PDL Purgatory in Pennsylvania

Welcome to the site tuk! We all know the feeling of despair ur feeling right now! We've all been there and not so long ago!
Although i don't know much about pdl's there are MANY people here that do! I'm sure someone will be along soon to help u out! U may want to put a little more info, like are they internet or storefront, amount of each and amt paid to each to date.
Good Luck and hang tight, u've come to the right place for help!!
Ang

You are definitely not alone! I'm also in PA and had too many payday loans taking my wole check. I fell behind on everything else b/c there was nothing left. BUT I found this site and started reading and taking the advice here. I closed my bank account. Then figured out what I borrowed,paid, and if I owed for each loan.Sent letters to all of them to revoke authorization for debits, phone calls,wage assignments. I am not free yet but I can see it happening.What a relief! I got my first reply that one pdl is being marked paid in full. It does work. It won't be easy for all of them but now I can pay rent and utilities while I work things out. Try it. It really is a huge step. I was scared but feeling control return is worth it. Good luck to you. Keep reading and posting there's lots of support here.

Thanks for the response Ang! Here is a little more info:

Storefront:
Advance America
Amount Borrowed: $540
Amount Paid: $720

Internet:
CashNetUsa
Amount Borrowed: $200
Amount Paid: $115
800899Cash
Amount Borrowed: $300
Amount Paid: $152.57
OneStepCash
Amount Borrowed: $300
Amount Paid: $180
USFastCash
Amount Borrowed: $300
Amount Paid: $90
Big-Ltd (?)
Amount Borrowed: $200
Amount Paid: $80
VCFunding
Amount Borrowed: $250
Amount Paid: $75
First Bank of Delaware - this is an "installment loan"
Amount Borrowed: $300
Amount Paid: $59.65
UrgentCashAdvance
Amount Borrowed: $300
Amount Paid: $0
WebPayday
Amount Borrowed: $400
Amount Paid: $0

All of the above internet loans are scheduled to debit fees from my checking account this Friday, which as I calculate it, will come to approximately $584 - and this is just to pay the interest and fees. This won't pay down any of the principal. I only receive $972 per paycheck, so obviously this is a major issue. The loans that I am least worried about are the Advance America and First Bank of Delaware, as they seemed to be the least predatory of the lenders. Advance America has their storefronts all across the country. The others simply make me want to be sick. All this from needing immediate cash - and of course me being gullible and irresponsible.

My goodness, this is a horrible cycle to be in...hopefully somebody out there has some advice!

There's plenty of advice here tuk! Although i'm not familiar with pdl's i'm sure the first thing u need to do is go and close ur checking acct! Tell the bank about this pdl's and revoke their right to debit ur acct. Hang on and i'll get someone to come and tell u what to do step by step!
You've definately found the right place for help!!
Ang

I belive in Pennsylvania PDL's are prohibited or very restricted. The most they can get per $100 for fees is $9.50

please find your info here http://www.debtconsolidationcare.com/paydayloan/explain-pdls-laws.html


You can do one of two things, you can contact these PDL's and tell them about Pennslvania law regarding PDL's and request a payment plan without the illegal interest they are probably charging. I would also say to close your bank account and open a new account or ask your bank to not allow ACH debiting from your account because these places will try and take your money.

Or you can again, close your account and not pay the loans back since most of these companies appear to be acting against PA. law. They will not be able to have you arrested nor will they try and sue since they will not win in court since they are breaking the law.

Advance America has an action filed against them by the state of PA. for illegal practices and not being licensed in the state. Most, if not all of those PDL's probably are not even licensed in PA. so they cannot force you to pay.

btrx...thanks for your kind words. Maybe there actually is a light at the end of the tunnel! The worst thing with me is that the PDL stuff is just an extension of my terrible credit rating. Right now it is hard for me to think positive - all I want is to live a simple, happy life with my family, buy a house, not have to live paycheck-to-paycheck. With my bad credit and mounds of debt and now the payday loan debt on top of all that, I'm seeking out all the advice that I can so that someday I can be debt free and not have to worry constantly.

ramj70 - thank you for the information. One question regarding Advance America. That loan is secured with a personal check that I write each time I make a payment. That said, what would the ramifications be if I closed my bank account while a personal check is out there to secure the money they have paid out?

Hopefully I worded that clearly...I can't tell if it makes sense now that I read it! :D

Be patient tuk and u will one day, sooner than u think, start building ur credit up and have all u dream of!!
Stay with this board, work thru ur situation and it will all be fine!!
Good Luck and glad u found this site!
Ang

Do you currently have a check out there right now, written to advance america for a certain amount of money that they have not cashed? Not a voided check. Also Advance america was supposed to stop making payday loans last year in PA. Go to this website to get more information and phone numbers if need be.

banking.state.pa.us/banking/cwp/view.asp?a=1347&q=546255&bankingNav=|32124|

Do as Ram says and also contact your Attorney Generals office consumer division. I spoke to them the other day. They said they are not receiving that many complaints in PA. They cannot do anything without complaints. They are very sucessful mediators in these situations. KYSIDE38

ramj40 - First of all, MANY THANKS! To answer your question, yes, there is a personal check written in the amount of $546 that they "hold" until my due date, at which time I make their minimum monthly payment of $172 (including their $149 "participation fee" and a payment against the principal), they hand back the old check for me to void and I write a new check for the new balance on the account. So yes, in short, there is a personal check out there written to advance america for a certain amount of money.

kyside38 - thank you for the information, I am definitely going to take that advice.

Oh and BTW, after reading further on the boards, it seems that First Bank of Delaware isn't as innocent as I first thought. Someone else on the board is having a horrible time with them. Apparently they lend after being referred through another agent called "Check n Go" - I don't remember filling out a Check n Go application, but obviously I must have at some point. Ugh.

Just wanted to let you all know, in case you hadn't seen that in the other posts.

That could complicate things because there is a possibility they could file criminal charges if you close an account with an outstanding check out there. However that payday loan they are doing is illegal because they are not licensed in the state to do payday loans, and the fees they are charging is illegal. They were supposed to stop giving payday loans last year and I'm sure PA. will be interested to know they are still doing it. First I would call the 1-800-PA-BANKS, or 1-800-722-2657 and explain the situation to get their advice and see what they say, make sure you explain to them about the check and payday loan and such. You might still be able to close the account.

You can also still close your account if you have the $546 in the account. You can ask the bank to close the account and tell them about the outstanding check. As long as you have the money in the account its okay. Also do make sure to tell your bank to not allow any ACH debits and close that account as soon as legally possible.

Great Information Ram. Thank you so much for posting that. Kyside38

What an awesome find! I know Kyside has repeatedly stated that pdls are illegal including ipdls, some people are under the assumption that if they are licensed in other states they are ok to loan. Not so. BUT I AM SURE SOMEBODY WILL ATTEMPT TO CORRECT ME ON THAT ONE.

GET YOUR COMPLAINTS IN TO THE PA ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE. PLEASE!

That suit is not new . . . It's been posted in several other topics too. It's from 2006. They are suing them because they have a physical loaction in PA and were attempting to get around the ban on pdl's by offering "lines of credit" where you pay a "monthly participation fee" to use the "line of credit". The monthly participation fee is something like $125 a month, while the "interest" they charged was only 6% . . . . And they thought they could get away with doing it that way!

Ahhhhhhhhhhh! I knew it wouldn't be a long wait until I was corrected! :D

I will be contacting the AG's office this afternoon...I will keep you updated with what they tell me.

Many thanks go out to all of you weighing in on this subject. I really appreciate it!

Great to hear! Good Luck, it is smart to get your complaints in to your Attorney General! :D

AG's office (PA Dept of Banking) was no help...basically said that I had signed a contract, and that I would just have to deal with it. Not what I was expecting.

The bank was no help either...I can't close the account as I need to get paid (too late to stop direct deposit) and they won't block all ACH transactions...they can only block 1 at a time according to them.

What do I do now?

Have you read what the dept of banking says about internet loans?


If you go the the PA banking website, click on Laws and Regulations, then interpretive letters, then consumer discount company act, there is a letter halfway down that explains the departments policy on internet loans.

Did you ask your bank if they could put your account on deposit only? Did you tell them this was to prevent fraudulant transactions coming through?

tukki,

What internet lenders are you dealing with?

:D Steelers, you're so funny and so right!

If the department of banking was no help which I knew they wouldnt be PLEASE contact your Attorney General. Payday loans are PROHIBITED in your state Period. Lost Lady made a post today that the Ag is helping her. Attorney Generals are lawyers that are trained in your state laws. No one knows your laws better than they do. I would definately contact them. I am not a lawyer nor would I act like I know everything that a lawyer does. In WV payday loans are Prohibited as well. Go to wvrecord.com and search payday loans and you will see the power of the AG. Best Wishes Kyside38

:D Well said!!!! I had much better luck with the AG in my state as well.

The Attorney General consumer and antitrust division they are located in Harrisburg Pa I spoke to a person there the other day that told me that they are not receiving that many complaints. Complain people lostlady heard from them. Kyside38

LMAO! What the hell do any of us know Mishele? LMAO! I just like to post mindless dribble because I know I will be corrected, and you should watch out, you are next! LMAO! Besides, the Attorney General is the one to complain to! OOOOOPs, surely I will be corrected once again, I don't give a shit, correct me, I will continue to post mindless dribble, like I said, what the hell do I know? Only survived the pdl hell.

I don't much but I know I love you :-) LOL! I agree that the complaints should start with the AG in your state. I had problems with the DIF until I got the AG involved. It also depends on the person that you get. Some don't know so they don't want to get involved. But keep complaining to the AG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I CAN'T STRESS THAT ENOUGH!!!

And that may be all there is to know............ :D

AG< What does that mean. Attorney General. Does anybody think that the word attorney means that these people have law degrees. Nobody and I repeat Nobody knows the laws like these people. Mishele and Steelers are exactly right. Complain Complain Complain. These are the people that have the voice to change this mess. KYSIDE38

And that is just a fact, I think, OH WAIT, maybe I'm wrong, maybe Kyside is wrong, maybe Mishele is wrong. NO WAIT, they are RIGHT! COMPLAIN COMPLAIN COMPLAIN TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL!!!!!

They just went to law school but that means crap to some people LMAO!!! I am right and don't forget it. The sad thing is I just spend my time agreeing with Steelers and Kyside now LOL! Yes, do send those complaints in. The first one I sent mine really helped me out of one of my worst pdl scenarious. The AG's office contacted me to make sure everything was settled to my liking.

And I spend most of my time agreeing with Kyside, Mishele, and Fins. What a twisted gang of tardy ho's we are.

Ladies. All of you are right and for the simple fact that the law is not black and white. The law is totally GREY.

Yes, storefront lending is absolutely illegal in PA, but you know what? Advance America has found a loophole in the law to still exist there.

What Goudah has posted is absolutely correct regarding the declatory ruling from the banking department.

The law is GREY. You are all correct in what you are saying.

Now please be respectful of eachother. We are a team and there is no 'I' in team. I couldn't stand the point guard on my basketball team in high school, but I had to play with her to benefit the team. You are all essential members of the team. Treat each other in a spirit of your mission here...helping others.

Peace,
~Polly

I never said that Goudah was not correct in what the Dept of Banking said. My advice here has been to contact the Attorney General. I did personally speak with them the other day and they told me they were not receiving that many complaints. I do not want to cause problems on here so I will excuse myself from any PA threads. That way there will not be any more problems.

ky, There is no need to excuse yourself because there is nothing wrong with the information that you are sharing. That was my point in totality. All of you were sharing accurate and strong information.

Thanks to everyone who has replied to this thread, I am still trying to muddle my way through this craziness. If nothing else, and no matter what the outcome ultimately is, it definitely helps to know that this site exists for people like me!

Just knowing that so many people have weighed in on the subject is comforting. Now to see what the Attorney General has to say...

Wish me luck!

Sorry, that post ^ was me...I just forgot to login

:)

Hope u got the information u needed to try to start your fight Tuk! Seems your thread was hijacked! ha ha But ur right, this site is a God send when ur feeling so desparate!
Good Luck and let us know who it goes!
Ang
P.S. I used to forget to sign in ALL the time until someone here suggested to put a pop up on my comp and that's what i did, it worked!! Sorry i forgot who suggested it but thanx for the suggestion! Worked for me! :)

So what can I legally tell these people when they call me at work?

I think that since I took their money, I really should pay it back, but the so-called renewal fees more than cover the original amount of the loan. Is there a "script" or something that I could read them asking them to consider the loan paid in full? Even though I paid more than I borrowed, I would even consider the overpayments as Interest or fees. Sure, I wouldn't mind getting them to refund the overage, but at this point, I just want it to be OVER WITH.