Disadvantages of Legal Loans
High-Interest Rates
One of the biggest disadvantages to borrowing funds to pay for legal expenses is the end costs associated. Personal injury cases can be quite lengthy. And can take anywhere from a few months to years before the parties come to an agreement. The interest rates on legal expense loans can vary greatly depending on the factors the lender uses to determine your terms. At the end of the day, a person could pay as much or more than $12,500 in interest on a $25,000 loan (as an example).
Both Parties Assume Certain Risks
In terms of loans to pay for legal expenses, the lender is not the only party at risk. Both the borrower and the lender share a certain amount of risks with these types of loans. Legal expense loans are fairly new products in the financial industry. They have existed since the 1980s. They are loosely regulated, and these types of loans do not have the same types of regulations or over-site imposed as other types of loans.
When people choose to enter an agreement to secure a loan to pay a lawyer, they need to be aware that there are minimal restrictions regarding how much the company can charge in terms of their interest rates, their services, and any of the other terms of the agreement. Persons engaging in these types of agreements need to make sure they read the entire agreement and comprehend it fully before signing.
People should also pay close attention to the language used on the paperwork for the loan, as the verbiage may change from one website to the other. Some companies refer to these types of agreements as loans, while others call them advances.
Lack of Oversight and Regulation
Finding a reputable lender to secure a loan to pay a lawyer can be challenging. Without oversight and mandated regulation of lenders who provide lawsuit loans, it is hard to identify the companies with fair lending practices. Because of this, people who later find they are dissatisfied with the company they choose to do business with or their practices, could find it difficult to seek satisfactory remedies to the issues they raise.