed amount over an agreed time period, and pay this amount back in monthly instalments. You pay interest on top of your loan, and this fixed interest amount is included in your monthly repayment.

Explore personal loans

Debt consolidation loans

These are taken out to cover a series of smaller debts. Here, your debt is consolidated into a single amount, which you then pay off - plus interest - in monthly installments. If you have debts spread over several credit cards or accounts, consolidating them in this way can make it easier to keep track of exactly what you're paying in interest and other fees.

Explore debt consolidation loans

Loans for bad credit

If you have a poor credit rating, but need more credit, you may still be able to find a lender willing to help you. Just bear in mind that your credit score determines the rate of interest you’ll be charged on top of the amount you borrow. The higher the interest rate the more you’ll ultimately end up paying back to your lender.

Explore loans for bad credit

Will comparing loans affect my credit score?

Soft credit checks

When you get a quote with us, our partner Experian performs a soft credit check on you. This allows them to see what deals you’re eligible for. They use this information to find and then show you the best prices they can source for the amount you want to borrow. Soft credit checks do not affect your credit score, and aren’t marked on your credit report.

Hard credit checks

If you choose to take out a loan with one of the providers you’re shown quotes for, they may then perform a hard credit check on you during the application process. Hard checks are recorded on your credit report, and each one causes your credit score to temporarily drop. If lots of hard checks are carried out in a short space of time, the impact on your score will be bigger. This makes comparing quotes rather than simply applying for one directly the safer option.

Compare loans in minutes

Pros and cons of taking out a loan

Pros of taking out a loan include:

Quick access to cash: After approval, you can usually receive your money in a few days, or sooner.

Flexible repayment options: Whether you need to stretch payments over a couple of years or are able to pay back the loan in less than a year, there's an option to suit you.

Easy to manage: if you’re taking out a debt consolidation loan, having a single monthly repayment to make can be easier to keep track of than several repayments spread across multiple lending channels.

Cons of taking out a loan include:

Interest: This is the obvious downside of a loan, and means you pay back more than you borrow.

Not always the cheapest option: Depending on the APR and length of your loan, other borrowing options may be cheaper. Consider all your options before committing to a loan.

You could damage your credit score: If you miss a repayment. This can make it difficult to secure favourable interest rates on future credit. Depending on how seriously your score is impacted, it could also affect your access to credit full stop.

What's APR?

When you compare quotes, you notice a figure next to the prices you're shown. This is known as an APR (annual percentage rate).

A loan's APR is the total amount of compulsory charges you’ll have to pay on top of the amount you're borrowing over a year.

If a loan has an APR of 15%, you’ll pay 15% in interest and other fees on top of what you’re borrowing.

This doesn't include things like administration fees, payment protection, late payment charges or exit fees. So make sure you read the terms and conditions to see exactly what you’re liable for.

Confused loans illustration light orange

Compare loans in minutes

Need more help with loans?

Yes, most lenders should allow you to make certain changes to your loan. You’ll often be able to increase the amount you’ve borrowed by taking out a second loan or taking out a new deal entirely.

The best way to do this is to contact your lender directly.

You should also let your lender know if you:

Get into financial difficulty
Have a change in personal circumstances
Need to update your contact details, address, name, or employment status

Yes, in most cases, you should be able to pay off your loan early. But you might be charged a fee to do so.

Many loans come with an early settlement charge baked into them. This is a fee you agree to pay to cut your borrowing term short. It varies from provider to provider, but the earlier into your term you end your loan, the higher it’s likely to be.

In some cases, it can actually be cheaper to allow your loan to run its course and end naturally, rather than paying this early exit fee to end it early.

This is why it’s important to consider whether you may be better suited to other borrowing options before you commit to taking out a loan. Things like credit cards may be better for short term borrowing, for example.

If your circumstances change and you find yourself unable to meet your monthly repayments, contact your lender as soon as possible.

They’ll often have schemes in place to help borrowers who find themselves in financial difficulty.

There are also debt relief charities available for those facing serious financial hardship.

Page last reviewed: 07/08/2026

Reviewed by: Nicola Morgan

Confused.com loan comparison comparison is provided by Experian Ltd. Experian Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (firm reference number 738097). Experian Ltd is registered in England and Wales with registered office at The Sir John Peace Building, Experian Way, NG2 Business Park, Nottingham, NG80 1ZZ.