MTE Companies (United Cash Loans, Oneclick, Ameriloan, etc.)

Jen...as far as I know they are not licensed any where..go to your State's Attorney's web page. There should be a link to a list of licensed lenders or check cashers...I know here in Indiana when I looked I couldn't find any of my ipdls listed and I have 3 with MTE.

Thanks Morningstar :)
Which "companies" do you have loans through?

I was also wondering....I am closing my current bank account on Monday, I have also opened a new one with the same bank. There won't be any way the can get my new account info right?

The pdls can't get your account number...but talk to the bank and make sure no one is going to make a mistake and use your new account...also if you overdraw the old account the bank can, I believe take money to pay it off. That's one of the reasons I chose a different bank when I defaulted. Did they freeze your old account so nothing can get through??
The MTE ones I have are United,Us Fast Cash and 1000 Easy Payday...I just closed out United yesterday.

I wasn't able to freeze my old account yet, because my direct deposit is set to go through tonight and it was too late for me to change it...:( But I'm doing it first thing Monday morning. I already opened a new account at my bank (Washington Mutual btw), and my advised my payroll dept. of the new account info for my next paycheck...So, hopefully all goes well.

My boyfriend is making fun of me telling me I am obsessed with these forums.. I told him Damn straight! These forums are like my therapist, best friend and financial advisor all rolled into one!!

Jen, as far as I know, payday loans are illegal period in NY. You want to be really careful with that bank account. Sometimes the pdl places can do a search by social security number and find your new account if it is with the same bank and take "their" money out that way. That is why we encourage people to open a new account at a different bank.

You are not the only one accused of being obsessed with these forum.....this is not the first time I have heard this. But the way I look at it, we are on the forums bettering our lives and making new friends and not out getting into trouble!!!!

Oh, I really wish you had opened a new account at a different bank, jenn! Like the others have told you, there are people on here that - the pdl got the new account number and started debiting - they may take out any overdrafts from your new account and put towards your old account - etc. I'm not saying they WILL do that, but please talk to them about it when you go to the bank. Tell them they are NOT to be associated at all. I'm still afraid they pdl's will somehow get your new account number since it's at the same bank. Don't they use the same "routing number", the only thing that changes is the "account number"? If that's the case and they do the whole search by SS#, wouldn't it be easy for them to find???

That's what I thought too Cannr...I actually closed my account a few days before I found this site on the advice of my credit counsilor..and they had offered to open a new account for me too...but there is a different bank in the building where I work and I did that just because it was easier the next day I started reading here and was so glad I did what I did...

once you account is closed, it is impossible for anyone to get your new account number, i worked at a bank, and noone (unless you tell them) can get your new account number, banks are very strict with your account number. only how pdl company can you your account number if you sign up with a pdl company using your new account number, unaware that the new company is affiliated with the old pdl company, they cannot do a ss search and find your new numbers, where are you getting that from, who told you that incorrect information?

Guest - Some banks to allow companies to debit accounts using ss# and contracts - And most pdl's will put a clause in their contract saying you give them permission to debit ANY account you have your name on.

It is far from impossible nowdays for them to get your account number. It is not locked up in a safe. There are many information sellers, and so many companise sell and share information. The bank may be strict with that information, but every time you write a check or use your account info, someone else has that number.

But isn't there a law about SSN's being used as identifiers? And can the bank get in trouble for giving out this information? I know in the hospital I work at, we were told to take all SSN's out of electronic patient records for that reason.

It's not the banks giving out the info - It's other databases. Companies share information.

And in the cases of debiting with ss#'s, the company shows the bank the contract, and already has your ss#. The bank isn't giving out any info in that case.

I would think it would be very difficult for these companies to obtain your new information also. But, I'm sure it's not impossible and it does happen.

Other than switching banks altogether, what would you guys recommend I do to avoid this from happening?

Switching banks is the best thing to do. This sounds super paraniod - But don't write a lot of checks. They have all your account info on them. Don't give out your account number to anyone. That's about all you can do . . . .

How would they get my information from random checks I write? (I don't write a lot of checks anyway, but I'm just curious).

Some companies keep that infomation in their systems, and you never know who is looking at that information. It could get stolen, or "accidently" sold with other info.

Let's say you accidently bounce a check - That check is then reported to telecheck. PDL company checks your telecheck report, contacts the merchant, shows them the contract you signed saying they can debit any account you have, tell the merchant you owe them money too and are trying to collect, you are a deadbeat running from your bills, etc, and then merchant, thinking he's doing good by helping another business collect on a bad check gives the pdl company the info. It's a long shot, and the merchant shouldn't give out the info, but it could happen.

There is also a process called skip tracing, that some companies pay for. It pretty much browses all the databases of information looking for anything related to you. Then it follows the trail until it finds what it is looking for. A lof of collection companies use skip tracing.

Your checks have your name, address, routing number, and account number on them. If someone got a hold of one, they could easily go on a shopping spree online.

Pretty much, this kind of bank account info isn't supposed to be available. But it can be . . . . It's really a long shot that your new account will get hit by the pdl's, but there is a chance.

Alright Goudah, thanks for the info. I will keep a close eye on my accounts to make sure.

BTW-OneClickcash debited their "fees" and a $50 paydown last night. Idiots. I want to see these companies GO DOWN!

jen, listen to goudah. I know it sounds insane, but there is ALWAYS a chance someone can get your account information. And, I am super paranoid (as she stated!) now regarding making even my bill payments! If I'm paying a bill now, I do it using my debit card rather then giving them my bank account information. Some on-line bill pays, you can put in your bank account information (routing number, account number) and they'll deduct it from your account. So, there you go, innocently giving out your bank account information! If I have to write a check, I try to make darn sure it's someone "reputable" and just pray! And the reason we are so super paranoid is because we've been stung! And, I'm sorry those jerks got your money AGAIN! That really does suck.

I am going through this as well Jenn and I struggled with changing banks as I have been a customer for 12 years with the same account. After dealing with a bank that won't help me stop these debits I have decided to change anyway. Anyway, a lot of stores, etc are now doing automatic check coversion (WALMART) where they debit your account. That account number is stored in a database, if someone breaks into it or anything like that, those numbers are no longer secured. It happens, just like the numbers of how many millions of veterans information that was stolen from that database that was hacked into a year or so again. My husband is a veteran and a part of that database, only problem is taht he doesn't have credit to mess up, LOL! That was this year's goal and it has been put on hold due to the PDL mess I got us into.

Not to say anyone is wrong or anything...because I get great advice on this site all the time...but, why would it matter if you changed banks or not. If they can do things like skip tracing or following up with a teletrack merchant they could get you inofrmation no matter what bank you are with...Correct?