What a loan really costs
Interest, initiation and service fees, and how to add them up to the total you repay.
Guides to borrowing, repaying and staying safe
Nine practical guides. Each one answers a single question, shows its sources and says when it was last checked.
Know the price before you borrow
How the cost of a loan is built, how to tell which of two offers costs less, and what you pay when you settle early.
How to compare two loan offers
Put two written quotes side by side and find the cheaper one, with a worksheet to fill in.
Settling a loan early
What a settlement amount includes, how much you save and how to ask for the figure.
Get ready, then pay with confidence
What to prepare for an application, how to plan around a changing income, and how the DebiCheck debit order you approve with your bank works.
Documents for a loan application
Your ID, proof of income, bank account and expenses, and how to send them safely.
DebiCheck explained
What you confirm with your bank, what it doesn’t do, and what to do if a request looks wrong.
Borrowing on an irregular income
Plan on your lowest month, time the repayment date and build a buffer in good months.
When something goes wrong
What to do if a repayment is at risk, how to check and correct your credit record, and how to recognise someone pretending to be a lender.
Struggling to repay a loan
A calm plan for when a repayment is at risk, including how debt counselling works.
Spot a fake loan message
The signs of a loan scam, a six-point check, and what a real lender never asks for.
Check your credit record for free
Get your free annual report, read it line by line and dispute mistakes at no cost.
Written to answer one question each
Each guide starts with a direct answer, then shows the steps. Worked examples use RandLeaf’s published prices, version RL-PRICE-2026-10, so you can check every number yourself.
Every guide lists its sources, who wrote it and when it was last checked. Guides are reviewed at least every quarter, and sooner when a rule or our pricing changes. If you spot a mistake, tell us: our editorial policy explains how we correct it.
Guides are general information, not personal financial advice. For a question about your own loan, contact us.
The help centre has short answers
Payout times, early settlement, paid-up letters, declined applications and more, each on its own page.