UK residents now have the option of acquiring payday loans. This new means of borrowing cash has been introduced by regulators to help people obtain instant cash at times of emergencies to pay for such items as automobile breakdowns or unexpected home repairs. People who live paycheck to paycheck often do not have the resources for such emergencies and the loss of transportation or need to miss work may result in lost wages or even the loss of jobs. A solution for this entire problem is sometimes a payday loan, which will help people who may wish to directly approach a payday loan company rather than borrowing from a friend or relative. Some payday loans are handled at brick and mortar sites, but many loans are set up online and the money is wired to the borrower's bank account.

Eligibility requirements are not strict. Borrowers must reside in UK and be above 18 years of age. The borrower must also show evidence of current job and possession of a bank account for more than 3 months. Some payday loan companies require that the borrower have direct deposit enabled on their bank account.

Payday loans are a short-term loan solution, which must be remitted within 2 weeks, although the repayment period of the loan may be extended. The repayment amount is the total amount plus a fee, which when worked out into an APR (Annual Percentage Rate) is very high. Usually, ₤20 is paid for every ₤100 that a person borrows. Money made available for loans usually ranges from ₤50 to ₤80 but it can reach up to ₤500 to ₤800. Money given as loan depends on the borrower's income. The lenders usually requires that the monthly income of the borrower be at least ₤750 to ₤1, 000.

Before looking for a loan, borrowers should have the necessary information ready, such as copies of several pay cheques, employer information, account number, bank statement and identification. This preparation ensures that the borrowing process takes place in a smooth manner.

There are many advantages to these short-term loans. They are easy to obtain and the time taken for getting the cash after approval is less than 1 day. This fast turnaround means that quick cash can be used for all sorts of unexpected needs that may occur in anyone's life. Credit checks are not necessary and verifications are much less complicated compared to long-term loans. One outstanding feature of payday loans is that they are available to people who have had a poor credit history or even no credit history at all, whereas the same person will be rejected for long term loans from more conventional lenders.

There are also disadvantages to payday loans. The interest rate for these short-term loans are very steep. The interest rate is tremendously high, often over 1000% per year. Like a conventional loan, if the borrower is not able to pay back the loan in time, a penalty is applied and then collection agencies may eventually get involved. Another drawback of payday loans is that only one loan is available at a time. Therefore, these payday loans are often used when those with poor credit history are unable to take other short-term loans such as cash advances on credit cards. Payday loans are best suited for borrowers requiring only a small sum for a short period of time.