Short Term Loans
Apply online for £500–£1,500 with repayment terms from 3 to 36 months. Get started with our simple online form.
Representative example
Representative 136.0% APR. Borrow £1,000 over 18 months, with 17 monthly instalments of £102.42 and a final instalment of £102.46. Total amount repayable: £1,843.60, including £843.60 interest. Annual interest rate: 89% p.a. (fixed).
Supplied APR range: 9.3%–1721%. Your no-obligation quote and APR will depend on your personal circumstances. Subject to the lender's requirements and approval.
What are short term loans?
Short term loans are loans repaid over a relatively limited period, usually through an agreed instalment schedule. The description is not a guarantee of a particular rate, approval speed or repayment date.
Money Trumpet's partners offer borrowing from £500 to £1,500 over 3–36 months through this service. The range includes longer instalment options as well as shorter repayment periods: a 36-month agreement lasts three years, even when it is marketed alongside short term borrowing.
If you need a short term loan, consider both how much you need now and how the payments will fit your finances later. Borrowing a smaller amount does not automatically make a loan inexpensive.
How long can I borrow for?
The available repayment range is 3–36 months. Choose a term by checking the monthly payment and total amount repayable together, rather than choosing on the monthly figure alone.
Start with the amount
Work out the actual shortfall before you apply. Choose the loan amount you need, rather than increasing it because a higher figure is available.
Check every payment
Look at the payment dates as well as the amounts. Leave room for essential bills and changes in your finances during the agreement.
Compare the total
A lower monthly payment is not necessarily a cheaper loan. Check how much you will pay back by the end before making a decision.
For the same amount and interest rate, spreading repayments over longer generally means paying more interest overall. A shorter term can reduce that cost but creates larger regular payments. See MoneyHelper's borrowing-cost guidance.
How much do short term loans cost?
The cost of a short term loan depends on its interest rate, repayment period and any charges. Read the actual offer's APR, instalment schedule and total repayable before accepting; an advertised range is not your personal quote.
The example above illustrates £843.60 interest on £1,000 borrowed over 18 months. That is a significant borrowing cost. Individuals with a good credit score may be able to obtain cheaper rates elsewhere, and short term borrowing can cost more than traditional personal loans.
What is the difference between APR and the interest rate?
APR stands for annual percentage rate and is used to compare the annual cost of borrowing. It takes relevant compulsory charges into account as well as interest. The annual interest rate and APR are different measures, so one should not simply be substituted for the other. MoneyHelper explains APR.
| Offer detail | What to check | What not to assume |
|---|---|---|
| Amount received | The amount paid to you and whether any fee is deducted. | That the headline credit amount is always the cash you receive. |
| Payment schedule | Each payment, the first due date and any different final instalment. | That every instalment is identical or due on your payday. |
| APR and fees | Your offered APR and which compulsory charges are included. | That the lowest advertised APR applies to your application. |
| Total repayable | The total paid if you complete the agreed schedule. | That the smallest monthly payment means the lowest overall cost. |
| Early or late payment | The settlement process and consequences of missing a payment. | That paying early or late has no effect on the agreement's cost. |
Money Trumpet does not charge a fee for using its service. That does not mean the loan itself is fee-free: the lender or another broker should explain applicable charges in the information you receive.
How do I apply for a short term loan online?
Complete Money Trumpet's online application form. We will pass your completed application to a lender or another broker, which will contact you directly for the next stage.
Choose your borrowing
Decide how much you need within the £500–£1,500 range and consider a suitable repayment period.
Complete the form
Provide accurate contact, address and income details. Review the data-sharing explanation before submitting.
We pass it on
We forward the application. Your on-screen confirmation acknowledges submission, not loan approval.
Review the next steps
The company handling it contacts you for final checks and further information. Read any offer before agreeing.
Money Trumpet acts as a credit broker, not a direct lender. We do not assess affordability or make lending decisions. We may receive commission if an introduction results in a credit agreement. Learn how our service works.
Who can apply for short term loans in the UK?
You must be over 18 and a permanent UK resident to use Money Trumpet's consumer-loan service. The lender decides whether you meet its own requirements and can afford to repay the loan.
Have accurate information about your income and circumstances ready. The company handling your application can request evidence of identity, address or earnings. There is no single minimum income or credit score confirmed for every provider through this service.
Can I get a short term loan with bad credit?
A poor credit history does not tell you the outcome of an application on its own. Each lender has its own criteria; past credit problems can affect available offers, rates and the decision to lend. No acceptance is guaranteed.
If poor credit is your main concern, see our dedicated bad credit loans page for that separate borrowing range. Avoid making repeated applications without understanding the checks involved.
Will applying affect my credit score?
Money Trumpet does not carry out a credit search. The lender or another broker handling the next stage may carry out its own checks, and a hard credit search can affect your credit score.
Ask that company what type of credit check it uses and when. A soft search and a hard search are not interchangeable: Experian explains that soft searches do not affect your score, while hard searches are recorded on your credit report.
For that reason, “no credit search by Money Trumpet” is not a promise of short term loans without lender checks. Once you borrow, missed payments can also affect your credit record. Our guide to how loan decisions are made explains the wider process.
What should I consider before taking out a short term loan?
Consider whether you can delay the expense, use available savings without leaving essentials uncovered, or arrange payments directly with the organisation you owe. Compare other borrowing options before choosing a high-cost agreement.
A credit union may offer an alternative for smaller borrowing needs. Membership and lending requirements vary, and it is not guaranteed to lend. MoneyHelper's credit-union guide explains how to join and what to check.
Are short term loans the same as payday loans?
Not necessarily. Payday borrowing is traditionally associated with repayment around payday; short term instalment borrowing can spread payments over several months. Check the actual agreement rather than relying on its marketing label. Our payday loans page covers a separate offer.
Already short of money every month?
Another loan is not a lasting answer to a recurring shortfall. If repayments would depend on taking out more credit, pause and seek free debt advice rather than adding another commitment.
What happens if I cannot make a repayment?
Contact your lender as soon as you expect difficulty and explain your circumstances. Ask about support and a workable repayment arrangement. Cancelling an automatic payment does not cancel the debt; missed payments may lead to charges and affect your credit record.
You can find independent help through MoneyHelper's free debt-advice locator. Our guide to dealing with creditors can help you prepare for the conversation.
Short term loans FAQs
Check the amount, repayment period and actual offer before you commit.
Can I borrow £500 through Money Trumpet?
£500 is the lower end of the available borrowing range for this service. You can apply, but the lender decides whether to offer a loan after its own checks.
Can I get a short term loan for one month?
Not through this offer: its minimum repayment term is three months and its maximum is 36 months. Do not assume the agreement becomes a one-month loan because you intend to repay early.
How quickly can I get the money?
There is no guaranteed decision or funding time. It depends on the provider's checks, any further information needed and the payment process. See our quick loans page for how the different stages work.
Is Money Trumpet a short term loans direct lender?
No. Money Trumpet is a credit broker. We pass completed applications to a lender or another broker; we do not supply the funds or make the lending decision.
Can unemployed people apply for short term loans?
Whether a provider accepts your income and circumstances depends on its criteria. No universal acceptance rule for unemployed applicants is confirmed for this offer. See loans for unemployed people for the dedicated topic.
Can I repay my loan early?
Ask the lender for an early-settlement figure and the conditions in your agreement. Paying earlier can change the interest cost, but do not assume the amount due is simply the remaining scheduled payments. MoneyHelper explains early repayment.
Do short term loans improve your credit score?
Borrowing is not a guaranteed way to improve your credit score. A lender may report repayment activity, and missed payments can damage your credit record. Do not take on an expensive loan solely to try to build your score.
Does the FCA regulate short term loans?
UK regulated consumer-credit lending and broking are subject to Financial Conduct Authority rules. Specific high-cost short-term credit rules, including price caps, apply only to agreements within that category—not every loan marketed as short term. See the FCA's guidance.
Does completing the form mean I have been approved?
No. On-screen confirmation acknowledges the application. The lender or broker contacts you directly for the next stage; approval and any loan offer depend on its requirements.
Will the lowest advertised APR be my rate?
Not necessarily. Your no-obligation quote and APR depend on your personal circumstances and the offer made. Compare that offer's payment schedule and total cost, rather than assuming the lowest rate will apply.
Useful borrowing and budgeting guides
Make room for repayments and understand the application process.
How to budget
Build a clearer picture of your income, essential spending and existing commitments.
ApplicationsHow loan decisions are made
Understand the lender's role in creditworthiness and affordability checks.
RepaymentsPaying off loans
Plan repayment priorities and prepare questions about early settlement.
Sources and content review
General guidance checked on 17 September 2026. Product amounts, terms and the representative example were supplied for Money Trumpet's partner service; individual offers can differ.
Independent guidance: MoneyHelper on borrowing costs, APR explained, Experian on credit checks and FCA high-cost short-term credit guidance.
Ready to start your application?
Apply online for £500–£1,500 with repayment terms of 3–36 months.
Consider the full cost and make sure you can afford the repayments.