Hi,

I'm a bit confused about loan applications. Before you apply you're often told that applying for loans can affect your credit rating (i.e. the more you apply for, the worse it will be). But you don't often get a proper actual quote from the loan company until you've put the application in! For example, I could see a good rate here on a loan, see that it's obviously "subject to status" and know that the difference in interest between that advertised and the actual rate I'm offered could be huge. But I don't know this until I've applied.

How am I suppossed to shop around for the best deal when multiple loan applications are frowned upon? Can anyone spread some light in the darkness here?

R.