The loan that gives back

Get a rate reduction on your loan when you pay on time.

All loans and rate reductions are subject to meeting credit worthiness, affordability and rate reduction criteria

Borrow up to £5,000 without a guarantor

Borrow up to £10,000 with a guarantor

Representative 39.9% APR (Variable)

Months

Apply for your loan today!

Example: You borrow £[loanAmount]
Monthly payment: £[monthlyPayment]
Interest and fees: £[intFee]
Total to repay: £[totalPayment] 39.9% APR (Variable)*

Representative Example: Borrowing £3000 over 36 months with a representative APR of 39.9% (variable),
the amount payable would be £134.21 a month,
with a total cost of credit of £1831.56 and a total amount payable of £4831.56.

4.9/5

Independent Service Rating based on 34 verified reviews.

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We are “1 Plus 1 Loans” and we provide a range of loans from £1000 to £5000 without a Guarantor and £1000 to £10,000 with a guarantor for people just like you.

We set up our business in 2013, when we saw that borrowing money at an affordable rate was becoming a seriously difficult job for those with bad credit ratings and those who needed it most.

That didn’t seem fair to us, so decided it was time that someone offered a loan that didn't rely purely on credit scores – just on whether customers could afford the repayments without any hardship or problems for the duration of the loan. And that’s how 1 Plus 1 Loans was born.

"We’re committed to making sure that all our customers receive a loan with repayments they can comfortably afford"

Why choose 1 Plus 1?

Bad Credit Loans

Direct lender, not a broker

Guarantor Loans

Fast payout

Fast payout bad credit guarantor loans

All applicants considered

The process

We offer both Non-guarantor and guarantor loans, at affordable rates for people like you.

Non-Guarantor Loan: If you have a solid track record with your finances and your credit score is in good shape, you might qualify for a non-guarantor loan. This means you can apply for the loan on your own without needing someone else to back you up. You'll be solely responsible for making the repayments. This is a straightforward option for those who are confident in their ability to repay the loan on their own.

Guarantor Loan: If you're looking to borrow money but you find it a bit tricky to get approved—maybe because you're new to credit or your credit history isn't the strongest—you can opt for a guarantor loan. With this type of loan, you'll need someone you trust, like a family member or a good friend, to be your guarantor. This means they agree to cover the repayments if, for any reason, you're unable to. Having a guarantor can make it easier for you to be approved for a loan.

We're here to help you choose the right option based on your financial situation and needs.

To make absolutely sure that you can afford the repayments without a struggle, we follow a simple process before we grant any loan.

First of all, we’ll talk. We take the time to walk through all the details with you and your Guarantor (if you apply for a Guarantor Loan), making sure everyone understands their responsibilities during the life of the loan.

As a lender, we partner with banks and other financial institutions using Open Banking to verify your income and spending. This method allows us to determine if you can comfortably afford the loan repayments throughout the term of the loan by reviewing your bank statements. We focus on your current financial health rather than past credit challenges, ensuring that our decision is fair and considers your present circumstances. This approach helps us lend responsibly and fairly.

We make sure all your essential bills are covered and that you have enough spare income left to comfortably make your monthly loan repayments. It's also important to us that you have room in your budget for those unexpected emergencies that life can throw at you. Additionally, our team uses data from the Office for National Statisticsto ensure that everyone involved can manage their spending, even with the current rates of inflation. We're here to help you stay on top of your finances with confidence.

Our friendly team works hard to tailor everything to your needs, allowing us to quickly prepare your loan for payment. In fact, most of our customers receive their funds on the same day they apply!

The outcome

Guarantor and Non Guarantor loans tailored for you

We conduct thorough checks because being a responsible lender is really important to us. We want to be absolutely certain that you can comfortably manage your repayments. This commitment to responsibility places us at the forefront of providing great loans.

That’s why we always go the extra mile to make sure that you receive a loan that perfectly fits your needs. We’re committed to ensuring that every customer is treated fairly, regardless of their credit history. Whether you have a less-than-perfect credit score or an excellent one, we're here to help you every step of the way.

 

More information about us

Our frequently asked
questions

You may think guarantor loans are a new concept, but they’re actually how banks loaned out money before credit scoring was introduced. In those days all you needed was someone who trusted you and was happy to guarantee your loan. That was often a family member or friend who owned their own property and was more financially stable, allowing them to help you get the loan you needed.

A guarantor loan isn’t secured against that guarantor’s property though. They are there purely as someone who has the financial resources to guarantee repayments, should you fail to do make them. Guarantors very rarely need step in, but it’s good for all of us to have that extra security.

A Guarantor is anyone who will guarantee to honour your loan if you should fail to make repayments. Family and friends are often the best people to ask, but if they know you - and they know you will pay back your loan, they may well be happy to stand as Guarantor for you.

A guarantor can be anyone who knows and trusts you and is aware of your financial situation. For example, you could try members of your family and friends who might normally help you out financially on occasions. This could be:-

  • Parents
  • Grandparents
  • Brothers / Sisters
  • Extended family members
  • Friends

You could also approach work colleagues or your employer. Don’t forget though that it’s always best to explain why you need the money and confirm that you can afford the repayments. Make sure you explain to your guarantor their financial obligations should you fail to make a repayment.

  • You need to be 18+ years of age and no older than 70 when the loan completes. If you are not a home owner though, you must be at least 21 years old.
  • You must be a resident in the UK. A homeowner or a tenant (Tenant's must have an exceptional credit file, good enough to obtain a mortgage)
  • You must have a UK bank account and a valid UK debit card
  • You should have a good, clean credit history
  • You must not be subject to a current Individual voluntary arrangement (IVA) or bankruptcy order
  • You must be a UK resident (excludes Isle of Man and Channel Islands)
  • You must be sure that you can afford to make the repayments if the applicant fails to make a payment

The main risk is that, if the borrower stops the loan re-payments, we will then require the Guarantor to bring the account up to date.

Becoming a Guarantor is a serious commitment, and he or she should feel completely confident that the borrower will make repayments on time, every time. They should not become a Guarantor unless they are committed to repaying the loan if the Borrower doesn't. Borrowers rarely let their Guarantors down, but if that did happen, there is always the possibility that it could affect the relationship between the borrower and the guarantor.

First of all you want to help a friend or family member who needs financial assistance.

While you may be in a position to lend the money to the borrower yourself, you might prefer to help them take responsibility and manage a loan themselves, making timely repayments to us, rather than to you.

You would want to help the Borrower to gain control of their finances. If their loan from us goes well and they make repayments on time, this could help rebuild their credit score. Of course, you should bear in mind that providing this helping hand does involve a certain amount of risk to yourself.

View all questions

If you have a question and it is not answered on this page then please don't hesistate to ask. Simply email your question to ask@1plus1loans.co.uk and we will answer directly to you. You could be helping others too, as we’ll add it to this page for everyone else to see.

What does being a guarantor mean?

A guarantor is someone who will make payments on a loan if the borrower fails to pay.

If the borrower has not had credit before, they will have no credit history. This means that credit reference agencies will give them a low score, as they have no way of knowing if they will repay the loan or not. If people have failed to repay loans in the past, then credit reference agencies will naturally give them a very low score, with the resulting bad credit rating making it near impossible for them to get a loan.

This is where the guarantor comes in. The guarantor will know the borrower and know if they are likely to make the loan payments or not. No one is going to be a guarantor if they think the borrower is not going to make payments, which is why most of our borrowers’ guarantors are close family and friends.

Can I be a guarantor?

To meet our guarantor criteria, you need to...

  1. Have a good credit history
  2. Be a resident in the UK, and a tenant or a homeowner
  3. Be aged from 18 or over, but no older than 70 when the loan completes
  4. Be able to afford to make payments if the borrower fails to pay

If you do not feel completely sure that the borrower is going to make repayments, or you don't know the borrower well enough, DO NOT be a guarantor on their loan. Check out our handy decision tree tree to help you decide if being a guarantor is right for you.

Why should I be a guarantor?

There are many reasons why you might choose be a guarantor, here are some of them:-

  1. A friend or family member needs help to get a loan
  2. You want to help your friend or family member to start to build or re-build their credit score
  3. You want to help out a friend or family member financially, but you don't have the funds to do it yourself
More guarantor information

Tel: 0330 1200 313**

Outside UK: +44 1904 500 069

Email

General Enquiries: info@1plus1loans.co.uk

Payments Team: payments@1plus1loans.co.uk

Write to us

1plus1 Loans Ltd,
Yates Barn,
Netherley Road,
Tarbock,
Merseyside
L35 1RG

Opening Times

Monday to Friday 9am to 6pm (Closed Bank Holidays)

Contact us

Warning

Late repayment can cause you serious money problems. For help, go to moneyhelper.org.uk