Michael
Bountiful,#2Consumer Comment
Wed, February 23, 2005
It seems to me that people who use these types of services know that they are going into hostile waters. Writing a post-dated check, using your car title as collateral, etc. just seems rediculous. Ask your family for a small loan. The interest is less expensive and goons won't be calling you at all hours. If all else fails just refuse to pay them back. Let them take you to court. These companies are shady at best and will not want to face a judge even if they are in the right. Oh, and close your account.
Cindy
Sterling,#3Consumer Suggestion
Wed, January 26, 2005
Last year I was the victim of identity theft, a former "friend" I rented a room to for a short period of time opened multiple credit card accounts in my name and got sveral of these "payday" loans with my information. The loans were deposited into a bank account that was also opened in my name without my knowledge. To make a long story short, a fraud alert was placed on my credit report, I filed a police report. The credit card companies investigated and corrected my credit file. I thought finally the whole bad incident was behind me. Well, a couple months down the road I start getting calls from these "payday" loan outfits using some of the most abusive language I have ever heard and threatening to have me arrested for fraud, garnish my wages etc. At this point I had no idea what was going on, being unaware that a bank account had been opened in my name, I explained to them that I had been a victim of credit fraud and I would gladly forward them a copy of the policy report. The man on the phone, who wouldn't give his name, just laughed at me and told me I'd better give them my bank account number or the Attorney General of the State of Virginia was going to file felony fraud charges against me. Well, I'm not stupid or uniformed about my legal rights, I immediatly hung up on the "gentleman" and contacted my lawyer. My lawyer informed me of some interesting things about these "payday loan" outfits. For one thing, in the state of Virginia and many other states these type of loans are flat out ILLEGAL. Therefore, no court in the state of Virginia will uphold the terms of the payday loan agreement, no court will issue a judgement or a wage garnishment and nobody will be charged with fraud. In fact many state attorney generals are suing these outfits because they are operating illegally. The threats that these outfits make are completely baseless. They can't garnish your wages without a court order. Even in states where payday loans are legal, garnishment order are difficult to get and you get a chance to contest them in court. Nobody is going to file fraud charges against you. If anybody is breaking the laws of the state it is the payday loan outfits. Even if payday loans are legal in your state, they would have to take you to court under credit / breach of contract statutes, which are not criminal matters. I've always paid my bills on time and never tried to purposely cheat any company out of money that I actually owed them. My advice to you would be to pay them and chalk it up to experience, then tell all your friends about your experience -- write letters to your papers, politicians etc. I would love to see everyone of these outfits that prey on the desperate, poor and minorites put out of business and the people that run them locked up. The are about as ethical as the mafia and only marginally more legal.
Michelle
Tiredofit,#4Consumer Suggestion
Fri, January 07, 2005
My suggestion would be to not pay them. They are scam artists, who hide behind several different addresses in order to violate state and federal laws. They charge excessive interest rates that violate Usury Laws in most states, and what you have described is also a violation of the Fair Debt Collection Act. They claim their practices fall under the jurisdiction of Ireland, but loans are actually considered made in YOUR state of residence, therefore they must comply with your state's laws. Find an attorney that deals with consumer law and don't be a victim.
Rachel
Ozark,#5UPDATE Employee
Mon, November 29, 2004
Hey! We've been with Sonic for a while and sometimes we have the same problem with NSFs but here is the Western Union Address you can send the payment too. Coastline Credit Sonic Texas and then include your account number if they even gave you one...if you need your account number call the ecare payment center 1-888-740-2274 and they'll give it to you...anyways that's the easiest way to send it, call the payment center back with the MTCN number and they'll help you out from there...then you won't get harrassing phone calls anymore :)