Getting approved for financing can be challenging especially if you have less-than-perfect credit. Many mainstream lenders rely heavily on credit scores and reports from major bureaus like Experian and TransUnion when making lending decisions. But what if your credit isn’t stellar? Does that automatically disqualify you from financing options?
This is where companies that offer alternative loans, like Snap Finance, come in. Snap Finance specializes in giving people with bad credit or no credit history lease-to-own loans and installment loans. But an important question comes up: is it hard to get approved for Snap Finance?
Let’s look at Snap Finance’s approval process and requirements in more detail to get a better idea of how likely you are to be approved.
How Snap Finance Approvals Work
Snap Finance has its own approval process that is different from what most lenders use. Here are some key facts:
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Snap Finance mostly checks your credit history with smaller credit bureaus like Clarity and DataX instead of the big three. These are called “soft credit inquiries.” This leads to a “soft inquiry” instead of a “hard inquiry.” Soft inquiries don’t impact your credit score.
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Custom approval criteria: While Snap Finance does consider your alternative credit reports, they use customized criteria beyond just your credit score or history. This gives applicants with poor or no credit a fair chance.
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Quick application process: You can apply online, in-store, or on your phone and get a decision within seconds or minutes. The convenience and speed makes Snap Finance popular.
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Higher approval amounts: Snap Finance approves financing from $300 up to $5,000 for qualifying applicants. This allows you to finance bigger ticket items.
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Wide product eligibility: You can use Snap Finance to finance furniture, mattresses, appliances, electronics, jewelry, wheels, tires, and more at thousands of participating retailers.
What are Your Odds of Getting Approved?
While Snap Finance does not approve every applicant, they do specialize in serving consumers with past credit challenges. Here are some key statistics on approval odds:
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Over 85% of applicants with bad credit get approved, according to Snap Finance.
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The quick application process and instant decision enables most applicants (over 95%) to get a decision within 5 minutes or less.
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Consumers with bankruptcies, foreclosures, repossessions, or collections in their past still stand a good chance of getting approved. Exact odds vary case-by-case.
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Having no credit history will not automatically disqualify you. Snap Finance still considers factors like income sources, residence stability, and other alternative data.
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Applicants who recently applied for multiple loans from other lenders may face slightly lower approval odds temporarily until those hard inquiries fade from their reports.
Tips to Boost Your Approval Odds
While Snap Finance does work with applicants having various credit backgrounds, there are some tips that can optimize your chances of getting approved:
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Avoid applying for multiple loans in a short period – Too many hard inquiries and new accounts from other lenders can impact your approval odds with Snap Finance temporarily.
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Maintain consistent income sources – Having verifiable income, whether from employment, benefits, retirement, investments, etc. can help demonstrate your ability to manage payments.
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Check alternative credit reports – Monitor your credit reports with Clarity and DataX to ensure no errors that could affect your Snap Finance application.
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Start small – Asking to finance smaller amounts in your first Snap Finance application leaves more room for approval than large amounts. You can request higher amounts after building a history.
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Bring documents to the store – Providing documents like pay stubs, bank statements, utility bills, or government IDs in-store can facilitate verification and approval.
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Avoid recent address changes – Having a stable address history looks better than multiple recent changes when assessing approval risk, so consider waiting if you recently moved.
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Pay down balances and debt – Lower credit utilization and outstanding debt obligations can improve your situation if you’re borderline or at risk of denial.
What to Do If You Get Denied
Don’t get too discouraged if your first Snap Finance application gets denied. Here are some tips if this happens:
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Find out the specific reasons for denial and address those areas first. For example, if too many recent inquiries were the cause, wait a few months before reapplying for those to fade.
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Get a copy of your Clarity and DataX credit reports to check for any inaccuracies negatively impacting your score. Dispute errors with the bureaus.
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Pay down balances with other creditors to lower your utilization. Also make sure all accounts are current and up-to-date.
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Build alternative credit history with options like self.inc or Cred.ai. This establishes positive payment data with non-traditional bureaus.
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Try again in 6 months after improving your credit situation per the reasons given for denial. Snap Finance may reconsider your application after negative factors fade with time.
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Start small if reapplying – ask to finance smaller amounts that may get easier approval than larger sums.
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Provide documents like income proof and utility bills when reapplying to facilitate verification.
With some time and persistence, you can get approval down the road by addressing the reasons for initial denial and demonstrating improved credit management.
The Bottom Line
Ultimately, getting approved by Snap Finance is easier than traditional lenders for applicants with imperfect credit or no credit history. By using alternative data sources, customizable approval criteria, and convenient applications, Snap Finance can extend financing to subprime borrowers often denied elsewhere.
While approvals are not guaranteed, over 85% of applicants with bad credit do get approved. Following the tips in this guide can further optimize your odds during the application process. Don’t get discouraged by initial denials – focus on addressing the reasons given and improving those areas before you try again down the road.
With their specialized lending practices and products, Snap Finance makes it possible to finance essential purchases or bigger ticket items – even if your current credit standing is less than ideal.
Real people. Real life.
“It was very, very convenient to my pocket. I wouldnt let go of this opportunity to give that special touch to my apartment.”Ricardo U.Los Angeles, CA
“Using Snap today was so easy. I was able to do it on my phone and it took about two minutes.”Kristi H.Kimberly, AL
“We slept on an air mattress and it was very uncomfortable. Snap saved my life!”Franklin & Yatsiva R.Phoenix, AZ
Is Snap Finance hard inquiry or a soft inquiry? | Rickita
FAQ
Does Snap Finance approve everyone?
Snap Finance is open to people who are at least 18 years old, have a checking account, and have a steady source of income. The application process is fast and can be done online. Within minutes, you’ll receive an approval decision, allowing you to start shopping for the products you need.
How does Snap Finance check eligibility?
When assessing eligibility, Snap conducts a ‘soft’ search on your credit file to assess loan affordability and repayment likelihood. Be aware that once your application is finalised, a ‘hard’ check will appear on your credit file.
Does Snap Finance do a hard credit check?
Yes, Snap Finance does a hard credit check when you finalize your loan application. When you first check to see if you’re eligible, they do a “soft credit check,” which doesn’t hurt your credit score.
What is the credit limit for Snap Finance?
Snap Finance approves for up to $3,300 without going through all the hassle of traditional credit card lenders.