Are Payday Loans Available to People with Poor Credit?

With the recession, the financial stresses placed on people with and without jobs have created a significant problem for millions. Late payments and losses of homes and other property not only create new costs in peoples’ lives, but reduce their credit scores as well.

So even people who are working hard, every day, may not have access to credit cards or other loans to get them through cash emergencies.

The one solution that still works, however, is instant payday loans . Only working people can get them because they involve borrowing against the next paycheck. For those who qualify, payday loans are the smart choice.

Payday loans respect people who work. Having a bad credit report can be a demeaning and demoralizing condition. A payday loan lender does not care about that – if you work, you get respect for that and are qualified to receive the loan.

No collateral required. It is possible to take out a loan against a car (if it is fully paid for, in which case the borrower surrenders title to the lender). It is also possible to borrow against one’s equity in a home. But the risks of losing either are great, and probably not the kind of loan to be entered into lightly. Payday loans are based simply on your next paycheck.

Managing bills effectively can raise your credit rating. Even if you have bad credit currently, it can be fixed over time. The path is straightforward: pay bills on time and your credit score will improve.

For most people, managing through a financially-strained time period can be emotionally stressful. But with a plan and some tools, it is possible to get money when you need it. Even better, use the time to plan for a more financially solid future.

Booking through a registered travel agent (Insurance)

In addition to horror stories we have read about, two people we know faced dropped bookings when they arrived at the airport.One had booked a flight and the other a whole vacation package and both were told that there was no record of payment (even with a confirmation number!) and they would have to pay for their trips again.

The details of their efforts to recoup their cash after the trip are a nightmare of frustration, inept and rude customer service and stonewalling. One story stretched over several months.

So we were not especially surprised when we saw the report by eMarketer (they sell market research and trend analysis about Internet commerce) about the decline in the number of people booking online and the increase of people booking through travel agents.

Their service is a cross between booking online and having a qualified travel agent help you. After you fill out a form with the details of your trip, you receive a no-obligation quote in a short time. (Note that if you book online through a non-B.C. travel agent, you probably will not be covered by the B.C. Travel Assurance Fund.)

Booking through a travel agent is some of the best insurance you can buy. When problems arise, you have someone to call. You can go and have a coffee while they sort out the problem. If they can't fix it right then, you'll at least know that when you return from your holiday, your travel agent will probably have fixed the snafu.

In British Columbia every travel agency must be registered with the provincial government that oversees the Travel Assurance Fund set up to reimburse you for travel company bankruptcies and non-performance.

You can check if your travel agent is registered by typing in the agent's registration number at www.bpcpa.ca/index.php?-option=com_licensesearch&Itemid-=138&task=ac tive_bus.

Surf in the air

Air Canada will start offering Wi-Fi inflight access to the Internet to customers starting next spring (pending Canadian regulatory approval). No idea yet what the cost will be but it will not be cheap. Still, if you must be contacted, someone will be able to grab you at 10,000 metres. Nowhere will be safe.