Is Payday Loan Classified as Secured or Unsecured Debt?

Updated on April 2, 2022

A secured loan and an unsecured loan differ in their types. In order to achieve financial literacy, it’s important to understand the difference between the two, since it can have long-term effects on your finances.

Unsecured loans don’t require collateral, while secured loans do. You are impacted by this difference if you need to borrow more money or repay it sooner.

The major benefit of payday loans is that they are considered a form of unsecured debt, meaning you will not have to put up any collateral for the loan to the lender.

Technically speaking, payday loans are classified as signature loans. 

The signature loan is also referred to as the “good faith loan” or “character loan” which banks and other financial institutions offer. This type of loan requires only the borrower’s signature and assurance that he or she will pay. 

A postdated check or e-banking access is the promise here.

A check provided to the lender, which can be considered collateral, is where the confusion arises. As a rule, only things with a monetary value are referred to as collateral. Checks are neither. A check cannot be cashed in the absence of money in your bank account, and therefore it becomes nothing more than a piece of paper. Furthermore, nonpayment of this loan is not criminally liable.

As a result, payday loans are usually classified as unsecured loans.

In this situation, lenders provide such loans at higher rates of interest in order to protect themselves against losses and earn more income.

In cases where collateral is not required, you can obtain a loan online since you don’t need to personally assess the property. Consumers use this opportunity more often due to the ability to make a fast decision on the unsecured loan application. Thus, the federal authorities are seeking to limit these types of loans as much as possible in order to protect consumers from debt traps.

What Happens If You Default on an Unsecured Payday Loan?

Another difference here is that most unsecured loans will negatively affect your credit if not properly handled or paid on time. When payday loans are not paid, lenders do not report any information about the borrowing history of payday loans to nationwide credit reporting agencies, so the results are not reflected in your credit score. Because payday lenders do not report these loans to credit reporting agencies, there is little chance of impact on your credit score. In comparison to payday loans, this has an important difference.

The lender’s action will become part of your credit history in all cases where they put the account into collections or take legal action against you. Your credit report remains on your credit file for years when you have collections or a civil judgment. If you have serious delinquencies, potential lenders will be hesitant to give you credit.

There is no collateral involved in any unsecured loan.

How can You Apply For an Unsecured Payday Loan?

You should look for legal lenders in-store or online in your city for loans of this type. You can also contact special lead generator who can provide a cheaper loan when you submit application. They will contact you by phone after you have left an application and clarify all the necessary points for obtaining a loan.


What is a Secured Loan?

Collateral is required for secured loans, whether it’s a business loan or personal loan. You may need collateral if you are taking out a large loan to purchase a specific asset or if your credit score is not good enough to qualify for an unsecured loan. As secured loans pose a lower risk to lenders, borrowers may benefit from lower interest rates. However, there are some secured loans that can charge higher interest rates. These include personal loans for people with bad credit and short-term installment loans. 

What Are the Types of Secured Loans?

It is possible to use secured loans for many different purposes. You may be able to secure a loan for personal use by, for example:

  • Vehicle loans
  • Mortgage loans
  • Secured credit cards
  • Car title loans
  • Pawn Shop loans

Read more about secured loans

What Is an Unsecured Loan?

Unsecured loans, also called signature loans or good faith loans, do not require collateral from the borrower. In addition to personal loans and student loans, unsecured credit cards are common types of unsecured loans. There are a number of traditional and online lenders who provide these loans, and they are a lot less rigorous than secured loans.

Types of Unsecured Loans

  • Credit cards
  • Debt consolidation loans    
  • Student loans
  • Payday loans

Read more about unsecured loans

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