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A debt consolidation loan is a type of personal loan that lets you combine multiple debts and leaves you with just one payment. You might also be able to get a lower interest rate compared to your old debts, which could help you save money and maybe pay off your debt faster.
You’ll typically need good to excellent credit to qualify for a debt consolidation loan — but there are a few strategies that could help you get approved even with poor credit.
Here are three ways to get debt consolidation loans for bad credit:
1. Check your credit history
Lenders will review your credit to determine your creditworthiness. This is why it’s important to check your credit history to make sure it’s as strong as it can be.
You can use a site like AnnualCreditReport.com to access your credit reports from each of the three credit bureaus — Experian, Equifax, and Transunion — for free.
If you find any errors in your credit report, make sure to dispute them with the appropriate credit bureaus to potentially give your credit score a boost. The more you can clean up your credit history, the better your chances of qualifying for a debt consolidation loan.
Just remember that bad credit loans generally come with higher interest rates than good credit loans.
You can compare your prequalified rates from Credible’s partner lenders below in two minutes. This includes some lenders that offer personal loans for poor or fair credit.
Learn More: Where to Get a Personal Loan
2. Compare loan rates
There are a wide variety of lenders that offer personal loans for debt consolidation, and each of them has its own loan amounts, terms, and fees. Be sure to do your research and compare loan rates from as many lenders as possible to find the right loan for you.
Keep in mind that if you have poor credit, you likely won’t qualify for the lowest rates available. However, comparing lenders can still help you find the best rate for your circumstances.
Here are Credible’s partner lenders that offer debt consolidation loans for bad credit:
| Lender | Fixed rates | Loan amounts | Min. credit score | Loan terms (years) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 View details | 9.95% - 35.99% APR | $2,000 to $35,000** | 580 | 2, 3, 4, 5* |
*If approved, the actual loan terms that a customer qualifies for may vary based on credit determination, state law, and other factors. Minimum loan amounts vary by state. **Example: A $5,700 loan with an administration fee of 4.75% and an amount financed of $5,429.25, repayable in 36 monthly installments, would have an APR of 29.95% and monthly payments of $230.33. |
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 View details | 5.99% - 29.99% APR | $5,000 to $35,000 | 600 | 3, 5 |
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 View details | 6.99% - 24.99% APR | $2,500 to $35,000 | 660 | 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 |
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 View details | 10.68% - 35.89% APR | $1,000 to $40,000 | 600 | 3, 5 |
LendingClub personal loans review †Based on a majority of borrowers from LendingClub's marketing partners who were issued loans between 1/1/19-12/13/19. The time it takes for your loan to be funded may vary. |
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 View details | 15.49% - 35.99% APR | $2,000 to $25,000 | 580 | 2, 3, 4 |
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 View details | 3.99% - 19.99% APR | $5,000 to $100,000 | 660 | 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 (up to 12 years for home improvement loans) |
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 View details | 6.99% - 19.99% APR1 | $3,500 to $40,0002 | 660 (TransUnion FICO®️ Score 9) | 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 |
1Rate reduction of 0.25% available for AutoPay. 2You may be required to have some of your funds sent directly to pay off outstanding unsecured debt. 3After making 12 or more consecutive monthly payments, you can defer one payment as long as you have made all your prior payments in full and on time. Marcus will waive any interest incurred during the deferral and extend your loan by one month (you will pay interest during this extra month). Your payments resume as usual after your deferral. Advance notice is required. See loan agreement for details. |
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 View details | 18.00% - 35.99% APR | $1,500 to $20,000 | None | 2, 3, 4, 5 |
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 View details | 5.99% - 24.99% APR | $5,000 to $40,000 | 640 | 2, 3, 4, 5 |
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 View details | 6.49% - 17.99% APR | $600 to $20,000 (depending on loan term) | 670 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 |
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 View details | 6.95% - 35.99% APR | $2,000 to $40,000 | 640 | 3, 5 |
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 View details | 6.94% - 35.97% APR | $1,000 to $50,000 | 580 | 3, 5 |
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 View details | 8.27% - 35.99% APR4 | $1,000 to $50,0005 | 580 | 3 to 5 years4 |
4The full range of available rates varies by state. The average 3-year loan offered across all lenders using the Upstart platform will have an APR of 25.79% and 36 monthly payments of $37 per $1,000 borrowed. There is no down payment and no prepayment penalty. Average APR is calculated based on 3-year rates offered in the last 1 month. Your APR will be determined based on your credit, income, and certain other information provided in your loan application. Not all applicants will be approved. 5This offer is conditioned on final approval based on our consideration and verification of financial and non-financial information. Rate and loan amount are subject to change based upon information received in your full application. This offer may be accepted only by the person identified in this offer, who is old enough to legally enter into contract for the extension of credit, a US citizen or permanent resident, and a current resident of the US. Duplicate offers received are void. Closing your loan is contingent on your meeting our eligibility requirements, our verification of your information, and your agreement to the terms and conditions on the www.upstart.com website. Your loan amount will be determined based on your credit, income, and certain other information provided in your loan application. Not all applicants will qualify for the full amount. Loans are not available in West Virginia or Iowa. The minimum loan amount in MA is $7,000. The minimum loan amount in Ohio is $6,000. The minimum loan amount in NM is $5100. The minimum loan amount in GA is $3,100. 6If you accept your loan by 5pm EST (not including weekends or holidays), you will receive your funds the next business day. Loans used to fund education related expenses are subject to a 3 business day wait period between loan acceptance and funding in accordance with federal law. |
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Learn More: Debt Consolidation vs. Personal Loan: What Is the Difference?
3. Improve your debt-to-income ratio for better rates
Lenders look at your debt-to-income (DTI) ratio to see how much of your income goes toward debt. To calculate your DTI ratio, add up all of your monthly bill payments, then divide that by your monthly income.
There are a couple of ways you might be able to improve your DTI ratio:
- Increase your income. The more money you make, the less of your total income you have to put toward debt. If you want to boost your income, you might consider asking for a raise or starting a side hustle.
- Reduce your debt. Paying down some of your debt could help show lenders that you can afford a new debt consolidation loan.
Even if you don’t need a cosigner to qualify, having one might get you a lower interest rate than you’d get on your own.
It’s also important to consider how much a debt consolidation loan will cost you over time. This way, you can prepare for any added expenses. You can estimate how much you’ll pay for a loan using our personal loan calculator below
Enter your loan information to calculate how much you could pay
With a $ loan, you will pay $ monthly and a total of $ in interest over the life of your loan. You will pay a total of $ over the life of the loan.
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Check Out: Credit Card Consolidation Loans
Alternatives to debt consolidation loans
If you don’t qualify for a debt consolidation loan, here are some other options to look into:
Speak with your lenders
If you’re facing financial difficulties, reach out to your lenders and other creditors right away. They might offer hardship assistance, payment plans, or other options that can help you avoid missing payments and hurting your credit.
Or if you’re a SoFi borrower who has lost their job through no fault of your own, you could be eligible for Unemployment Protection. This program places your loan into forbearance for up to three months at a time (up to 12 months total over the life of your loan).
Learn More: Credit-Builder Loans: What Are They and How to Get One
Home equity loans
A home equity loan could be another way to consolidate debt if you’re a homeowner. This type of loan lets you tap into your home’s equity while using your home as collateral.
If you’re considering a home equity loan vs. a personal loan, note that home equity loans tend to have lower rates than personal loans because there’s less risk to the lender.
This might also make it easier to qualify for a home equity loan even if you have poor credit — though remember that each lender will have its own eligibility requirements.
Check Out: Where to Get a $10,000 Personal Loan
Sign up for a debt management plan
Nonprofit credit counseling agencies can help you tackle your debt through a debt management plan. These plans generally last for three to five years and are available to anyone who has debt, regardless of the amount.
If you sign up for a debt management plan, the agency will work on your behalf to contact your lenders and negotiate a payment plan. You’ll make monthly payments to the agency, which will send the appropriate funds to your creditors.
A debt management plan might also lower any fees or finance charges you’ve been charged. Note that some plans might charge setup fees or monthly fees, depending on the agency.
Learn More: How to Get Out of Credit Card Debt Fast
Debt settlement
Unlike debt management plans, debt settlement is offered by for-profit companies that try to settle outstanding debts with your creditors for less than you owe.
Many debt settlement companies will tell you to stop paying your bills while the settlement process is pending. This means you could rack up late fees and potentially hurt your credit, making it hard to borrow in the future.
Also keep in mind that debt settlement might not actually work, and you could end up hurting more than helping your finances in the long run. Be sure to consult with an attorney or financial advisor first before taking this route.
Check Out: Where to Get a $20,000 Personal Loan Fast
Bankruptcy
If you’ve exhausted your other options, filing for bankruptcy could help you take control of your debt.
Keep in mind that bankruptcy is extremely damaging to your credit and will stay on your credit report for up to 10 years, depending on which type of bankruptcy you choose. Because of this, bankruptcy should be a last resort.
If you decide to file for bankruptcy, it’s a good idea to start rebuilding your credit as soon as possible to potentially qualify for loans in the future.
Learn More: How to Pay Off Credit Card Debt Fast
A debt consolidation loan could be the first step to financial recovery
With a debt consolidation loan, you can combine multiple debts and have just one monthly payment to deal with. Plus, you might qualify for a lower interest rate than you’ve been paying, which means you could save money and potentially pay off your debt faster.
If you decide to use a personal loan for debt consolidation, remember to consider as many lenders as possible to find the right loan for your needs. Credible makes this easy — you can compare your prequalified rates from multiple lenders in two minutes.
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About Rates and Terms: Rates for personal loans provided by lenders on the Credible platform range between 4.99-35.99% APR with terms from 12 to 84 months. Rates presented include lender discounts for enrolling in autopay and loyalty programs, where applicable. Actual rates may be different from the rates advertised and/or shown and will be based on the lender’s eligibility criteria, which include factors such as credit score, loan amount, loan term, credit usage and history, and vary based on loan purpose. The lowest rates available typically require excellent credit, and for some lenders, may be reserved for specific loan purposes and/or shorter loan terms. The origination fee charged by the lenders on our platform ranges from 0% to 8%. Each lender has their own qualification criteria with respect to their autopay and loyalty discounts (e.g., some lenders require the borrower to elect autopay prior to loan funding in order to qualify for the autopay discount). All rates are determined by the lender and must be agreed upon between the borrower and the borrower’s chosen lender. For a loan of $10,000 with a three year repayment period, an interest rate of 7.99%, a $350 origination fee and an APR of 11.51%, the borrower will receive $9,650 at the time of loan funding and will make 36 monthly payments of $313.32. Assuming all on-time payments, and full performance of all terms and conditions of the loan contract and any discount programs enrolled in included in the APR/interest rate throughout the life of the loan, the borrower will pay a total of $11,279.43. As of March 12, 2019, none of the lenders on our platform require a down payment nor do they charge any prepayment penalties.
