Oregon payday loan shops under fire from officials

December 13, 2005 - Portland, Oregon

Legislators, activists and a Portland city commissioner say they will move to further limit practices of the hundreds of "payday loan" offices across the state.

The number of businesses has mushroomed in recent years, and 70 companies now operate 356 payday or auto loan shops across the state, frequently charging interest rates of around 512 percent for quick short-term.

On Feb. 15 Portland Commissioner Dan Saltzman says he will introduce a law to regulate the lenders in the city.

"These loans are taking advantage of people in need and people who have no other place to turn," he said.

Rep. Jackie Dingfelder, D-Portland, is meeting with Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon, the Oregon Food Bank and others to find ways to tighten controls.

Rep. Debi Farr, R-Eugene, and Sen. Floyd Prozanski, D-Eugene, each lead interim consumer committees considering more rules.

Our Oregon, a political nonprofit, is taking steps toward an initiative drive to cap interest rates.

The groups say they are not trying to ban the businesses but want to curb high interest rates that make it difficult for borrowers to clear the debt.

The businesses made 2.9 million loans in Oregon over the past five years and sued some 12,000 Oregonians, most of whom could not keep up with the interest.

Loan operators say use of their services is a matter of choice and some don't mind paying more for fast easy access to cash.

Lenders say the loans are typically for two weeks, making the cost less than most banks charge for a bounced check. The law requires the interest rate to be prominently posted.

Oregon is among only seven states with no interest caps and is considered payday-loan friendly, said Jean Ann Fox, director of consumer protection for the Consumer Federation of America.

"The solution is for states to reimpose their usury and small-loan laws," she said. "Usury laws are to protect the needy from the greedy."

The 2003 Legislature adopted some regulations but put no cap on interest and allowed borrowers to roll over payments with added fees, which can mount up quickly and make repayment difficult.

Both Washington and California cap loan fees at $15 per $100 and do not allow rollovers.

Consumer advocates say states should go beyond regulating lenders and encourage banks and credit unions to offer low-interest alternatives. Some already do.

After taking out four short-term loans, Ruby and Ronald Stoker of Junction City rapidly sank into debt this year.

"We were taking out loans to pay back loans," said Ruby Stoker, 35, who has five children. "We were starting not to pay our rent so we could pay a loan."

They turned for help to O.U.R. Federal Credit Union in Eugene, which converted the Stokers' short-term loans into one fixed-rate loan with monthly payments.

The credit union has made it part of its mission to help people trapped by short-term lenders, said Loretta Moesta, president.

"We stop the bleeding immediately," she said. "Then we start dealing with the long-term issues to make sure they don't go back again."

News Source

KATU 2 (Consumer News Section), as reported by AP News

Related Stories - Oregon

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• Payday loan limits are long past due [November 22, 2006]
• Oregon: Report sparks interest in tightening payday loan rules [November 21, 2006]
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• Keizer will await 2007 payday-loan law [August 9, 2006]
• Oregon Governor promotes ... payday loan alternatives [July 28, 2006]
• An unjust assault on payday loan industry [July 7, 2006]
• We owe more thought to payday loan issue [July 6, 2006]
• Payday lenders look for ways around cap [July 2, 2006]
• Oregon City officials look to set limits on payday loans [June 7, 2006]
• Keep lid on payday loans [May 20, 2006]
• Industry to fight payday loan limits [April 22, 2006]
• Motivations questioned in payday-loan vote [April 21, 2006]
• Payday loan regulations win final approval [April 20, 2006]
• Payday loan reform heats up [April 19, 2006]
• Group asks for strong payday loan law or nothing at all [April 13, 2006]
• Payday loans under fire for high interest charges [April 12, 2006]
• Loans that come easy can go bad fast [March 24, 2006]
• Reformers take aim at payday loan rates [February 28, 2006]
• Catholic leaders call payday loan outfits 'predatory' ... [January 19, 2006]
• Witnesses call for lending limits [January 12, 2006]
• Oregon payday loan shops under fire from officials [December 13, 2005]

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