Loans & Debts

Asking family or friends to assist one with an interest free loan

Q: I am currently working and looking to buy a car. I am unable to buy it in cash. I have made many attempts for Muslim car dealers to try and purchase the car on credit without interest or going through bank finance. All of them rejected. 

I have even proved that I am able to pay it off comfortably with my salary. 

I have went to almost every Muslim dealership and all have rejected. 

I am able to get a car on bank finance but I do not wish to because of the interest. 

Is there any other way of doing it? Is there any other alternative to this?

Accepting a settlement discount from the bank to clear a credit card account

Q: We have a credit card account with FNB which hasn't been paid for about 1 and a half years. Over the period that the account was not paid, interest was levied to the account. I'm not to sure of the exact amount of interest which was levied on the account, but I have requested the amount. I'm awaiting their response. 

The account is currently handled by the banks attorneys and they have recently emailed us stating that the bank is willing to give us a settlement discount of 40% if the account is paid by the 29th of this month (November). 

Will it be fine for us to accept the settlement discount and settle this account as we don't have the money to pay the entire balance on the account and ان شاء الله a few friends will be willing to help us pay the account if we can settle with the settlement discount amount. 

Using someone's credit card and paying back with extra

Q: I live with my parents, and over the past few months, I've made some online purchases using my father's credit card (with his permission). Since there have been quite a few transactions, I’d like to repay him but it would take a bit of time to track every individual purchase. 

Is it permissible if I give my father an amount that is more than the total of my purchases, ensuring I cover the minimum amount I owe him? 

For example, if the purchases total $1000, I would return something like $1200 to cover any uncertainty.

Taking an interest free loan from the government

Q: The government I live in help the citizens with a payment of the house or flat when you are moving and give you a support/loan. The loan is interest free the first 5 years so you don’t have to pay the interest and their intention is to help out the citizens because it’s in the law. You can make a plan with them that they take every month from my student allowance until the loan is paid and it will be interest free. Can I take this loan or is it haram?

Charging a penalty for late payment and calling it admin fees

Q: I am currently renting my business premises from a an Islamic trust. They have amended the current lease agreement to state that 2% interest will be added to late payment of even a months rent. When the Muslim tenants objected, they changed the word interest and now describe it as admin fees.

Is this allowed? This very trust contributes to the funding of the masjid and Islamic school.