Brits should shop around for cheap loans

While Britons are sensibly reluctant to borrow when they do not need to, they are frequently paying more than they need to for the credit they do use.

That is according to new research from Alliance & Leicester showing while almost two people in three (62 per cent) are reluctant to borrow, when they do take out loans half (50 per cent) choose expensive store cards while shopping because they are convenient and offered to them.

The same goes for car finance, with more than two people in vie (42 per cent) taking out forecourt finance deals when they buy a car, simply because it easy.

But opting for point of sale loans and credit cards could be costing consumers dearly as they could save cash by shopping around for a cheap loan or credit card before making a purchase instead.

"The research highlights how, despite good intentions, many people don’t give careful thought to how they borrow," said Richard Al-Dabbagh, Alliance & Leicester senior personal loans manager.

"Anyone who is paying over the odds for large purchases on costly store cards or expensive dealer finance should look at how much they could save by moving to a low-rate personal loan."