Loan Insurance - Worth The Extra Cost?
There are many factors, out of your control that can make you
unable to repay your loans. You might become sick or get
involved in an accident that takes you out of work for an
extended period of time. Maybe your employer has to cut back and
make wage decreases or lay-offs. If you are working for your
self then maybe business is not going well and you are not
earning as much as you had hoped. It could even be that your
expenses have risen or interest rates have risen and this has
made it difficult to make repayments.
Many of us worry about these possible outcomes. Some of us,
especially if we have borrowed a lot and are already close to
our repayment capacity may be losing sleep over it. People who
are elderly and close to retirement, or those with young
children also may worry a lot about such issues.
Loan Insurance
It is for this reason that insurers offer loan insurance. Loan
insurance is a policy that protects against the possibility that
you will not be able to make your repayments. You will usually
be offered it every time you take on credit. You should know
that you are not obliged to take loan insurance and you cannot
be denied credit for not taking it. If you do wish to take it
out, you should shop around and not take it from the first
insurer you come across. Rates vary widely and it certainly pays
to shop around.
If you have loan insurance you can rest a little easier knowing
that if certain events outside of your control occur you loans
will be repaid by the insurance company. Events included would
be illness, accident or job loss not of your fault, among
others. You should also be aware of the conditions and
exclusions however before you agree to such insurance. It is a
fact that many people pay for loan insurance without much
prospect of ever benefiting from it; often without even knowing
they have it. This is because lenders are anxious to add it to
your account as a way of increasing revenues.
Be Aware
Some policies will require for example that you accept the first
job you are offered after losing your job. This can be very
impractical for a person who may have had a very good job and
now is offered a much lower paying one. They know that if they
continue their search they will find a better job but their
insurance wants them to take up the first one.
Always be aware of what you are paying for with insurance. Be
aware of the exclusions and if you don't want the insurance,
don't buy it. If it has been added to your account without your
permission, call your creditor and have it cancelled
immediately.