Here is the info for Vermont payday loan laws. Looks like they are prohibited.
Legal Status: Prohibited
Citation:
Small loan act applies. Vt. Stat. Ann. tit. 9 § 41a
Small Loan Rate Cap
18% per year
I would try writing a letter to each company and advising that since taking a loan with them, you have found that payday loans are prohibited in the state of Vermont, and they are obviously in violation of the law. Advise that the interest rate they are charging on the loan is illegal in your state, as there is a small loan rate cap of 18% per year.
Include the above Vermont info in the letter and state that you are willing to work out payment arrangements to satisfy the legal amount you owe them. Deduct the amounts that you have already paid from the original loan amount, and split that up into however many payments you need to make to clear the balance. I stated in one of my letters that the legal amt. I owed was $245, and I could pay this off in 3 payments beginning on a certain date.
Email the letter as well as faxing it and mailing it via certified mail/return receipt requested, so you have proof that the letter was delivered and signed for.
Start sending the payments via money order on the date you promised to start.