bad credit rating =- need to borrow money!

[sallycroc]

I need to borrow �500 - basically to get a laptop for my work.

I have a bad credit rating.

Can anyone recommend any credit cards that I could apply for or any short term loans that I may have a chance of getting?

I will pay this off in April - so it is very short term.

Thanks, Sally

[WendyS]

If you need a laptop for work,could yuu ask your employer for a loan, or an advance on your salary if you can really justify the case for having a computer.

[sallycroc]

It's to apply for new jobs... I meant work outside of my job now. It's quite urgent!

[kujawski]

yep this may help, there is a company called vanquis, but their rates are a bit of a joke, but then again if you are desperate, its up to you,

their site is:
http://www.vanquis.co.uk and it'll be the abacus card

[bednobs]

april isnt all that far away, if you're going to be able to afford it in april wait till then. If you mean you need the laptop to apply for work: why?

[sallycroc]

I need to apply for jobs. I work part time. I basically need to borrow money.

Any experiences with abacus card anyone?

[bednobs]

what im saying is april is in 6 wees time, rather than get into debt, just wait till then! yur bad credit rating must be for a reason, so probably better not to get into more debt. you don't NEED a laptop to apply for jobs do you, else jobhunting would be limited to a small minority of people. you can use the internet at your local library for free. it will probably take a couple of weeks to apply for and get a card anyay, leaving you with 3/4 weeks till you hav the money anyway. with a card like that, for people with bad credit, you will probably have a small credit limit anyway, probably not enough for a laptop, router etc

[sallycroc]

I work on a temporary basis and I only have spare time in the evening. My local library isn't very good with opening hours.

I have explored lots of options...hence why I have put a question on this website.

I have been working overseas for the past two years- so this has ruined my credit rating. I live in a large shared house which is has also made it worse.

I'm due a large tax rebate in April - so I will use it to pay off the debt that I have accrued - hence why I want to get a credit card or short term loan.

Would like to hear any experiences with this.

Thanks Sally.

[bednobs]

clearly, it's up to you whether you apply for this card or not. i understand you are asking for advice now about the mechanics of owning this card, but i would still urge you to think again for the reasons i have stated, and for the fact the interest rate on the card you are looking at is nearly F0RTY percent!!!!!. You seem to be putting obstacles in the way of not buying the laptop, so i suspect it's not solely to do with getting a laptop? after all if you work part time, then there must be times other than in the evening you can go to the library. You clearly have internet access already (else how would you be answering?). Again, i cant see what difference a laptop will make to you getting a job, as there is always job centre/papers/recruitment agencies to try. Imagine this scenario :- your tax rebate isnt as good as you were hoping or it dosen't come at all - then you are stuck with an expensive purchase which you will have to pay off at an apr of forty percent!!!, which you cant afford, so your credit rating gets worse, or worse still you hav to pay the minimum payments and it takes you 10 years to pay off 1 purchase, having paid four times as much as its originaly worth

[sallycroc]

I have not yet decided to get the card - I'm looking at options..hence asking people opinions, experiences, etc..

I work full time but on a temporary contract. And funnily enough with no computer access.

I'm using a computer today - alhough it's not very often.

For all job applications I need to write essays and put vidoes together - it isn't a case of just filling in forms.

Would love to hear from anybody with any experiences of this or any ideas. Thanks.

[Hammer]

Why don't you look in your local paper classifieds or ebay for a second hand one (or a desktop would be cheaper). Technology moves on so quickly that you can pick up last year's models for next to nothing. You should be able to a system that's more than suitable for less than �200,

[sallycroc]

I'm looking at ebay now - thanks!

[Slim Shady]

dont get a vanquis card - its a mug off!! i used to work for them!!!

[sallycroc]

tell me more....

thanks x

[Slim Shady]

their rates are out of hand!! but like kujawski said , if you are desperate then its an option. is there nobody you can borrow it off? what about selling bits and bobs on ebay to raise the cash?

[sallycroc]

I'm going to do the ebay thing tonight - I have so many books I don't want to read. Some of my clothes are too small too big - so this is an excellent idea. Thanks.

Do vanquis do credit search?

[Slim Shady]

yeah they do credit searches but they are especially for people with bad credit ratings, thats why the rates are so high, and your still not guaranteed to get one, in turn making another black mark against your credit rating.