Be very careful about trying to get a personal loan on the Internet, because of the increased potential for identity theft. This is especially the case if you receive an offer by email; these days, most of us without good spam blockers get several a day, and they're all scams.

When applying for a personal loan, it's best to be scrupulously honest. A poor credit history doesn't necessarily mean you can't get a loan, but it's likely that a loan officer will turn you down immediately if they found out you've lied on your application.

If you've got problems in your credit history, don't give up on getting a personal loan. There are companies out there that specialize in risky clients. The interest rates may be higher, but they'll come down after a few years of on-time payments.