How the Flat Rate Scam Works
- The Illusion: If you take a ₹1 Lakh loan at a 10% Flat Rate for 3 years, the dealer says: "10% of 1 Lakh is 10,000. For 3 years, it's 30,000. Easy!"
- The Reality: In a real loan (Reducing Rate), your principal decreases every month as you pay your EMI. By year 2, you only owe ₹66,000, and by year 3, you only owe ₹33,000.
- The Trap: Under a Flat Rate, the lender is charging you 10% interest on the entire ₹1 Lakh for all 3 years, even though you have already paid back most of the money!
- The Math: A 10% Flat Rate for 3 years is mathematically equivalent to a crippling 17.9% Reducing Rate. You are usually better off taking a standard Personal Loan at 13-14% from your bank than falling for a "cheap" flat rate at the showroom.