In another article I wrote, I researched information about payday loans; the benefits of getting one and some of the pitfalls too. Basically a payday loan is a quick cash advance that a full time employed person can apply for when expenses exceed your monthly salary. Since that happens to a lot of people, these types of loans can be helpful in a pinch. There are lending establishments you can go to, though applying online is faster, so is the price comparison process.
As with any larger purchase or lending procedure, the consumer needs to get as much information as possible to make a savvy choice that won`t cause them to get into an even worse situation. Payday loans like credit card cash advances come with hefty fees, which is why I also recommend shopping for the best rates with a reputable company. Something also to be considered are alternatives to these payday loans such as working out payment plans with creditors, credit union loans (if you belong to one), or emergency assistance programs that provide help with heating or cooling costs for low income families.
But what happens to the unwary borrower when there are less than reputable lenders setting up shop in local areas? In some urban areas there are more pawn shops and payday loan establishments than fast food restaurants. What has been observed is that there is a seedy side to this type of lending that tends to prey on low income people and minorities. The lenders charge very high fees for these loans too, making them difficult to pay back. A $300 payday loan might end up costing a borrower $700 when all is said and done. This type of leeching usually turns the one time user of the system into chronic borrowers who end up continuing to pay ridiculous interest rates. What is of interest to note is that payday lenders are exempt from usury laws which places a limit on annualized interest rates. You would not dream of applying for or even using a credit card with an annual rate of 35%. I certainly would not! Yet some of these lenders charge what would add up to an annual rate of over 400%. These types of lending outlets tend to be tightly bunched together in lower income areas and way out number conventional lending institutions and banks where people would receive a fair deal and the competitive current interest rate on a short term loan. The disturbing thing about the lenders lacking integrity is that they do target lower income people who may already be in a cycle of debt and struggling to make ends meet. Specifically targeted are African Americans, Hispanics, and single working mothers.
Consumer affairs groups, local councilmen, and minority leaders and representatives have addressed the issue of predatory lending in an attempt to put a stop to these unethical lending practices. Eugene DeWitt, political action chairman of the NAACP`s D.C. branch has said "They prey on the weak and those who believe that have no other options. If they don`t want to play ball, we should put them out of business." He also urged that there be a cap set on the interest rate they are allowed to charge for their loans. It`s no surprise that Senior Advisors of the Community Financial Services of America which represents most of the 20,000 payday loan firms in the U.S., expressed that imposing a rate cap of around 24% would drive many out of business. What does that say about these lenders? I think it goes beyond greed and predatory lending and borders on financial vampirism. This is an industry that is well aware of their target demographic and then sets up shop where they are in close proximity to those areas. Fortunately, this situation has caught the attention of many state representatives as well as community leaders who are in a position to craft legislation to curtail predatory lending practices aimed at minorities. It is my hope that everyone have access to relevant information about borrowing so that they can get a loan they qualify for and can handle, with terms that are standard to honorable lending institutions. A link to more specific information is provided in the bio box.
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