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There has been a lot of discussion lately about the costs associated with cash advance or post dated check loans. Consumer advocates and community activists are quick to point out that the annual percentage rates (APR) associated with these types of loans reach into triple digit rates and that the loan may do more harm than good. A broad consensus of lenders and consumers recognize that the payday loan fees are a cheaper alternative to costly bounced check fees or overdraft protection charges that consumers would face without access to short-term credit. Regardless of one’s opinion on short term loans there are several factors that potential borrowers should examine prior to getting a cash advance.

First, consumers should look to deal with companies who are members of the Community of Financial Services Association of America (CFSA). Companies that belong to CFSA agree to adhere to its consumer advocacy program and best practices policy. Borrowers who use a CFSA member company are given the assurance that they are dealing with a lender who is registered and licensed in the state where they operate, a lender who promises to limit the fees they charge, and provide a payment plan for consumers who find they cannot pay off their loan on the next payday. Borrowers who shop online should ask the lender if they are member of CFSA and know they are dealing with a reputable lender.

Second, borrowers should also look for the fee chart that clearly illustrates the cost associated with the cash advance loan. A typical fee for an online lender is between $17- and $30- per $100- borrowed. Borrowers should avoid cash advance lenders who charge administrative fees, loan insurance, or other add-on fees. A consumer will pay the fee or finance charge at the same time the amount borrowed is repaid. Loan terms should easy to find in a store or on a website and should be easy to understand.

Third, borrowers who need money longer than a single pay period should find out whether a lender will allow them to extend the loan longer than the initial term. Most lenders will allow borrowers to extend one to four times, but borrowers should make certain that the lender will not automatically extend their loan for them. Consumers should only deal with lenders who extend a loan when it is requested by the borrower. Some unregulated lenders will take advantage of borrowers by automatically extending a customer’s loan and charging the customer an additional fee. Reputable lenders leave the choice to extend a loan in the borrower’s hands.

Fourth, online borrowers should be able to call, write, or email a lender. If a lender does not post an email address, a contact telephone number, and a mailing address then the lender is probably not interested in resolving consumer concerns. Honest online lenders have different ways consumers can contact them to resolve questions and receive answers regarding the loan. Some unregulated lenders will avoid posting a telephone number or a mailing address to limit the amount of contact they have with their customers. A consumer’s inability to contact a lender can lead to confusion on the part of the consumer. Reputable lenders want to discuss customer questions or concerns with their borrowers.

Lastly, borrowers should look for lenders who are well established. There are many lenders that are new to offering short-term loans. Sometimes these lenders can overlook important factors that are critical to a successful loan. Consumers should ask their lender how many years they have been around and how many loans they have serviced. If they have been established at least five or more years they are more likely to resolve any concern or question one may have because they have likely faced similar situations before. Experience in short-term lending does matter. Consumers who use established lenders are likely to have fewer problems.

Most lenders strive to satisfy their consumers’ money needs. With increased scrutiny on the short-term lending industry most lenders are taking measures to ensure they offer their consumers additional safeguards and protections. Smart borrowers should review these common sense issues with their lender to ensure that they are not only dealing with a trustworthy lender, but they are also getting a great rate as well. Borrowers should always remember to use cash advances responsibly and remember that cash advance fees are less expensive than returned item fees and overdraft protection charges from other financial institutions.

How can you choose the right refinancing lender online with so many of them competing for your business? It may seem impossible, but if you want to be sure of getting a low cost loan with a low interest rate and great customer service you need to find the best refinancing lender. These three things are such important parts of refinancing your mortgage that they are they keys to getting a good loan refinance. Here are the three things to look for when choosing a refinancing lender:

Excellent reputation

This is the top quality to look for in a refinancing lender. You need one with a great history of online lending and customer service. Look them up on the Better Business Bureau website and make sure that they’ve been in business for several years and have good reviews. You want to make sure that they aren’t going to close down in the next year and trust me, online lenders have a habit of coming and going quickly so find one that has been in business for several years and is likely to stick around. Those companies that have been in business for several years give you a better chance of finding a quality refinancing lender.

Good rates and fees

Ask the lending company that you are considering refinancing with for a complete list of their costs and fees. Any reputable lending company should be happy to provide you with this list and it will make it so much easier for you to compare your refinancing options. Of course you want to find a low interest rate, but pay attention to the other fees and costs as well since they can add up quickly making your loan more expensive. Some fees to look for are closing costs, prepayment penalties and document preparation fees. If any of these strike you as being excessively high then you’ll probably want to continue your search for a refinancing lender.

Great customer service

While we all want to find that great deal on a mortgage refinance, customer service is equally or even more important than the overall cost. Poor service can add stress and costs to the loan and if you feel slighted by the company you’re working with or the loan officer is impossible to contact then you may want to continue your search for the right refinancing lender too. Great customer service from a lending company means that the loan officer will be available and willing to answer any questions you might have, he or she will answer them clearly and will do everything they can to help you meet your refinancing needs. You really don’t ever want to work with a refinancing lender who makes you feel uncomfortable or pressured. The refinance company should make you feel like your loan is the top priority to them at all times.

And perhaps most importantly, make sure you do your research and compare several lenders before agreeing to an offer. I would suggest getting a minimum of three quotes before making your decision. Remember that you are free to choose any refinancing lender at all and are under no obligation until you actually sign the paperwork. Don’t rush into anything and make sure you’ve checked out several refinancing lenders before choosing the right one for you.

MIAS, the Mortgage and Insurance Advisory Services (http://www.mias-ltd.co.uk ), is concerned that, despite the recent publicity and various campaigns in the press, borrowers are still being stung by punitive exit fees.

Lenders charge exit fees when customers redeem their mortgage in full, for example, by switching their mortgage to a rival lender. Exit fees can also be termed administration charges, sealing fees or deeds-release fees and are raised to cover the cost of taking property deeds out of storage, sending them to a solicitor and producing a final account statement. Borrowers are warned when they sign up that if they switch lenders, they’ll have to pay a fee – but the size of that fee is not guaranteed to stay the same.

Within the last few years, lenders have increased their exit penalties steeply, with some now topping the £300 mark (http://www.mias-ltd.co.uk/news-index.htm ). Firms have claimed that these hikes are necessary because of their increased costs and extra work, yet this justification appears hollow when one considers that property deeds are now held electronically at the Land Registry.

Alistair Good, Managing Director of MIAS said: “One client, whose penalty had increased from £85 to £195 compared it with entering a car park where the prices were clearly displayed, only to find that they had more than doubled when it was time to pay.

He added: “While we appreciate that lenders need to recoup the costs incurred when a mortgage is redeemed, borrowers need to be informed about these costs at the outset. If the fee is excessive, then the client can look elsewhere.”

Although exit fees make up a tiny percentage of overall mortgage costs, it is unfair to hit a customer with an unexpected charge, which can reach £300. MIAS would like to see lenders state their exit fees clearly – and fix them at the outset of deals. In this way, the client is treated fairly, in line with FSA guidelines.

One example is Northern Rock. Although they charge the relatively high fee of £250, they do commit to charge the fee stated when the client signs up for the mortgage. MIAS would like to see more lenders adopt this approach.

Commenting, Roger Milbourn, Director of MIAS, said: “Exit fees, though unpopular with customers, are here to stay. But if lenders are to lose the tag of “back door charging” and reduce the flow of complaints to the Financial Ombudsman Service, they must be more transparent about these fees.

“We see no good reason why the exit fee cannot be fixed for the life of a mortgage, so that the client would be aware of the charge from the start. Under the current system, exit fees can increase by more than 350% by the time the client comes to redeem his or her mortgage. This makes a mockery of the FSA’s requirement to treat customers fairly despite their claims that they are not a pricing regulator.”

In the absence of fixed exit fees, it is imperative for mortgage brokers to go through closing charges carefully with the client. The adviser should explain that the borrower may incur a punitive charge if they switch lenders or pay off their mortgage early (http://www.mias-ltd.co.uk/faqs.htm ) and in this way, broker and client can compare products fairly.

For further information, please contact:

MIAS Ltd

0845 833 0878

Managing Director: Alistair Good

alistair@mias-ltd.co.uk

Director: Roger Milbourn

roger@mias-ltd.co.uk

Notes to Editor:

The Mortgage and Insurance Advisory Service (MIAS Ltd) is a firm of impartial mortgage advisers, offering a comprehensive service to clients seeking residential and commercial mortgages and mortgage protection.

Founded in 2002, MIAS has quickly gained a reputation for providing straightforward, impartial mortgage advice, matching clients up with some of the most competitive deals around. MIAS’s experienced brokers have expertise in all sectors of the mortgage market and look after the whole transaction from beginning to end, making the process as smooth and as headache-free as possible.

For further information on the services MIAS offers, please visit http://www.mias-ltd.co.uk