4 Things You Should Never Do With A Cash Loan

More and more of us are spending too much and saving too little. There are now loads of ways for people to run short on money month-to-month. Whether you have a family household to look after or you live in your own place, when money is tight, a fast cash loan could be your best bet to get you to your next payday.

There are loads of ways you can access money instantly. You can take out a short-term loan from Cigno, borrow some money from a friend, or even ask for a cash advance from work. However you get the money, there are certain things you should never do with a cash loan, and we’re going to point them out nice and clearly in this article. Here we go:

Gambling with borrowed cash

Avoid this at all costs. It doesn’t matter where you get the money, gambling with borrowed funds is always a bad move. There are loads of sources out there shouting out about all kinds of get rich quick concepts that revolve around gambling. You should only ever gamble with your own money and amounts that you can afford to lose. Losing with someone else’s money just makes the loss even greater.

If you want to proactively make yourself a larger income, there are loads of more sensible ways that people should aim to make extra money on the side that come with far less risk.

Buying luxury consumables with borrowed cash

Whether it’s a wild shopping spree for items you don’t need or getting this years holiday booked in, borrowing cash to make luxury purchases that don’t hold value isn’t a good idea at all. Saving on groceries is one of the best ways most households can cut large amounts from their monthly expenditure. You should only really be spending disposable income on pleasure purchases. Use credit cards, payday loans or cash loans from friends to pay for expensive luxury buys and you risk throwing yourself into more debt than you can afford to handle.

Travel with the entire amount in hand

This is a huge security issue. At Cigno Loans, we pay our payday loans straight to your account. This allows you to draw out only what you need or pay for purchases with your debit card. Travelling with large sums of cash is always a dangerous thing to do especially if you plan on making your way through a series of public places. Do yourself a huge favour and make sure you borrow cash via electronic channels.

Even if you are taking your cash loan from a relative or associate, it’s always best to have them transfer the money to your account online. As soon as the cash is in your hands, it’s your responsibility. A theft of your online bank account can be traced and documented. A theft of cash from your hands is much harder to prove.

Invest in ventures or schemes

Doing business with short-term finance is far from clever. Whenever you take a cash loan you should always be upfront and honest regarding your intentions with the money. At Cigno, we always advise borrowers to take as little as they can. With our loans, you can specify the exact amount you need so that you only take what you absolutely require to cover your urgent costs.

Take too much, and you risk landing higher repayment charges than you can realistically afford to pay back without any issues. Investments of any kind are not all that different to gambling. They don’t always go according to plan and could end up costing you instead of making you money.

The only real reason to borrow a cash advance is to cover costs that are essential. Repairs to your plumbing, fridge or car, food for the month, and travel expense are all examples of acceptable emergency expenses. Those are the main things you shouldn’t be doing with a cash loan. If any of these pursuits is in line with what you have in mind, it would be best to save rather than compile the risk by using a short-term cash loan to fund them.

Read more about cash loans here, or in our previous blog post: How To Get Cash Loans Fast Without A Bank

Disclaimer: Please be aware that Cigno Loans’ articles do not replace advice from an accountant or financial advisor. All information provided is intended to be used as a guide only, as it does not take into account your personal financial situation or needs. If you require assistance, it is recommended that you consult a licensed financial or tax advisor.

NOTIFICATION OF MISCONDUCT BY CIGNO AUSTRALIA

Ordered by the Federal Court of Australia

The Federal Court of Australia has found that Cigno Australia Pty Ltd (Cigno Australia) and BSF Solutions Pty Ltd (BSF Solutions) have breached the law by engaging in unlicensed credit activity and charging prohibited fees.

In the period from July 2022 to 3 October 2023, over 100,000 consumers have been lent a total of $34 million, and charged fees of over $70 million, under the ‘No Upfront Charge Loan Model’ operated by BSF Solutions and Cigno Australia. At no time has either BSF Solutions or Cigno Australia held an Australian Credit Licence.

The Court also found that Mark Swanepoel (director of Cigno Australia) and Brenton James Harrison (director of BSF Solutions) were involved in these breaches of the law.

With effect from 24 May 2024, the Court has granted permanent injunctions preventing Cigno Australia and BSF Solutions from:

  • demanding, receiving or accepting fees or charges, including amounts of loan principal, from consumers in relation to credit provided under the ‘No Upfront Charge Model’; and
  • engaging in further credit activity pursuant to the ‘No Upfront Charge Loan Model’, including by entering into new agreements with consumers, for so long as they do not hold an Australian Credit Licence.

Cigno Australia was ordered by the Court to, by 5th July 2024, send written communications to consumers who between July 2022 and December 2022 entered into agreements with Cigno Australia and BSF Solutions under the ‘No Upfront Charge Loan Model’.

The Court will later determine whether (among other things) Cigno Australia and Mark Swanepoel ought to pay a pecuniary penalty in respect of this conduct, and whether Mark Swanepoel should be restrained from carrying on a business engaging in credit activity.

Cigno Australia, BSF Solutions, Mr Swanepoel and Mr Harrison intend to appeal the decision of the Court and have filed an application for leave to appeal. If the appeal is successful, some or all of the orders of the Federal Court of Australia may be set aside.

Where can you get more information?

Where to go for further support

You can access legal advice in your state at: Free legal advice – Moneysmart.gov.au.

If you are experiencing trouble with debt, or money worries in general, contact:

  • the National Debt Helpline on 1800 007 007 or online chat (9:30am to 4.30pm, Monday to Friday).

If you need someone to talk to, contact:

  • Lifeline on 13 11 14 (24 hours) or their crisis support online chat or
  • Beyond Blue on 1300 22 46 36 (24 hours) or their webchat