Dollar Scholars Foundation

Na-agbazinye ego n'ụzọ amamihe ma zere ịkwụ ụgwọ na-adịghị mma · Ihe 1 nke 2

The Real Price of a Loan: High-Cost Traps and Safer Options

Turn loan fees into an APR, see what payday, title, rent-to-own, and 'buy now, pay later' deals really cost, learn the rules in DC, Maryland, and Virginia, and find cheaper options.

  • Ihe dị ka nkeji 18
  • Ajụjụ: 6
  • Ikpeazụ nyochaa: Septemba 2026
  • Emeli: Money Smart for Adults, Module 7: Borrowing Basics, and Module 8: Managing Debt (Section 7, Understanding High Cost Debt)

A sụgharịbeghị akụkụ nke nkuzi a n'asụsụ gị, n'ihi ya, a na-egosipụta ha n'asụsụ Bekee.

Na nkuzi a

Ihe ị ga-amụta

  • Convert a loan fee into an APR so you can compare offers.
  • Recognize payday, car title, online installment, rent-to-own, and pay-over-time products, and what they really cost.
  • Explain how DC, Maryland, and Virginia limit loan costs, and check a lender's license.
  • Choose a lower-cost option, such as a payment plan or a credit union small loan.

Kedu ka nke a si jikọọ na klaasị anyị: Our class covers how to compare loans with the Truth in Lending disclosure and why high-cost debt is risky. This lesson adds the math to turn any fee into an APR, the loan rules in DC, Maryland, and Virginia, and a list of cheaper options to try first.

Okwu ndị ị ga-amata

APR (pasent kwa afọ) (APR (annual percentage rate))
Ọnụ ego kwa afọ nke mgbazinye ego, gụnyere ọmụrụ nwa na ọtụtụ ụgwọ, gosipụtara dị ka pasent. Ọ na-enye gị ohere iji tụnyere mgbazinye ego nke nha na ogologo dị iche iche.
Ụgwọ ego (Finance charge)
A na-akwụ ụgwọ ego
Rollover
Ịkwụ ụgwọ ọhụrụ na mbinye ego dị mkpirikpi iji kwaga ụbọchị kwesịrị ekwesị mgbe e mesịrị. Ị na-akwụ ụgwọ oge ọ bụla ma ka na-akwụ ụgwọ zuru ezu.
Car aha mgbazinye ego (Car title loan)
Mgbazinye ego dị mkpirikpi, dị oke ọnụ ebe ị na-enye onye na-agbazinye ego aha ụgbọ ala gị. Ọ bụrụ na ịkwụghị ụgwọ, onye na-agbazinye ego nwere ike iwere ụgbọ ala ahụ.
Mgbazinye ego (Rent-to-own)
Nkwekọrịta ebe ị na-agbazite ihe site na izu ma ọ bụ ọnwa ma nwee ya naanị mgbe ịkwụ ụgwọ ikpeazụ gasịrị. Ọnụ ọgụgụ ahụ na-adịkarị elu karịa ọnụahịa ụlọ ahịa.
Payday Alternative Loan (PAL)
Obere mgbazinye ego sitere na ụlọ ọrụ akwụmụgwọ gọọmentị etiti, nke nwere oke na ọnụego ọmụrụ nwa na ụgwọ, emere iji dochie mgbazinye ego ụbọchị ịkwụ ụgwọ.
Zụta ugbu a, kwụọ ụgwọ mgbe e mesịrị (BNPL) (Buy now, pay later (BNPL))
Atụmatụ nke na-ekewa ọnụahịa nke ihe ị zụrụ n'ime ịkwụ ụgwọ ole na ole, na-abụkarị ịkwụ ụgwọ anọ n'ime izu isii.
Ịkwụ ụgwọ ngwa ngwa (Pay advance app)
Ngwa ekwentị nke na-enye gị obere ego tupu ụbọchị ịkwụ ụgwọ, wee weghachite ya na akaụntụ akụ gị mgbe ị na-akwụ ụgwọ. Ọtụtụ na-akwụ ụgwọ ma ọ bụ na-arịọ maka ndụmọdụ.

How to see the real price of a loan

Lenders like to talk about the fee or the payment: "Only $15!" or "Just $50 a week!" But the fee alone does not tell you if a loan is cheap. You need two numbers. The APR (annual percentage rate) is the yearly cost of a loan, including interest and most fees, shown as a percent. It lets you compare a two-week loan and a one-year loan in the same way. The total of payments tells you how many dollars you will pay in all.

Turn a fee into an APR

  1. Divide the fee by the amount you borrow.
  2. Multiply by 365, then divide by the number of days in the loan.
  3. Multiply by 100 to get a percent.

$15 ÷ $100 × 365 ÷ 14 days × 100 = about 391% APR

A fee of $15 for each $100 is common for payday loans, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) says. That APR is more than 15 times the APR of a credit card that charges 25%.

High-cost products to know

  • Payday loan: a small loan due on your next payday. Fees often run from $10 to $30 for each $100, depending on state law.
  • Car title loan: a short loan, often 15 or 30 days, where you give the lender your car title. The title is the official paper that shows who owns the car, so the lender can take the car if you do not pay. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) says monthly fees can be as high as 25%, about 300% APR. If you cannot pay, you can lose the car.
  • Online installment loan: small monthly payments, but the APR can be 100% or more.
  • Rent-to-own, buy now, pay later, and pay advance apps: see the section below.

Ihe Nlereanya

Ụzọ ise iji kpuchie mmezi ụgbọ ala $ 400

Teresa bi na Takoma Park. Ụgbọ ala ya chọrọ mmezi $ 400 ka o wee nwee ike ịrụ ọrụ. Nke a bụ ihe nhọrọ ise ga-efu ya. Ọnụahịa mgbazinye ego na aha ụgbọ ala dị n'okpuru ebe a karịrị oke iwu Maryland, mana ụfọdụ ndị na-agbazinye ego n'ịntanetị ka na-enye mgbazinye ego dị ka ndị a.

Ego ole na ole na-akwụ ụgwọ maka $ 400 - ụzọ ise dị iche iche
NhọrọEgo iji gbazite egoNgụkọta ọ na-akwụ ụgwọ
Atụmatụ ịkwụ ụgwọ na ụlọ ahịa ndozi: ịkwụ ụgwọ abụọ nke $ 200$ 0$ 400
Ebe E Si Nweta Ụlọ Ọrụ PAL: Ọnwa 3 na 28% ọmụrụ nwa, gbakwunyere ego ngwa $ 20$ 39$ 439
A na-akwụ ụgwọ ụbọchị ịkwụ ụgwọ n'ime izu 2: $ 15 maka $ 100 ọ bụla$ 60$ 460
A na-akwụ ụgwọ ego ugboro 3, na-akwụ ụgwọ mgbe izu 8 gachara.$ 240$ 640
A na-akwụ ụgwọ maka 25% kwa ọnwa, na-akwụ ụgwọ mgbe ọnwa 3 gachara$ 300$ 700
Nhọrọ kachasị ọnụ ala ma e wezụga nhọrọ dị ọnụ ala$ 300$ 300

Ọtụtụ ndị na-agbazinye ego enweghị ike ịkwụ ụgwọ $ 460 zuru ezu mgbe izu abụọ gachara. Ya mere, ha na-akwụ ụgwọ $ 60 ọzọ iji kwaga ụbọchị kwesịrị ekwesị. A na-akpọ nke a rollover. Ọ bụrụ na Teresa na-agbazinye ego ahụ ugboro atọ ma kwụghachi ya n'izu 8, ọ na-akwụ $ 240 na ụgwọ niile, ihe karịrị ọkara ụgwọ nke nrụzi ahụ. Mgbazinye ego na-adịru ogologo oge, mana ọ na-efu obere oge. Tụnyere ọnụahịa dollar mgbe niile.

Ihe Nlereanya

Na-agụ Eziokwu na Igbe Igbe

Iwu gọọmentị chọrọ ka onye na-agbazinye ego gosi gị nọmba dị mkpa tupu ị bịanye aka na ya. Ha na-adịkarị na igbe dị n'elu nkwekọrịta ahụ. Hector bi na Hyattsville, Maryland. Onye na-agbazinye ego n'ịntanetị na-enye ya $ 1,000 taa, ọ ga-akwụ $ 135 kwa ọnwa maka ọnwa 12. Igbe ahụ na-egosi:

Ego a na-akwụ ụgwọ: $ 1,000
Ego Hector na-enweta n'ezie.
Ụgwọ ego: $ 620
Ọnụ ego nke ịkwụ ụgwọ: Ụgwọ niile na ụgwọ ọmụrụ nwa.
Mkpokọta nke ịkwụ ụgwọ: $ 1,620
Ihe ọ na-akwụ ma ọ bụrụ na ọ na-akwụ ụgwọ 12 niile: 12 × $ 135.
Emeli: ihe dị ka 100%
A na-akwụ ụgwọ kwa afọ dị ka pasent.
Gbazite $ 1,000 maka ọnwa 12 na APR atọ
APRỊkwụ ụgwọ kwa ọnwaNgụkọta nke ịkwụ ụgwọ
24%$ 94.56$ 1,134.72
33%$ 98.97$ 1,187.64
Ihe dị ka 100% (online na-enye)$ 135.00$ 1,620.00

N'okpuru iwu mgbazinye ego ndị ahịa nke Maryland, ọnụego ọmụrụ nwa kachasị elu onye na-agbazinye ego nwere ikike nwere ike ịkwụ ụgwọ na mbinye ego $ 1,000 bụ 33% kwa afọ. Onyinye Hector na-efu ihe dị ka $ 430 karịa nke ahụ. Tupu ọ bịanye aka na ya, ọ ga-eleba anya ma onye na-agbazinye ego nwere ikikere Maryland.

Iwu mgbazinye ego na DC, Maryland, na Virginia

Ebe ọ bụla dị na mpaghara anyị na-egbochi ihe ndị na-agbazinye ego nwere ike ịkwụ ụgwọ n'ọtụtụ mgbazinye ego. Ụfọdụ ngwaahịa, dị ka kaadị akwụmụgwọ, na-agbaso iwu ndị ọzọ.

  • DC: Iwu ahụ na-ejedebe ọmụrụ nwa na 24% kwa afọ, na mgbazinye ego ụbọchị ịkwụ ụgwọ bụ iwu na-akwadoghị na DC, dị ka DC Office of the Attorney General si kwuo. Attorney General gbara ndị na-agbazinye ego n'ịntanetị akwụkwọ na-akwụ ndị bi na DC ụgwọ karịa.
  • Maryland: Maka mgbazinye ego nke $ 2,000 ma ọ bụ obere, ndị na-agbazinye ego nwere ikikere nwere ike ịkwụ ụgwọ ihe ruru 2.75% kwa ọnwa na $ 1,000 mbụ. Nke ahụ bụ 33% kwa afọ. Ọtụtụ ndị na-agbazinye ego ga-enwerịrị ikikere Maryland.
  • Virginia: Ebe ọ bụ na Iwu Ziri Ezi na Mgbazinye ego malitere na Jenụwarị 1, 2021, mgbazinye ego dị mkpirikpi nwere ike iru $ 2,500 ma na-adịkarị ọnwa 4 ruo 24. Onye na-agbazinye ego nwere ike ịkwụ ụgwọ ọmụrụ nwa 36% gbakwunyere ego kwa ọnwa nke 8% nke mbinye ego ma ọ bụ $ 25, nke ọ bụla pere mpe. Ị nwere ike ịnweta naanị otu n'ime mgbazinye ego ndị a n'otu oge, ndị na-agbazinye ego n'ịntanetị chọkwara ikikere Virginia.

Ụfọdụ ndị na-agbazinye ego n'ịntanetị na-eleghara ókè ndị a anya. Ha nwere ike ịsị na ha na-agbaso iwu nke steeti ọzọ, agbụrụ, ma ọ bụ ụlọ akụ mmekọ. Na Virginia, mgbazinye ego dị mkpirikpi na-enweghị ikikere bụ ihe efu, nke pụtara na onye na-agbazinye ego enweghị ikike ịnakọta ya. Ọ bụrụ na ị nweelarị mgbazinye ego dị ka nke a, gwa onye enyemaka iwu tupu ịkwụsị ịkwụ ụgwọ.

Lelee akwụkwọ ikike nke onye na-akwụ ụgwọ tupu ị na-akwụ ụgwọ.

  1. Chọta aha iwu zuru oke nke onye na-agbazinye ego na nkwekọrịta mgbazinye ego ma ọ bụ na ala nke weebụsaịtị ya.
  2. Maryland: chọọ na NMLS Consumer Access, ma ọ bụ kpọọ Office of Financial Regulation na 410-230-6077.
  3. Virginia: jiri State Corporation Commission's Verify a License page, ma ọ bụ kpọọ 804-371-9657.
  4. DC: jụọ Ngalaba Insurance, Securities and Banking (DISB) na 202-727-8000, ma ọ bụ kpọọ ndị otu Attorney General's Consumer and Tenant Response na 202-442-9828.
  5. Ọ bụrụ na ịnweghị ike ịchọta akwụkwọ ikike, agbazinyela. Kọọ onyinye ahụ.

Ịkwụ ụgwọ, ịkwụ ụgwọ-n'elu oge, na ịkwụ ụgwọ n'ihu ngwa

Mgbazinye ya. Ana na-ahụ TV $ 600 na ụlọ ahịa mgbazinye maka "$ 20 kwa izu." Iji nweta ya, ọ ga-akwụ ụgwọ maka izu 78.

$ 20 × izu 78 = $ 1,560, nke bụ 2.6 ugboro ọnụahịa ụlọ ahịa $ 600

A na-edozi mgbazinye ego dị ka mgbazinye, ọ bụghị mgbazinye ego, yabụ ị gaghị ahụ APR. Ọ bụrụ na ị na-akwụ ụgwọ, ụlọ ahịa ahụ nwere ike iweghachite ihe ahụ, ị nwere ike tufuo ihe ị kwụrụ. Ọ bụrụ na Ana echekwa $ 20 kwa izu kama, ọ ga-enwe $ 600 n'ime izu 30.

Zụta ugbu a, kwụọ ụgwọ mgbe e mesịrị (BNPL). Atụmatụ ndị a na-ekewa ịzụta n'ime ịkwụ ụgwọ ole na ole, na-abụkarị izu anọ n'ime izu isii. Atụmatụ nwere ike ịbụ n'efu ma ọ bụrụ na ị kwụọ ụgwọ n'oge. Ihe ize ndụ bụ iji ọtụtụ atụmatụ n'otu oge. Ịkwụ ụgwọ emere n'otu ụbọchị ahụ nwere ike ikpochapụ akaụntụ gị ma mee ka ụgwọ overdraft. Companiesfọdụ ụlọ ọrụ BNPL na-akọ ịkwụ ụgwọ na ụlọ ọrụ kredit, yabụ ịkwụ ụgwọ efu nwere ike imerụ akwụmụgwọ gị. Iwu nloghachi na esemokwu nwere ike ịdị iche na kaadị akwụmụgwọ, yabụ gụọ usoro ahụ na mbụ.

Ngwa ịkwụ ụgwọ. Mei, na Columbia Heights, nwere ike nweta $ 100 site na ngwa tupu ụbọchị ịkwụ ụgwọ. Ọ bụ n'efu ma ọ bụrụ na ọ na-echere ụbọchị ole na ole, ma ọ bụ $ 4.99 iji nweta ya ugbu a. Ọ na-akwụghachi ya site na ụgwọ ọrụ ya otu izu mgbe e mesịrị.

$ 4.99 ÷ $ 100 × 365 ÷ ụbọchị 7 × 100 = ihe dị ka 260% APR

"Ndụmọdụ" bụkwa ụgwọ ịgbazinye ego, ọbụlagodi ma ọ bụrụ na ngwa ahụ na-akpọ ya nhọrọ. Na 2024, DC Attorney General gbara otu ngwa ịkwụ ụgwọ. Ikpe ahụ kwuru na, site na ụgwọ nnyefe ngwa ngwa, ọganihu ngwa ngwa ahụ na-efu ihe karịrị 300% APR na nkezi. Iji ngwa kwa ụbọchị ịkwụ ụgwọ na-emekwa ka ụgwọ ọ bụla dị obere, yabụ ị nwere ike ịchọ ọganihu ọzọ.

Lee anya

Ịdọ aka ná ntị na ikike gị

  • Onye na-agbazinye ego na-ekwu "enweghị ego kredit" ma ghara ịjụ ma ị nwere ike ịkwụ ụgwọ ahụ.
  • Ọ na-ajụ maka aha njirimara na paswọọdụ gị n'ịntanetị.
  • Ọ chọrọ ụgwọ maka "mkpuchi" ma ọ bụ "nhazi" tupu ị nweta ego ahụ. FTC na-adọ aka ná ntị na nke a bụ ihe ịrịba ama nke ojoro. Lee otu esi achọpụta ojoro.
  • Nke a na-eme ka ị na-akwụ ụgwọ kama ịkwụ ụgwọ ahụ.
  • Ọ na-eyi egwu ijide ma ọ bụ chụpụ gị, ma ọ bụ mee ka ị banye n'ime ya.

Enweghị ike ijide gị naanị maka ịghara ịkwụ ụgwọ ụbọchị ịkwụ ụgwọ, onye na-agbazinye ego chọrọ iwu ụlọ ikpe iji nweta ego site na ụgwọ ọrụ gị. Ọ bụrụ na onye na-agbazinye ego na-agba gị akwụkwọ, eleghara akwụkwọ ụlọ ikpe anya. Nweta enyemaka iwu.

Iji kwụsị onye na-agbazinye ego ịnara ego na akaụntụ gị, gwa onye na-agbazinye ego na ederede na ị na-ewepụ ikike gị. Gwa ụlọ akụ gị ma ọ dịkarịa ala ụbọchị azụmahịa atọ tupu ịkwụ ụgwọ ọzọ. Ụlọ akụ ahụ nwere ike ịkwụ ụgwọ. Ị ka ji ụgwọ ahụ, yabụ rịọ maka atụmatụ ịkwụ ụgwọ. Ọ bụrụ na onye na-anakọta ụgwọ na-akpọ, lee ikike gị na ndị na-anakọta ụgwọ.

Nhọrọ ndị dị nchebe iji nwalee na mbụ

  • Rịọ maka atụmatụ ịkwụ ụgwọ. Ọtụtụ ụlọ ọrụ na-arụ ọrụ, ụlọ ọgwụ, ndị nwe ụlọ, na ụlọ ahịa ndozi ga-ekewa ụgwọ ma ọ bụrụ na ị jụọ tupu ụbọchị ruru.
  • Jụọ onye were gị n'ọrụ. Fọdụ ndị were gị n'ọrụ na-akwụ ụgwọ n'efu.
  • Jụọ onye na-ere ahịa maka obere mgbazinye ego. Ọtụtụ na-ahapụ gị ka ị sonye ma ọ bụrụ na ị bi ma ọ bụ na-arụ ọrụ n'otu mpaghara.
  • Jiri ego mberede gị, wee mejupụta ya. Lee Malite ego mberede.
  • Kpọọ 211 na DC, Maryland, ma ọ bụ Virginia maka enyemaka n'efu ịchọta enyemaka mpaghara na mgbazinye, ụgwọ ọrụ, na nri.

Ebe E Si Nweta Ego T

Dabere na National Credit Union Administration (NCUA), na 2026 ndị otu kredit gọọmentị etiti nwere ike ịnye Payday Alternative Loans (PALs) nke:

  • Na-akwụ ụgwọ ọmụrụ nwa nke ihe ruru 28%, gbakwunyere ego ngwa nke na-erughị $ 20.
  • Gbazinye $ 200 na $ 1,000 maka ọnwa 1 ruo 6 nye ndị mmadụ bụ ndị otu ma ọ dịkarịa ala otu ọnwa, ma ọ bụ ruo $ 2,000 maka ọnwa 1 ruo 12 na-enweghị oge ichere achọrọ.
  • Enweghị ike ịtụgharị ya. Otu onye nwere ike ịnweta ihe karịrị atọ n'ime ọnwa isii.

Ọ bụghị ụlọ ọrụ akwụmụgwọ ọ bụla na-enye PALs, yabụ jụọ. Ụfọdụ ụlọ ọrụ kredit na-anabata ITIN (Nọmba Njirimara Onye Ụtụ Ụtụ) kama nọmba Social Security.

Ndụmọdụ

Enyemaka n'efu dị gị nso

You nwere mgbazinye ego dị oke ọnụ ị na-enweghị ike ịkwụ ụgwọ? Enwere ike ịnweta enyemaka iwu n'efu site na Legal Aid DC, Maryland Legal Aid, na Ọrụ Iwu nke Northern Virginia. Onye ndụmọdụ akwụmụgwọ na-abaghị uru nwere ike inyere gị aka ịme atụmatụ maka ọtụtụ ụgwọ. Lee Mee atụmatụ ịkwụ ụgwọ ụgwọ.

Key takeaways

  • Compare loans by APR and total of payments, not by the fee or the payment size.
  • A $15 fee on a $100 loan for two weeks is about 391% APR.
  • DC and Maryland set low limits on most loan interest rates, and Virginia requires short-term lenders, including online lenders, to have a license.
  • Rent-to-own deals, pay-over-time plans, and pay advance apps can cost much more than they seem to.
  • Before a high-cost loan, try a payment plan, a credit union small loan, or free local help.

Lelee nghọta gị

Zaa ajụjụ ndị ahụ, wee họrọ Lelee azịza m. Nweta 5 nke ikike 6 iji mezue nkuzi a. Nke a bụ omume: enweghị oge ọ bụla, anyị anaghị edebe azịza gị.

Ajụjụ 1 nke 6 Teresa chọrọ $ 400 maka nrụzi ụgbọ ala. N'iji ụgwọ dị na nkuzi a, olee ndepụta na-aga site na ọnụ ala gaa na nke kachasị ọnụ?
Ajụjụ 2 nke 6 Onye na-agbazinye ego na-enye Jean mgbazinye ego izu abụọ. Ọ gbaziri $ 200 ma ga-akwụghachi $ 230. Kedu ihe APR bụ nke a?
Ajụjụ 3 nke 6 Kwame bi na Bowie, Maryland. Onye na-agbazinye ego n'ịntanetị na-enye ya $ 1,000 na ihe dị ka 100% APR. Ọ na-ekwu na ọ na-agbaso iwu nke steeti ọzọ. Kedu ihe ọ ga-ebu ụzọ mee?
Ajụjụ 4 nke 6 Ana na-ahụ TV $ 600 na ụlọ ahịa mgbazinye maka $ 20 kwa izu. Ọ ga-akwụ ụgwọ maka izu 78 iji nweta ya. Ego ole ka ọ ga-akwụ ụgwọ na mkpokọta ma ọ bụrụ na ọ kwụọ ụgwọ ọ bụla?
Ajụjụ 5 nke 6 Luis enweghị ike ịkwụ ụgwọ ụbọchị ịkwụ ụgwọ. Onye na-agbazinye ego na-akpọ ma kwuo na a ga-ejide ya ma ọ bụrụ na akwụghị ụgwọ taa. Kedu nkwupụta bụ eziokwu?
Ajụjụ 6 nke 6 Ngwa ịkwụ ụgwọ Mei na-enye ya $ 100 ugbu a maka ego nnyefe ngwa ngwa nke $ 4.99. Ọ ga-akwụghachi ya site na ụgwọ ọrụ ya n'ime otu izu. Ngwa ahụ na-arịọkwa maka ndụmọdụ. Kedu ụzọ kachasị mma isi chee echiche banyere nke a?

Gaa n'ihu

Ebe nrụọrụ weebụ ndị a tụkwasịrị obi ebe ị nwere ike ịmụtakwu ihe. Njikọ ndị a na-aga na weebụsaịtị ndị ọzọ nke Dollar Scholars anaghị agba ọsọ.

Ihe mmụta a bụ agụmakwụkwọ ego izugbe, ọ bụghị iwu, ụtụ isi, ma ọ bụ ndụmọdụ ego. Iwu na ego na-agbanwe, yabụ lelee nọmba dị mkpa na isi mmalite gọọmentị.