Can you use Buy Now Pay Later with bad credit?

We’ve all been there: The washing machine packs up, your car needs fixing, or school shoes suddenly don’t fit anymore. Life has a knack for springing unwelcome surprises. If your budget is already stretched, you might be wondering if Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) is an option.

Buy Now, Pay Later is a type of credit service offered by online retailers to help spread the cost of purchases with a short-term credit loan. This often means it can depend on your credit score. So, whether you’re just building up your credit health or you’re recovering from a lower credit score, it’s helpful to know your options.

In this guide, we’ll look at whether you can use Buy Now, Pay Later with bad credit, including what to watch out for and how to use credit tools like BNPL responsibly.

What is Buy Now, Pay Later?

Buy Now, Pay Later does exactly what it says on the tin. It lets you buy something now and delay the payment, either by splitting it into instalments or putting it off for a few weeks or months.

BNPL has taken off in a big way in the UK, with services like Klarna, Clearpay and PayPal cropping up at many checkouts – from fashion sites to furniture stores, both in-store and online.

But here’s the important bit: While BNPL can feel quick and easy, it’s still a form of borrowing. And that means there are risks if it’s not handled with care.

Can you get Buy Now, Pay Later with bad credit?

Here’s the good news: Yes, sometimes you can. Many BNPL providers don’t run hard credit checks – the kind that show up on your credit file and might affect your score. This has made them popular with people who’ve had trouble getting traditional credit cards or loans.

You may have already seen adverts online advertising for Buy Now, Pay Later with no credit checks on websites across the UK – and in some cases, that’s true. Some providers only do a soft check (which doesn’t impact your score) or no check at all.

But – and it’s a big but – that doesn’t mean approval is guaranteed. Providers might look at other things, such as your spending history with them, or they may set lower spending limits if they see you as a higher risk.

Is there a downside to Buy Now, Pay Later?

While it’s tempting to see BNPL as a useful safety net, it’s important not to fall into the trap of using it too often. If you already have bad credit, Buy Now, Pay Later deals can sometimes make things more complicated, not better.

Here’s why:

• It’s easy to lose track. When you’re juggling multiple BNPL payments, it can be easy to forget when each one is due.
• Late fees can add up. Miss a payment, and you might get hit with extra charges which can soon pile up.
• It can affect your credit. While not all BNPL services report to credit reference agencies, some do. If you miss payments, it could show up on your file.
• You might be tempted to overspend. Just because you don’t pay straight away doesn’t mean it’s “free money”.

So, yes, Buy Now, Pay Later with bad credit is possible– but that doesn’t always mean it’s the best option.

Can you get Klarna with bad credit?

Klarna is one of the best-known providers of BNPL in the UK, offering options such as ‘pay in 30 days’ or even interest-free instalments. They perform soft credit checks for some of their products, so they won’t hurt your score, but it helps them to decide whether to approve your purchase. If they see signs on your credit record that you’ve struggled with repayments in the past, they may say no, or say yes but with an offer of a lower spending limit.

It's worth noting that Klarna also reports some of its products to credit agencies, so if you miss a payment you may be subject to a penalty. Klarna charges a late fee of £5, but with a grace period of a week before they charge you – and your future borrowing may be affected. Many other popular BNPL services also report to agencies and charge late or missed-payment penalties, which differ from lender to lender.

How to use Buy Now, Pay Later responsibly

If you want to use Buy Now, Pay Later to make an online purchase, there are a few golden rules to follow to make the most of it and avoid some common pitfalls:

• Only use it when you need to. It can be easy or tempting to click on the ‘pay later’ button when checking out, but ask yourself: Do you really need to do it now?
• Set yourself some reminders. As we’ve mentioned, missing a payment can affect credit or lead to penalties – use your phone calendar or a budget app to make sure you never miss a payment.
• Keep it all in one place. It’s much easier to keep track of payments if you use just one BNPL provider rather than several.
• Read the small print. It’s always a good idea to be aware of the repayment terms to understand what kind of late fees lenders charge, and see if you’ll pay interest – some providers charge it on longer-term borrowing.
• Don’t use BNPL to cover essential costs. If you’re tempted to use BNPL to cover the cost of food, bills or petrol, it might be a good idea to look at other options.

What if BNPL isn’t for you?

If you’re not sure about using BNPL with bad credit, there are other routes to consider. You could use budgeting tools and apps that help you plan your spending. Or if you want to build up your credit over time, you could apply for a credit builder card.

Have a quick read of our guide to budgeting made simple, or dive deeper into a range of helpful financial resources.

How Moneyboat can help

If funds are limited and you don’t want to tap into your savings, sometimes you might need a bit of help to get back on track – not just a way to delay payments. That’s where we can help. A short-term-loan from a responsible lender like Moneyboat can be used to help with urgent costs – like a boiler breakdown, car repairs, or covering unexpected bills.

You can choose to spread the cost over two to six instalments, as well as being able to pay off the balance in full on your next payday – helping you to stay afloat until the next time you're paid. Benefit from fair and flexible loans with transparent terms, no hidden fees and competitive rates, so you’ll always know where you stand.

The bottom line…

So, can you use Buy Now, Pay Later when you have bad credit? Yes, often you can. But the real question is whether you should. Used carefully, BNPL can be helpful, but it’s not a fix for bigger financial issues, and it’s certainly not free money. You’re really borrowing money from your future self – and you should ask yourself whether ‘future you’ is going to be happy with that.

If you feel like you need some help with a purchase or essential costs, make sure you consider all of your options, including trusted short-term lenders such as Moneyboat.

You could also speak to a debt advice charity, especially if your debts feel unmanageable. Citizens Advice and StepChange both offer free, expert guidance.