The Risks of Becoming a Loan Co-signer and How to Avoid
When you co-sign a loan, you are putting your own financial future at risk. If the person you co-signed defaults on their loan payments, the lender will come after YOU to collect the money. Even if it’s your parent you are co-signing for, you could end up with a bad credit score, get sued, and even have your wages garnished. So instead of co-signing for them, consider lending some money to them but with a solid, legal loan agreement written. Check out this parent and child loan template for some insight. Now, if you’re still wondering, keep reading. We’ll show you just how bad becoming a loan co-signer is. We’ll also share some tips on how to avoid them.
Harm Your Credit Score
When you co-sign a loan, the debt will appear on your credit report as if it were yours. That means that even though you are not the one taking out the loan or even using it, any late payments or defaults made by the borrower will damage your credit score. Thus, any future loans you try to apply for will be at a higher interest rate or might even be denied altogether due to bad credit history.
Limit Your Financial Options
When you become a loan co-signer, you might be risking your financial future because the lender can come after you to collect their debt. Any assets or property you own could be taken from you. This can limit your financial options and even prevent you from taking out any future loans or mortgages of your own. You might even have to keep paying for the debt even if you file for bankruptcy.
Put You at Risk of Legal Action
If your co-signor defaults on their loan payments, the lender might come after you to collect the money they are owed. They can do this by filing a lawsuit against you and even garnishing your wages, if necessary. This is why it is a must to always have a written loan agreement before co-signing for anyone. In fact, it’s a good idea to have one, even if you are just lending out money without co-signing.
Destroy Your Relationship
Not only can becoming a loan co-signer damage your financial future, but it can also ruin or put stress on your relationship with the person you are co-signing for. This is because if they default on their loan payments and the lender comes knocking at your door, they might start to blame you for their situation. And even if they don’t, you might still have to face the financial consequence of their actions.
In a nutshell, co-signing a loan can be extremely risky and should not be taken lightly. The best way to avoid becoming a loan co-signer is by expressing your concerns to the borrower. Let them know that if they default on their loan payments, you will be held responsible for the debt and that it can potentially ruin your own credit score and put you at risk of legal action. In case of emergency, make sure to have a written loan agreement in place that outlines the terms of the loan and establishes both your rights and obligations as co-signers.…