Top 3 US Government Laws Payday Loan Borrowers Should Know

Filed under payday loan scam prevention, February 17th, 2010 by admin

Payday loans offer a great way to take care of expenses when you are low on cash and your next payday is still days away. Basically, a payday loan is a type of financial product offered by lenders, in which a small loan is lent to the borrower for a short term period. Normally, the term is decided on when the borrower’s next payday is. While consumers can benefit greatly from payday loans, there are also a lot of dangers that are associated with this type of loan. For example, because of the nature of the loan, borrowers can get carried away, not realizing that their debt is building up and they are entirely dependent on payday loans. Another danger is that lenders can take advantage of borrowers by overcharging or loan sharking. To combat this, there are a number of US laws governing payday loans to protect both consumers and lenders. Read on to learn more about these laws.

Top 3 US government laws on payday loans

Typically, laws on payday loans differ from state to state, with some laws being more strict with numerous, specific laws and other states having little to no legislation on payday loans. Perhaps the most important payday loan law to recognize is the state limit for payday loan fees. These laws prevent lenders from overcharging consumers. Another important law is that, in some states, payday loan lenders are required to follow guidelines as to what information they must disclose to the borrower. In these states, lenders are required to provide a written agreement that is understandable and clear, with fees in boldface print. It is also important to keep up with some of the payday loan laws that are currently seeking Congressional approval, such as the Payday Loan Reform Act of 2009 and the C.L.E.A.R. Act, both of which seek to nail the APR rate on payday loans at 780 percent.

Importance of knowing basic payday loan laws

It is extremely important to know the laws on payday loans, otherwise, you can easily fall victim to predatory pricing, loan sharking, and scam lenders. Falling victim to unlawful payday loan plans and lenders can lead to further financial turmoil, reducing your chances of paying off your loan in full, and increasing your debt. Also, knowing payday loan laws will ensure that you do not violate any law yourself. The main idea is that payday loan laws protect both you as a consumer and the lender, so it is always best to know these laws and how they relate to you as a borrower.

Related questions:

1. What are the top payday loan laws?
2. How do payday loan laws help protect me as a consumer?
3. Do payday loan laws also protect lenders?

One Response to “Top 3 US Government Laws Payday Loan Borrowers Should Know”

  1. Kaye Ann Roces says on October 1st, 2010 at 10:07 am

    Payday loans have its pros and cons in which one can enjoy purchasing an important item with just a little cash and the pay day is a very far ahead from now. The disadvantages of it are the high interest that can be applied by lenders that will discourage borrowers to loan again. And so the US government set rules so that these circumstances will not happen. The most important payday loan law to recognize is the state limit for payday loan fees. These prevent lenders from overcharging consumers. Another, payday loan lenders are required to follow guidelines as to what information they must disclose to the borrower which requires lenders to provide a written agreement that is understandable and clear, with fees in boldface print.Payday Loan Reform Act of 2009 and the C.L.E.A.R. Act, both of which needs congressional approval.

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