Payday loans have started to take off in the UK over the past year and the term payday loan, or payday advance is becoming a more familiar phrase, especially when searching for fast cash online.

A payday loan is a relatively small loan, usually of a few hundred pounds, which is taken until your next payday. You normally have to repay it with your next pay cheque, or over several paydays, regardless of when you apply. And you will normally be charged a pretty hefty fee per £100 borrowed - typically between £20 and £30.

It’s basically emergency cash and payday loans have their place. They are often cheaper than bank fees for unauthorised borrowing, for example, but Wonga provides a great alternative for urgent funds without a long-term commitment.

Compare the cost of a payday loan with a cash advance from Wonga.com

Wonga also provides short-term cash advances online, but in a much more flexible and speedy way. For starters, the entire process is online - no faxing, postage or call centres - and you can apply any time of day or night, 365 days a year. You will receive an instant answer on your screen and we even guarantee to send cash to approved applicants’ bank accounts within 60 minutes.

Our service is also much more flexible than a payday loan. Wonga allows you to choose exactly how much cash you want to borrow and the cost of our online loans is calculated for you, based on how many days you need it for. The shorter the loan, the lower the cost - it’s that simple.

Flexible cash advances from Wonga

You can see how our flexible pricing compares with a typical fixed fee for a payday loan over 30 days. In most cases a Wonga loan works out better value and you can even repay us early with no catches or fees to worry about.

Typical 2689% APR

(Find out why the APR is so big!)

If you’re looking online for a fast cash advance, the chances are that you could do with some financial assistance in a flash - Wonga can help! That’s because we guarantee the breath-taking speed of our instant loan service.

There are loads of internet loan companies offering sameday cash, quick loans and ‘instant’ money for unforeseen expenses, but many wouldn’t know a fast loan if it zoomed up and stared them in the face.

Sadly, as with many other areas of life, fast cash advance services aren’t always what they’re cracked up to be and don’t deliver on the promises made up front. And what use is a fast cash loan when it’s not actually very fast? The answer’s not a lot when there’s something you need cash for right there and then!

Sameday can sometimes turn out to be several days, or you’ll need to wait until Monday. But Wonga guarantees to send cash to your bank within 60 minutes of your online application being approved (which only takes a second too). In fact, because we deliver on our promises, we’ll reduce your loan repayment by a tenner if we don’t live up to our usual standards.

Typical APR 2689%

The Sunday Times exposed the crazy overdraft charges still being extracted by UK banks this weekend. In a stinging article, the Thunderer showed just how disproportionate some banks’ fees are, with RBS singled out as having the harshest penalties for careless or desperate customers.

In one RBS case study, the charges for going only £30 over your overdraft limit for just three days add up to an eye watering £118! The Which? report referenced by the Times also showed:

Alliance & Leicester in second place in its overdraft charges league, with a total penalty of £90. Lloyds, part of the taxpayer-funded Lloyds Banking Group, will fine customers £42, while Barclays charges £22.

Compare this to a similar cash advance from Wonga… A short term loan of £30 taken over three days would be a much more palatable £6.40 in fees and interest. 

What’s more, you’ll know the full cost up front and won’t have to dig around in small print to work it out for yourself. Apply online and you’ll receive an instant decision, with the money transferred to approved applicants in under an hour.

So next time you’re close to your overdraft limit and considering breaking the rules, don’t pay through the nose for a small amount of cash - it’s just not worth it. Consider a short term cash advance from Wonga and save yourself the worry and the money.

There’s only one of you, yet it’s relatively easy for a criminal to create a clone! At Wonga we take great care to protect your information securely when you apply for a short term loan, but you might be surprised by how few personal facts fraudsters need in order to commit ID theft and other fraud crimes.

And the most likely source of this basic info is YOU. They can even apply for a credit card with just your name, full address and date of birth. So take great care of your personal information and follow our simple tips…

• If anyone asks you for your personal details, ask yourself why they might need them and don’t be afraid to question or refuse
• Don’t write down passwords or PINs or, if it’s literally the only way you can remember them, be sure to keep them separate and very well hidden
• Invest in a decent shredder and make sure any letters or bills which aren’t being filed are totally destroyed before going in the bin
• Make sure your home laptop or PC is protected by a firewall and anti-virus software. There are plenty of free options so there’s no excuse for not protecting yourself online
• Never trust emails asking for personal details, even if they look like they’re from a service provider you use – if you’re really in doubt and think you might be ignoring something important, you can always phone

We’re all going on a summer holiday, no more worries for a week or two… Ah, Sir Cliff’s song still rings true for many at this time of the year, but funding a summer break can still cause a seriously furrowed brow.

If you’re aiming to get away for a week or two in the sun (or even the rain) here are a few Wonga tips for cutting back on costs and making sure you enjoy yourself without being left in debt until Christmas.

1. Be as flexible as our unique cash advance service! In other words, if your budget is limited, start with an open mind about where you might consider going, for how long and when. Lots of websites and traditional travel agents will provide inspiration and you can still find plenty of last minute deals if you’re not set on a particular destination or type of accommodation.

2. Book smart. If you’re prepared to commit yourself early and have the cash available, consider booking up to a year in advance when there are plenty of cheap seats and hotel rooms still available. That’s right - get next year’s holiday booked now! This may seem extreme but most agents, whether on or offline will be more than happy to find you a deal to start filling their books for next season now.

3. Be a night owl. If you’re prepared to catch flights, ferry crossings or trains at unsociable hours you’ll find better prices and it’s a small sacrifice to make.

4. If you’re set on going abroad, find out which countries you’ll get more Wonga for your pound first. Destinations such as South Africa are currently very cheap because the pound is strong.

5. Check your Nectar Points or Airmiles if you’re in such a reward scheme. You may be able to pay part or all of your travel expenses that way.

6. Not everyone is as transparent as Wonga when it comes to pricing. So make sure you shop around and read the small print when shopping for flights. Many budget airlines are introducing more add-on fees for everything from checking in to using the toilet. Make sure you understand all the costs you’ll be charged before booking.

Whatever you’re doing this summer, have a great break. And, should you need any last-minute cash, remember a short term loan from Wonga can provide you with funds that you can repay on a date that suits up to a month later.

Inspired by a recent article by the Times, here are a few tips for the so-called Credit Crunch Generation -students who are graduating into a world where jobs are increasingly hard to come by and banks aren’t always willing to help. As the Times points out:

As the UK jobless total soared past the 2.26m mark this month, David Blanchflower, the economist, said unemployment among young people had become a “national crisis”. The number of under-25s claiming jobseeker’s allowance has increased by more than 200,000 to 456,000 in the past 12 months, and almost 20% of those aged 16 to 25 are unemployed.

Grim reading indeed. So here are some suggestions for young people keen to keep their finances in good order while looking for that big break…

1. Check the terms of your current bank account, especially where overdrafts are concerned. You might not benefit from student deals for much longer, but see what you can hang onto and switch to a graduate, rather than regular account. Beware of huge overdraft fees should you go over your limit too - your bank is unlikely to be as understanding now you’ve no longer got student status. That means you could be charged as much as £20 per day for slipping over your limit with a regular account!

2. Consider moving back home. OK, so you’ve just been enjoying a taste of freedom, and the last thing you want to do is sponge off your folks, but you can come to an agreement about helping with bills and if you can find any kind of bridging employment you’ll actually be able to save for a deposit much faster than if you’re paying full rent. It could be a compromise worth making and setting a defined time period gives you  a clear goal. You won’t have to worry about repaying your student loan until you’re earning national average wage. 

3. Get into good habits right away and start a budget. It’s easy with a free service like ours and will make you feel more in control of your cash, even if you’re on a limited income for the time being. 

4. Always do your research when considering credit of any kind. A flexible Wonga loan can help with urgent expenses and means you’re not saddled with long term debt for example, but it wouldn’t be a good way of financing a car purchase. Likewise, a traditional bank loan may seem appealing but will require a long term commitment. There’s more information about borrowing and debt on our website.

Wonga has been short listed in several categories of the Europa Awards being run by TechCrunch Europe, the leading startup and tech blog. The awards will honour the best tech companies and startups across the web and mobile scene from across Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

Wonga is up for Best Web Application or Service, Best Design, Best Startup Founder and Best New Startup. The awards are now open for public voting, so if you’re a fan of our cash advance service, feel free to make your voice heard!

The team has been all smiles this week, after Wonga provided its 100,000th short term loan. Not bad considering we launched the site less than a year ago!

Our congratulations go to KT, of Chester le Street, who received our 100,000th cash advance and wins a year’s interest-free use of Wonga’s award-winning service. Lucky lady. 

So why have we helped so many happy customers in such a relatively short space of time? Well we set out with a simple yet challenging idea - to offer UK consumers a short term and transparent alternative to traditional lenders.

We all have Wonga moments, when an unexpected or urgent expense springs up from nowhere - and it always seems to happen at a bad time. We help people solve short term cash flow problems without requiring a long term commitment, and we do it in the most flexible and responsible way possible.

People love the convenience, control and complete transparency we offer. It’s perhaps best summed up by a few of our customers themselves…

 Hi, I must take time to thank you for accepting my recent application and for the amazing speed of the transfer (30 minutes - has to be a record!). I hope very much to be able to use the service again, especially when a direct debit is due a couple of days before pay day and the banks are their usually helpful self (not!). Love your website too - refreshing and well laid out. Best wishes to all your staff.  

AF, Liverpool

 

 Hello guys/girls. I’ve actually already repaid my loan early, but I just wanted to say a huge ‘thank you’ for making this service available. I used it to cover an unexpected cost and, to be honest, I could’ve asked my bank, but your service was just SO much easier AND quicker. And because I repaid it quickly, it cost me next to nothing! You guys are DIAMONDS! And I always think it’s nice to say ‘thanks’ when someone does me a good turn.  

Martin T, Barnsley

 

 Please accept my thanks to yourself and your company. I was at first dubious about using an online service in this way and did not expect the level of service I received. You did exactly what you said you would and in a very efficient manner.  The cost of using your service compared to other providers is night and day. I did not have to worry about cheques clearing, high costs, uncertainty and of course wasted time.  A first class service, more service sector companies should take a leaf out of your book

James K, Shrophsire

We’ve become the country’s only 24/7 lender, guaranteeing cash deposits within an hour around the clock. So when you’re caught short and need some fast cash for a few days or weeks, give Wonga’s online application a go. You can decide exactly how much money you need and then determine the cost by selecting when to repay us.

We can’t guarantee approval, because we’re only interested in helping people who can afford the service, but you’ll get an instant answer either way.

Typical 2689% APR

Apply for a Wonga loan before the end of June and you may get more than you bargained for. If you’re accepted, not only will the cash hit your account within an hour as normal, but you might just be named one of our lucky ‘100k’ winners too.

As the Financial Times recently reported, we are due to provide our 100,000th Wonga loan before the end of this month. And that’s despite the fact we launched the Wonga site less than a year ago! Our service has proved even more popular than we imagined and it’s partly thanks to our happy customers spreading the word.

To celebrate this milestone, we’ve decided to create some exciting prizes. The person who is accepted for our 100,000th cash advance will receive interest-free Wonga loans for an entire year! Subject to our usual approval process, they will have instant cash advances at their disposal for 12 whole months and won’t pay a penny in interest or fees.

Not only that, but we’ll also wipe our charges for the next 50 successful applicants as a one-off celebration. You can find out more and check out the T&Cs at our 100,000 loans page. So good luck if you are using Wonga this month, but please remember that a chance-based celebration like this isn’t a reason to apply for credit you don’t need in the first place.  

Thanks again to all our customer for helping us hit this impressive mark sometime soon…

Typical 2689% APR

Concern from Which? over a new breed of UK bank account and the associated bank charges was recently discussed by the Beeb. It’s another example of the high street banks finding new ways to extract cash from customers after coming under massive pressure about unauthorised overdraft fees.

Naturally the likes of HBoS have denied any link and defend their new rates, which include a fixed £5 daily fee for an unauthorised bank overdraft. If you’re only stuck £50 or £100 into the red for a week or two the cost will really add up!

The simple fact is that banks make little or no money from people using traditional current accounts in a sensible way, so they rely heavily on hitting a minority with big overdraft charges, plus other fees, to make money. So now existing overdraft charges could be on their way out, is it really just a competitive market that’s prompting a new style of current account to emerge?

Which? certainly don’t think so.

Phil Jones, head of money research at consumer group Which?, said a new trend was developing while the OFT inquiry into the legality of bank charges rumbled on.

"Well it seems like a bit of a coincidence that while this court case is going on - and it looks like the banks are going to lose and have to repay consumers what they’ve unfairly charged them - that they are actually introducing a whole range of accounts with different charging structures."