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APR stands for Annual Percentage Rate and represents the true rate of interest
that is payable on a loan. Because of the way prices and interest rates can be
packaged, lenders are obliged by law to state the APR clearly - not to do so would
be extremely misleading. The figure that you get for APR will include not only
central interest rates but also other charges, such as loans administration costs
added by the lender.
The way APR is charged can also be a bit unclear and the main factors to look
out for are whether it is charged at a fixed rate or whether it is subject to
variations - 'a variable rate'. In simple terms the difference comes down to whether
you will be paying the same rates over a given term or whether it can go up or
down. In the end it is a bit of a gamble and your choice will depend on how safe
you want to play it. Go with a fixed rate and you will not benefit from a reduction
in interest rates, opt for a flexible rate and you may see your repayments on
your UK loan increase.
In taking on loans UK borrowers should be looking at the APR as the true cost
of the loans. Do not compare loans without considering the APR because the APR
represents the true cost of a loan.
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