In-store Finance

This is finance offered by retailers to pay for large home purchases over a set time scale. Often 0% is offered for a set period and often payment is deferred for a set period too.

Interest

Defined broadly in finance as either:

1. Value accrued on an investment – for example, a bank will pay you interest on your savings.

2. A charge accrued on borrowed money usually calculated as a percentage of the total borrowed.

Loan

A pre-arranged agreement to borrow a set amount including charges over a fixed time.

Loan Sharks

Loan sharks are unregulated people who will offer you a borrowing service, on your doorstep, at grossly inflated rates of interest and can be unorthodox in their treatment of default on payments.

Not recommended.

Minimum Guaranteed Final Value (MGFV)

Minimum Guaranteed Final Value is what a vehicle is worth at the end of a Personal Contract Purchase subject to the estimated mileage not being exceeded. If this is the case you pay the agreed figure at the end of the contract. If the mileage is exceeded you will be penalised for this.

Personal Contract Hire (PCH)

Personal Contract Hire is a hire agreement for a lengthy period of time at a fixed cost available to private individuals as well as companies. A monthly rental cost is agreed on including mileage and car maintenance and servicing.

Personal Contract Purchase (PCP)

Personal Contract Purchase is the leasing of a vehicle over a set period at a fixed monthly amount and at the end of the term you have the choice to either buy it outright or return it with nothing more to pay.

Payment Protection Insurance (PPI)

Payment Protection Insurance will pay out if you cannot make payments on a mortgage, loan or credit cards because you cannot work through no fault of your own. It can be costly and sometimes you can be charged excessively for it.

Secured Loan

A secured loan is borrowing guaranteed against an asset like your home. If you default on payments your home can be repossessed. You can usually borrow larger amounts with a secured loan.

Standing Order

A standing order is an arrangement to electronically transfer a set amount regularly usually to pay rent or repay a loan.

Store cards

Store cards are the same as credit cards offered by certain stores to encourage spending with them but their interest rates are often higher than average.

Sub Prime Lending

Some people fall into the ‘sub prime lending' category – they may have a low credit rating, have defaulted on bill payments or to repay debt previously, or be self-employed or unemployed.

Unauthorised Overdraft

If you exceed your available funds without a prior arrangement with your bank a stop may be put on your account and you will be charged.

Unsecured Loan

Is a loan without any form of guarantee against repayment. The amount you will be able to borrow will be much less however.

Variable Interest Rates

A variable interest rate will alter in line with the Bank of England's decisions unlike a fixed rate. They define the rate for borrowing and lenders adjust their rates accordingly.