Loan services providers (especially banks and credit unions) often have specialists who will help you find the appropriate loan for your needs, so be sure to take advantage of them. They can step you through the copious paperwork required to get the loan, and tell you what you need to do to fulfill your obligations.

It's a good idea to know something about your loan services provider, even if there's nothing wrong with your loan. The easiest way to find out is to fire up the Internet and use a search engine to learn more -- including whether or not they have substantial complaints against them.

Once you've paid off a loan, you should expect to get paperwork from your loan services provider documenting this fact. If you don't, contact them and ask for it. This can be useful in situations where the loan payment is left on your credit report even after it's paid off: the documentation will help you clear the record.