If you’re trying to expand your business, getting a business loan might feel like a necessity. But if your credit isn’t in great shape, you might not have a wide selection of lenders from which you can choose.
While bad credit business loans exist, there are plenty of scammers who are out to take advantage of business owners they think might be desperate. As a result, it’s important to know how to check if a loan company is legitimate. Here are some tips to help you spot potential red flags.
How to check if a loan company is legitimate
There are several ways to check if a loan company is legitimate. First, check out the loan company on your local BBB website. Then do a quick online search and look up customer reviews. Finally, check with your state’s attorney general to make sure that the lender is registered with the proper state government agencies.
Before you apply with a lender, think about these steps to make sure you don’t get caught up in a scam.
1. Check for an online presence
If you get an offer for a bad credit business loan, ask yourself if you’ve ever heard of them before. If not, do an internet search for the company name. Even if it’s relatively new, it should have a profile on websites like Crunchbase or Owler and possibly even reviews from existing customers.
If you can’t find anything — or worse, you find information that points to a potential scam — you’ll likely be better off passing on the offer.
2. Check with the Better Business Bureau
Even if the loan company has an online presence, that doesn’t necessarily mean that its operations aren’t predatory. Check the Better Business Bureau website to learn more about whether the lender is worth working with. You’ll typically see a letter grade from A+ to F, along with reasons for the grade.
In some cases, you’ll also be able to read customer reviews, which can give you a better idea of what to expect. If you find that the lender wouldn’t be a good fit, you can also use the website to find one that might be a better one.
3. Check your comfort level
Lenders want your business, but they’re not desperate for it. If you feel like your contact with the company is overly aggressive or manipulative, it might be a sign that they’re trying to fluster you and make you feel like you need to make a decision before you get all the facts.
If you feel uncomfortable about the process at any time, take a step back and consider why you feel that way and whether you should continue.
4. Check with the state’s attorney general
If most everything checks out, but you want to be entirely sure, contact your state’s attorney general office. Lenders and loan brokers are required by law to register with state agencies before they can do business there, so if the attorney general has no record of the company you’re dealing with, run in the other direction.
Other tips to consider
In addition to taking the above steps, there are some other small things to think about as you learn how to check if a loan company is legitimate. Here are some questions and answers to help:
Do loan companies ask for money up front?
Some lenders charge what’s called an origination fee to process your loan. However, this fee is typically deducted from your loan disbursement. No legitimate lender will ask you to pay them the fee directly before you can get access to your money.
Do loan companies check your bank account?
In some cases, a lender might ask for your bank information to know where to send the loan funds after your application has been approved. However, it’s not normal for a bank to ask for your online banking login information to check your account.
If this happens, it might be a scammer looking to get access to your account to make a withdrawal or transfer to their own account.
How do I spot personal loan frauds?
Some personal lenders will allow you to use personal loan funds to start or fund a business, but there are also plenty of scams to watch out for. In general, you can use the same steps as you would with a business lender to find out if the loan offer is fraudulent.
Are bad credit loans legitimate?
There are several legitimate business lenders who specialize in working with borrowers with bad credit. However, it’s important to take your time when comparing bad credit business lenders to make sure you not only avoid scams but also improve your chances of getting favorable terms on your loan.
The bottom line
If you’re trying to get capital to grow your business, knowing how to check if a loan company is legitimate can save you from losing money and potentially your business. As you consider these tips and learn where to look to compare legitimate lenders, you’ll be able to get the help you need without being worried about getting taken advantage of.
This article was originally written on April 3, 2019 and updated on November 26, 2019.
I had a lady call and say I was approved for a loan she wanted my social security number my debit card verification number and my goggle verification from phone number 6469924478 is this normal
That sounds like a scam. I hope you didn’t provide it!
I have person who say i was approved for loan. Say only way for me get the loan is need boost my credit. Only way boost my credit them put money in my account boost my credit then pay them back in gift card. Then I’ll get loan that true
I wouldn’t recommend it Cici. Paying someone by gift card gives them untraceable funds. It sounds like a classic loan scam. You would be much better off putting that money toward a secured credit card.
I have a lender that seems legitimate. But because of my credit they want 3 months of payment first and then I’ll receive my loan. And that she’ll have me the contract before I pay any money. She also gave me a few other options like a cosigner with a credit score of 800, a car or house for collateral. Or pay 3 months payment of 450 which my monthly payments would be 150 a month. And then I would receive the loan. Does this sound legit or a scam? I need help
No! Do not pay up front. That’s the hallmark of a loan scam.
I have a company called Quick Cash Financials that say I’m approved for a 5k loan with an interest rate of 8.5%, and say my payment will be $250.00 for 24 months. But before they can transfer the money they need my sign in for my bank account, just seems very strange to me.
Hi Sharon, it’s not uncommon for lenders to make an ACH deposit of funds into your account rather than cutting you an actual check. With that in mind, it’s fair to ask them why they want access to your bank account.
Ben I work as a commercial loan broker. There is a common misconception that lenders should not ask for money up front. If they do they are scammers. Lenders must perform their due diligence which includes ordering appraisals, surveys, environmental reports, title searches among other third party reports. Legal expenses must also be paid to draw up loan documentation. If the lender is not in the same city or state as the collateral property they must travel to it therefore travel expenses are incurred. Are you suggesting all of these costs are to be absorbed by the lender? If lenders paid these costs out of pocket everytime they received a loan request many would be out of business. Don’t be naive and stop misleading people. There are very legitimate lenders who ask for these very reasonable costs from the borrower upfront. It is the responsibility of the borrower to perform their due diligence and make sure they know the value of their property and even order the necessary reports which lenders in some cases will update if they are recent enough. The other aspect to consider is the legitimacy of the borrower. It’s a two way street. Is the borrower serious? There are many tire kickers out there. I have seen them. Time wasters. They waste people’s time. They want 100% financing with absolutely no risk on their part. They’re not willing to put any skin in the game. Simply put they are looking for unicorns. I tell them this. I am very blunt and don’t waste time with tire kickers because many of them don’t have two nickels to rub together and yet want some lender to believe their business idea is the next best thing since sliced bread and just drop a bag a cash in their lap while wishing them good luck. It doesn’t work that way. Any serious sponsor with a loan request will get an attorney on board to review loan documents before signing anything or paying deposits to lenders. I for one encourage all borrowers I work with to review everything with an attorney before moving forward. I just wish this lie would not continue to be perpetuated. There are cost deposits lenders require which are perfectly justifiable.
Ben,
Owler and Crunchbase are not credit bureaus and both entities pull their data from user contribution and websites. most fraudulent companies have a website and will appear to be legitimate on Owler!