Responsible borrowing

Before you borrow

• Is this a one-time expense, not a monthly shortfall?
• Do you know the total of payments in dollars?
• Can each payment come out of a normal paycheck without skipping rent or utilities?
• Have you asked the biller for a payment plan?
• Have you checked a credit union or an employer advance?

Lower-cost places to look

• Federal credit union payday alternative loans, capped at 28% APR
• Employer paycheck advances
• Hardship plans from utilities, medical providers and landlords
• Local assistance: dialing 211 connects you to community programs in most of the U.S.

If you already have loans you cannot keep up with

Contact the lender before a payment fails. Nonprofit credit counseling agencies offer free or low-cost budget reviews; look for one affiliated with the National Foundation for Credit Counseling. You can file complaints about lenders with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau at consumerfinance.gov.

What we do

We state that these loans are expensive on every page, show cost in dollars, and tell you when a cheaper option probably exists.