{"id":14254,"date":"2023-08-28T17:57:37","date_gmt":"2023-08-28T17:57:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.tatacapital.com\/blog\/?p=14254"},"modified":"2026-04-02T19:30:30","modified_gmt":"2026-04-02T14:00:30","slug":"steps-to-take-if-you-cant-pay-your-personal-loan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tatacapital.com\/blog\/personal-use-loan\/steps-to-take-if-you-cant-pay-your-personal-loan\/","title":{"rendered":"Steps to take if you can\u2019t Pay Your Personal Loan"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Apart from sourcing funds, taking a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tatacapital.com\/personal-loan.html\">personal loan<\/a> also entails timely EMI payments to a lender. Now, what if you have every intention of paying off your loan on time, but unpredictable circumstances in life cause hindrance in doing so?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Don\u2019t fret! You can keep up with your <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tatacapital.com\/personal-loan\/pre-payment-calculator.html\">personal finance repayment<\/a> schedule by following the steps listed below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>#Step 1 \u2013 Stay calm and composed<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Under pressing circumstances that may lead to personal loan default, your first reaction could be that of panic; however, stressing out will only make matters worse. Collect yourself and figure out the reason for missing out on loan repayments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>#Step 2 \u2013 Talk to your lender<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>One must never underestimate the power of communication. So, do not hesitate to talk to your lender, explaining the reason for defaulting on personal loan repayments. Your lender may come up with any one of the following solutions \u2013<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>You may be allowed more time to pay off your loan.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Your lender may restructure the loan \u2013 Though they cannot change the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.tatacapital.com\/personal-loan\/rates-and-charges.html\">personal loan interest rate<\/a>, they may increase the loan tenure.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>In the worst-case scenario, you can request the lending institution for a settlement.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>#Step 3 \u2013 Consider refinancing the loan<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Another way out is to opt for loan refinancing. This way, you may be able to reduce your <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tatacapital.com\/personal-loan\/emi-option.html\">personal loan EMI<\/a>. Refinancing is simply shifting your existing loan to another lending institution provided they offer a lower rate of interest. However, you need to ensure you have a good credit score to be able to refinance your loan amount.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>#Step 4 \u2013 Look for ways to increase income<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>To deal with defaulting on personal finance EMIs, you can consider looking for other income sources; take up short-term jobs such as freelancing projects to help you secure more money. However, if that is ruled out, an alternative would be to look for ways to budget your existing income. Cut back on unnecessary expenses, make use of mega-sales and coupons for purchases, cut down on unnecessary travel, etc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>#Step 5 \u2013 Sell something of value<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>To pay off your personal credit or loan, you can consider selling some item of value such as a piece of art, jewellery, etc. If that is not possible, there is another way. We often have unused items lying around. This includes anything \u2013 from books to toys. Consider selling them off and using the money towards loan repayment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What Happens if You Miss a Personal Loan EMI?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Here\u2019s a look at what happens if you default on your personal loan EMI payments:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Penalty charges:<\/strong> When you miss a personal loan EMI, the subsequent EMI will be slightly higher as it will include a late fee for the missed EMI.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Increased outstanding amount:<\/strong> The unpaid balance will continue to accrue interest for as long as the payment is not made, increasing your overall debt burden.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Fall in credit score:<\/strong> A default in the payment of your personal loan EMI will be recorded by the credit bureaus and affect your credit report, jeopardising your ability to apply for a loan in the future.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Lender follow-ups:<\/strong> Financial institutions will start contacting you through emails, messages, and phone calls to enquire into unpaid EMIs.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Also, read &#8211; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tatacapital.com\/blog\/personal-use-loan\/5-consequences-you-may-face-if-you-are-defaulting-on-personal-loan\/\">5 Consequences You May Face If You Are Defaulting on Personal Loan<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>How Personal Loan Default Affects Your CIBIL Score<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Defaulting on a personal loan can significantly impact your <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tatacapital.com\/check-credit-score.html\">CIBIL score<\/a>. When you consistently fail to make payments, lenders report these delays to credit bureaus. This, in turn, lowers your credit score and signals higher credit risk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A reduced CIBIL score can make it challenging to qualify for future loans or credit cards. Further, if you do get approved, you may face higher interest rates. Continued default may also lead to your loan being marked as a Non-Performing Asset (NPA), further damaging your credit profile.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Rebuilding your score after a default takes time, consistent repayments, and responsible credit behaviour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Check if You Have Personal Loan Insurance<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Personal loan insurance is a policy that protects your loan payments in situations such as unemployment, disability or death. The policy\u2019s purpose is to help safeguard you against personal loan default in case you\u2019re unable to honour your EMI commitments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Check whether your <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tatacapital.com\/blog\/personal-use-loan\/safeguarding-your-finances-a-guide-to-personal-loan-insurance\/\">personal loan comes with insurance or protection cover<\/a>, as it can significantly ease the burden during financial stress. If your policy is active, it may cover a few EMIs or repay a portion of the outstanding amount, helping you avoid penalties and safeguarding your credit score. Review your loan agreement or contact your lender to understand the coverage details, eligibility criteria, and claim process. Knowing your insurance benefits upfront can give you much-needed breathing room when your finances feel stretched.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>When Should You Consider Personal Loan Settlement?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>You should <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tatacapital.com\/blog\/personal-use-loan\/what-is-loan-settlement-how-does-it-affect-your-credit-score\/\">consider a personal loan settlement<\/a> only when you\u2019re genuinely unable to repay the outstanding amount despite exploring all other options. This step is generally taken in situations such as job loss, medical emergencies, or a sudden income drop that makes regular EMI payments unmanageable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Loan settlement differs from loan closing because, in this case, the lender accepts a single payment that is less than the total outstanding amount owed. As a result, a settled loan has a negative effect on your credit score and should, hence, always be a last resort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Before opting for settlement, it\u2019s wise to speak with your lender about restructuring or extending your loan tenure. If repayment is no longer feasible and your financial situation is unlikely to improve soon, discussing a settlement with your lender may help you close the loan with reduced financial stress.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Also, read &#8211; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tatacapital.com\/blog\/personal-use-loan\/what-are-personal-loan-emi-bounce-charges\/\">What is an EMI Bounce Charge<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Final thoughts<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Avail&nbsp;personal loan&nbsp;online from Tata Capital \u2013 we offer personal credit or loan at attractive interest rates, flexible repayment terms, and relaxed&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.tatacapital.com\/personal-loan\/eligibility-calculator.html\">personal loan eligibility criteria<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Not sure of the kind of EMI you will be liable to pay when you avail finance from us? Don\u2019t fret! Simply log on to our website to use a&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.tatacapital.com\/personal-loan\/emi-calculator.html\">personal loan EMI calculator<\/a>&nbsp;to figure out your potential monthly instalment. To know more, get in touch with us today!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignwide is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns alignwide is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-layout-1 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-vivid-cyan-blue-background-color has-background wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tatacapital.com\/online\/loans\/personal-loans\/apply-now-personal-loan#!\">Apply Now<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Apart from sourcing funds, taking a personal loan also entails timely EMI payments to a lender. <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tatacapital.com\/blog\/personal-loan\/steps-to-take-if-you-cant-pay-your-personal-loan\/\">Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":14255,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[24],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v21.0 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>What to Do If You Can\u2019t Pay Your Personal Loan EMIs<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Struggling to pay your personal loan EMIs? Learn what happens during a loan default and explore practical steps to manage repayments and avoid financial stress.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"What to Do If You Can\u2019t Pay Your Personal Loan EMIs\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Struggling to pay your personal loan EMIs? Learn what happens during a loan default and explore practical steps to manage repayments and avoid financial stress.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.tatacapital.com\/blog\/personal-use-loan\/steps-to-take-if-you-cant-pay-your-personal-loan\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"TATA Capital Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2023-08-28T17:57:37+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-04-02T14:00:30+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.tatacapital.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/steps-to-take-if-you-cant-pay-your-personal-loan.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"770\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"400\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Tata Capital\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Tata Capital\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"5 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.tatacapital.com\/blog\/personal-use-loan\/steps-to-take-if-you-cant-pay-your-personal-loan\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.tatacapital.com\/blog\/personal-use-loan\/steps-to-take-if-you-cant-pay-your-personal-loan\/\",\"name\":\"What to Do If You Can\u2019t Pay Your Personal Loan EMIs\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.tatacapital.com\/blog\/#website\"},\"datePublished\":\"2023-08-28T17:57:37+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-04-02T14:00:30+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.tatacapital.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/aa0e5e1ada965b44443a1a78f968ed5c\"},\"description\":\"Struggling to pay your personal loan EMIs? Learn what happens during a loan default and explore practical steps to manage repayments and avoid financial stress.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.tatacapital.com\/blog\/personal-use-loan\/steps-to-take-if-you-cant-pay-your-personal-loan\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.tatacapital.com\/blog\/personal-use-loan\/steps-to-take-if-you-cant-pay-your-personal-loan\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.tatacapital.com\/blog\/personal-use-loan\/steps-to-take-if-you-cant-pay-your-personal-loan\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.tatacapital.com\/blog\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Steps to take if you can\u2019t Pay Your Personal Loan\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.tatacapital.com\/blog\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.tatacapital.com\/blog\/\",\"name\":\"TATA Capital Blog\",\"description\":\"\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/www.tatacapital.com\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":\"required name=search_term_string\"}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.tatacapital.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/aa0e5e1ada965b44443a1a78f968ed5c\",\"name\":\"Tata Capital\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.tatacapital.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/0e9e78de7f84add076f397dd13acc708?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/0e9e78de7f84add076f397dd13acc708?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Tata Capital\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\/\/www.tatacapital.com\/blog\"],\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.tatacapital.com\/blog\/author\/admin\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"What to Do If You Can\u2019t Pay Your Personal Loan EMIs","description":"Struggling to pay your personal loan EMIs? Learn what happens during a loan default and explore practical steps to manage repayments and avoid financial stress.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"What to Do If You Can\u2019t Pay Your Personal Loan EMIs","og_description":"Struggling to pay your personal loan EMIs? Learn what happens during a loan default and explore practical steps to manage repayments and avoid financial stress.","og_url":"https:\/\/www.tatacapital.com\/blog\/personal-use-loan\/steps-to-take-if-you-cant-pay-your-personal-loan\/","og_site_name":"TATA Capital Blog","article_published_time":"2023-08-28T17:57:37+00:00","article_modified_time":"2026-04-02T14:00:30+00:00","og_image":[{"width":770,"height":400,"url":"https:\/\/www.tatacapital.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/steps-to-take-if-you-cant-pay-your-personal-loan.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Tata Capital","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Tata Capital","Est. reading time":"5 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.tatacapital.com\/blog\/personal-use-loan\/steps-to-take-if-you-cant-pay-your-personal-loan\/","url":"https:\/\/www.tatacapital.com\/blog\/personal-use-loan\/steps-to-take-if-you-cant-pay-your-personal-loan\/","name":"What to Do If You Can\u2019t Pay Your Personal Loan EMIs","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.tatacapital.com\/blog\/#website"},"datePublished":"2023-08-28T17:57:37+00:00","dateModified":"2026-04-02T14:00:30+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.tatacapital.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/aa0e5e1ada965b44443a1a78f968ed5c"},"description":"Struggling to pay your personal loan EMIs? Learn what happens during a loan default and explore practical steps to manage repayments and avoid financial stress.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.tatacapital.com\/blog\/personal-use-loan\/steps-to-take-if-you-cant-pay-your-personal-loan\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.tatacapital.com\/blog\/personal-use-loan\/steps-to-take-if-you-cant-pay-your-personal-loan\/"]}]},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.tatacapital.com\/blog\/personal-use-loan\/steps-to-take-if-you-cant-pay-your-personal-loan\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.tatacapital.com\/blog\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Steps to take if you can\u2019t Pay Your Personal Loan"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.tatacapital.com\/blog\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.tatacapital.com\/blog\/","name":"TATA Capital Blog","description":"","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.tatacapital.com\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":"required name=search_term_string"}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.tatacapital.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/aa0e5e1ada965b44443a1a78f968ed5c","name":"Tata Capital","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.tatacapital.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/0e9e78de7f84add076f397dd13acc708?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/0e9e78de7f84add076f397dd13acc708?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Tata Capital"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.tatacapital.com\/blog"],"url":"https:\/\/www.tatacapital.com\/blog\/author\/admin\/"}]}},"featured_image_url":"https:\/\/www.tatacapital.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/steps-to-take-if-you-cant-pay-your-personal-loan.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tatacapital.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14254"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tatacapital.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tatacapital.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tatacapital.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tatacapital.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=14254"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/www.tatacapital.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14254\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":53234,"href":"https:\/\/www.tatacapital.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14254\/revisions\/53234"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tatacapital.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/14255"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tatacapital.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=14254"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tatacapital.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=14254"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tatacapital.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=14254"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}