The basics
What are payday loans and how do they work in the UK?The full journey, from the expense that starts it to the final repayment.
13 min read
Warning: Late repayment can cause you serious money problems. For help, go to moneyhelper.org.uk. UKPayday is a credit broker, not a lender.
FCA-authorised credit broker FRN 919697
Free broker service no fee to search our panel
Soft eligibility search no impact on your credit score
ICO registered ZB537016
How it works
Three simple steps. Around two minutes.
01
Choose your amount
Select between £100 and £2,500. You can choose your preferred repayment term on the next page.
02
Complete one short form
Answer one question at a time. You will not need to upload or print anything for our form.
03
Check for a potential match
We use a soft search that will not affect your credit score. If we find a potential match, you can continue to the partner and review their terms. A match does not guarantee approval.
Representative example
What £1,000 actually costs
A worked example at our representative rate. Your own rate depends on the lender and your circumstances, and is shown in full before you sign anything.
Representative 79.5% APR variable. Annual interest rate 59.97% fixed.
Payday loans and bad credit
Can you get a payday loan with bad credit?
A low credit score does not rule out every lender. Some consider current affordability as well as credit history. However, bad credit may limit your options or increase your rate. Approval is never guaranteed.
UKPayday uses a soft search, which will not affect your credit score. A lender will complete a hard search if you formally apply.
Missing payments can remain on your credit file for up to six years.
Eligibility
What you need to apply
- 18 or over and living in the UK
- A regular income you can evidence
- A UK bank account and debit card
- A mobile number and email address
A thin or imperfect credit file does not rule you out. What matters most is whether the repayments are affordable now, not only what happened years ago.
Check my eligibilityPayday loan questions, answered clearly
Is UKPayday a direct lender?
No. UKPayday is a credit broker, not a lender. We use the information you provide to check a panel of participating FCA-authorised lenders and brokers for a potential match. We do not provide the money or decide whether an application is approved.
How much can I apply to borrow?
You can check eligibility for £100 to £2,500 over 3 to 36 months. The amount and term you receive may differ from what you request. The lender decides what, if anything, it can offer after its own affordability and credit checks. Not all panel lenders offer the full £2,500.
Do I have to repay it on my next payday?
Not necessarily. Some modern payday and short-term loans are repaid in instalments rather than one lump sum. Through UKPayday, available terms range from 3 to 36 months. The lender will show the exact payment dates before you agree.
Will checking eligibility affect my credit score?
No. The UKPayday eligibility stage uses a soft search, which does not affect your score and is not visible to other lenders as a credit application. If you proceed with a formal application, the lender will carry out a hard search. That search is recorded on your credit file and may affect your score. Read the guide to credit searches.
Can I apply if I have bad credit?
You can check your eligibility, but acceptance is never guaranteed. Some panel lenders consider applicants with a less-than-perfect credit history and look at current affordability as well as past borrowing. A lender may still decline, offer a smaller amount or charge a different rate. Read the guide to payday loans and bad credit.
What information will I need?
You will normally need your address history, income, employment details, regular spending, existing credit commitments, bank details and contact information. Our form does not require document uploads. A lender may later ask for payslips, bank statements or another form of evidence.
Does UKPayday charge a fee?
No. Our credit-broking service is free to use. We may be paid commission by a lender or broker if you enter a credit agreement after our introduction. Interest and any lender charges will be included in the terms you see before you decide.
How quickly will I receive a decision?
The online search is designed to be quick, but there is no guaranteed decision time. A partner may need more information or checks. If a lender approves the application and the agreement is completed, funds may arrive the same day, although lender and bank processing times vary.
Can I repay a payday loan early?
You normally have a legal right to repay consumer credit early, in full or in part. Ask the lender for an early settlement figure so you know the exact amount and any interest adjustment. The lender's agreement will explain the process.
What happens if I miss a payment?
Contact the lender as soon as you know there may be a problem. A missed payment may lead to charges, damage your credit record and make future borrowing harder. The lender should consider appropriate support based on your circumstances. Free debt help is also available through MoneyHelper, StepChange and National Debtline. Find free debt help at MoneyHelper.
Should I apply again if I am declined?
Avoid making several formal applications in a short period. Each hard search can be recorded on your credit file, and repeated applications may concern other lenders. Check why you were declined, review your credit reports for errors and consider free guidance before trying again.
Is a payday loan right for an ongoing shortfall?
Usually not. Payday and other high-cost loans are not designed for sustained borrowing or to cover a budget gap that returns every month. If income does not meet essential spending, speak to bill providers and seek free debt or benefits guidance before adding another repayment.
Why use UKPayday
A straightforward way to check a panel
- Authorised by the FCA
- FRN 919697
- Registered with the ICO
- ZB537016
- Cost of our service
- Free to use
- Our role
- Credit broker
UKPayday gives you one place to check whether a participating lender or broker may be able to consider your application. One form can be simpler than visiting several websites, and the eligibility search does not affect your credit score.
What we do not do
We are clear about the limits of the service. We are not a lender and we do not make the approval decision. We work with a panel of participating lenders and brokers, so we do not search the whole market and do not provide independent financial advice. A potential match is not a recommendation, a personal financial advice service or a guarantee that credit will be offered.
How we are paid
Our broker service is free to use. We may receive commission from a lender or another broker if you enter into a credit agreement following our introduction. The commission we may receive does not change what you pay. Its existence and nature will be explained before you enter an agreement. You can ask us for the amount or likely amount of commission.
PJG Financial Limited, the company behind UKPayday, is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority for credit broking under firm reference 919697. We are registered with the Information Commissioner's Office under reference ZB537016.
Read before you borrow
All guidesCredit files
What a soft search actually doesWhy an eligibility check leaves no mark, and when a lender runs the harder kind.
9 min read
Affordability
Working out what you can afford to repayA simple way to test a repayment against your month before you commit to it.
11 min read
Cost of credit
APR, interest and total repayableWhat each number on an offer means, and which one to compare on.
11 min read
Before you borrow
Alternatives worth checking firstOptions that may cost less than credit, including help you may already have.
14 min read
If things go wrong
What to do if you cannot make a repaymentWho to tell, when to tell them, and the free help available to you.
11 min read
Find out where you stand
Free to use, no obligation, and no mark on your credit score.
Check eligibility
Representative 79.5% APR variable. Being matched does not guarantee approval; any offer is subject to the lender's own checks.