Here's a pitfall to avoid when applying for a personal loan. You want avoid the Advance Fee Loan Scam.

Respectable lenders to not require you to pay an advance fee at the time you apply for a personal loan. If a lender asks you to pay an advance fee then you should be on the alert that this lender may be in the business of collecting fees with no intent to make you or anyone else a personal loan. If the lender asks for the advance and then shows no interest in your credit history or your credit score, then its a pretty good sign that the lender has no intention of loaning you money. That lender is most likely after your fee. If the lender were really going to make you a personal loan then he or she would be very interested in your ability to repay the loan.

Avoid such companies. There are plenty of good loan companies to work with. You don't need to settle for a scam.