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Any personal loans NOT using rule of 78 for interest?

Catta75
Catta75 Posts: 7 Forumite
Hallo moneysavers,

Am new to board so NOT an expert in these matters but def fed up of being ripped off. Would appreciate some informal advice.

I have an £8K personal unsecured loan with Northern Rock, at 5.7% over 4 years. I didn't take out PPI. I've paid off 1 year and have an outstanding balance of nearly £7K - Northern Rock calculate paying off the loan so that you repay the interest first of all (Rule of 78).

I am approaching a time in my life where I need to a) free up some cash of circa £2K, and b) reduce my monthly outgoings - rocky times ahead which I'm trying to plan for.

Considering whether to add the remaining amount on Northern Rock loan to my mortgage, together with £2K advance - total added £10K (this is possible - have checked with mortgage lender) but aware of fact that I will accrue valuation fees, administration/arrangement fees, not to mention a huge amount of interest (around £10K) on the £10K added by simply spreading the payments over the length of the time of the mortgage.

So considered extending original loan plus additional £2K borrowing over period of 10 years, then when rocky times have settled down (in circa 2 years time), repaying the loan early over a shorter time period.

Went back to Northern Rock to see if they could extend the loan over 10 years and add another £2K to outstanding balance. Found out that if I did this, and I wanted to repay early, I would be paying off the huge interest balance first of all as they would still apply the rule of 78 - around £2.5K in interest.

Although my monthly payments would be lower (and I would free up some cash), I don't want to do this.

Does anyone know of any personal loans at a low rate which calculate the interest on a simple basis, so that I won't be stung for repaying early? I thought that personal loans had to stop calculating interest on early repayments in this way? Any advice gratefully received.

Right at this moment in time I am highly tempted to put the whole damn amount on the mortgage!!!

Thanks for your time,
Catta75

Comments

  • mountainofdebt
    mountainofdebt Posts: 7,795 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    I thought the rule of 78 finished in May as well.
    2014 Target;
    To overpay CC by £1,000.
    Overpayment to date : £310

    2nd Purse Challenge:
    £15.88 saved to date
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