Foreigner Loans Singapore

Singapore is arguably one of the most expensive cities to live in. With the high cost of living in the country, it can be hard for a foreigner to get by without any form of financial aid. So who can a foreigner without friends or family within the vicinity approach for help when he needs a loan?

Foreigners in Singapore do have the option of obtaining a foreigner loan from various financial establishments. Simply approach a bank or licensed moneylender to apply for a legal loan should you find yourself facing financial difficulties. You will be introduced to flexible loans with reasonable interest rates that can be paid off with time. Whatever you do, never turn to illegal moneylenders otherwise known as loan sharks. Always stick to the legal methods of obtaining financial aid.

Dangers of approaching illegal moneylenders

Foreigner loans often come with stricter requirements due to the higher risks associated with their lack of collateral. They need urgent financial assistance yet their loan applications keep getting rejected time and again. So they turn to loan sharks as a last resort, completely unprepared for what they are getting themselves into. These are some of the consequences of approaching a loan shark:

1.     Loan sharks do not hold back on harassment

Many Singaporeans are aware of the extent to which loan sharks will go in chasing after a debtor. Debt collection methods include the classic spray painting of the characters ‘O$P$’ in bright red and or hanging a pig’s head on the debtor’s door. There have also been cases whereby loan sharks set fire to apartments.

2.     You will have a hard time paying off your loan

Loan sharks often take advantage of vulnerable clients by hiking up their interest rates to exorbitant amounts. You could be taking on a loan with an interest rate of 100% to 200% or perhaps even more. There is no written agreement when you borrow money from loan sharks, which means that your interest could go from 100% to 200% within a single day. As a consequence, many individuals who take loans are unable to pay off their debt and often find themselves in a bottomless pit.

Licensed moneylender requirements for a foreigner loan

The requirements and interest rates of licensed moneylenders differ from one company to another but generally you will need:

•      A copy of your passport.

• Your letter of employment.
• A copy of a recent pay slip, not more than 3 months old.
• Your work permit
• Your Tenancy Agreement/Proof of Residency, or a letter addressed to you at that address
• A bank statement of the account in which you receive your salary. The statement should be not more than 3 months old.

Licensed moneylenders offer lower interests rates of up to 4% in comparison to banks. The amount you are entitled to borrow is based on your annual income. For instance, if your annual income falls between S$20,000 and S$30,000, you can loan up to S$3000. If it falls between S$30,000 and S$120,000, you can borrow up to S$30,000.

Things to look out for when choosing a licensed money lending company.

Beware that licensed moneylenders may not necessarily be as good as they seem. It can be hard to differentiate between a licensed and unlicensed moneylender as some loan sharks do a very good job passing themselves off as legitimate moneylending companies. They send out mass texts to unsuspecting customers and maintain professional-looking websites to keep up appearances.

A complete list of licensed money lending companies is available on the Ministry of Law website. Do verify if a company’s name is listed before engaging their services.

It is imperative to select a moneylending company that offers good customer service. You do not want to be treated with disrespect or worse, end up singing a contract with hidden clauses that cheat customers out of their money. Take note of the following factors before signing a contract binding you to the company.

1.     Check their reputation

Visit the moneylender’s website to read up on reviews left by previous clients. If customer reviews are scarce or appear overwhelmingly positive, sift through forums or other websites to cross-reference your findings, since not all reviews can be trusted.

2.     Check their rates and charges

Always double check if any additional costs are being added to the total cost of your loan. Some companies charge a higher processing or administrative fees with lower rates to lead customers into thinking that they are being offered a good deal when they are being charged an even larger amount in actual fact.

3.     Check their loan flexibility

Select a moneylending company with less stringent policies where you can get your loan approved more easily and have more flexibility in repaying your debt so that you do watch helplessly as your debt accumulates due to late fees.

4.     Check their terms and conditions

Know and understand every detail of your contract before signing on it. Be sure to read through the terms and conditions carefully. Watch out for hidden clauses, which may hold you accountable for something you never agreed to.

Applying for a loan at a licensed moneylending company

The entire process of applying for a loan at a licensed moneylending company can be completed online. You will be asked to fill in some application forms and submit some personal identification documents. Never give out the passwords to any of your user accounts. Be prepared to wait a couple of days for a response from the company after you have submitted your application.

Know and protect your rights

It is essential for you to understand your rights as a customer. According to the Ministry of Law, moneylenders are not supposed to:

• Use abusive language, or behave in a threatening manner towards you.
• Ask for your SingPass user ID and/or password.
• Retain your NRIC card or any other personal ID documents (e.g. driver’s licence, passport,work permit, employment pass or ATM card).
• Ask you to sign on a blank or incomplete contract for the loan.
• Grant you a loan without giving you a copy of the contract for the loan and/or without properly explaining to you all the terms and conditions.
• Grant you a loan without exercising due diligence (e.g. approving a loan over the phone, SMS or email before even receiving your loan application form and supporting documents, such as the income tax assessment and payslips).
• Withhold any part of your principal loan amount for any reason.

Always remember that the law is on your side. You reserve the right to file a complaint with the Ministry of Law should your moneylender exhibit any of the aforementioned behaviour towards you.

It is your responsibility to ensure that you have received the right amount of loan. Moneylenders are legally allowed to deduct a maximum of 10% off the principal amount as administrative fees, and charge a maximum interest rate of 4% per month. Ensure that you receive a dated and signed receipt with every payment transaction and safeguard these records as proof should any issues arise.

Always bear in mind that you hold the key to protecting your own rights.

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