Try the other alternatives we discuss here.Ĭan I close my checking account to try to stop a payday lender from taking money from it? You will end up paying far more in fees and costs than you ever meant to borrow. You could end up taking out several loans in a year because you end up taking out one at every payday to pay the last one back or to pay other bills. You can get into the cycle of paying off one loan and immediately taking out a new one to cover other bills. To avoid a debt trap, avoid taking out another payday loan to pay back the first one.These loans are so easy to get that you might think paying them back will also be easy. Under Washington law, you must pay off an existing loan first before taking out another loan with that lender. Any payday lender that has you pay an additional fee to “roll over” your payday loan and make the entire loan due later is violating state law. Should I deal with it by paying a fee and taking out another payday loan? If you try to cancel your loan by the deadline but the lender charges you a fee or refuses to cancel your loan, report this immediately to DFI. The lender should not charge you for canceling the loan. Will I have to pay to cancel a payday loan? Your loan documents should have information about your right to cancel your loan. If the lender is open 24 hours, you must return to the lender before midnight the next day. You must return to that same payday lender before it closes on Wednesday. You later decide you do not want the loan. If you miss a payment on your payment plan, the lender can charge you a one-time default fee of $25 and start collection on your defaulted loan.Įxample: You took out a payday loan on Tuesday. If your loan is for more than $400, your installment plan must be at least 180 days (6 months).Īre there any fees involved in the installment plan? If your loan is for $400 or less, the plan must be at least 90 days (3 months). On or before your loan comes due (even if it is your first loan), if you tell your payday lender you cannot pay the loan when it is due, the lender must tell you that you can have an installment plan (a payment plan).Īny such plan must be in writing. Contact a lawyer to discuss this option before trying this.Ĭan I ask the payday lender for a payment plan? You might be able to stop payment on the check, close your bank account, and reopen a new bank account. If you are having the payday loan money automatically deducted from your bank account, ask the bank to stop the automatic deduction. Ask if the bank could reverse any fees or charges on your account resulting from the bounced check. Try to talk to someone at your bank, in person at a branch or on a customer service line. (See dfi.wa.gov/consumers/payday-loan-complaint.) DFI probably cannot help you if the lender is a tribal lender. Most internet payday loans and loans from tribal lenders are void (unenforceable) in Washington.Ĭontact the WA State Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) right away if you are having problems with an online lender. In the end, you may owe the amount you borrowed, plus the fee, overdraft charges, bounced check fee, possible collections fees, and possible court costs if the payday lender or collection agency sues you. By writing a check on your account or authorizing the payday lender to remove money directly from the account, you give the payday lender permission to take money out of your account – no matter what types of funds are in the account.Īt some point, the payday lender might send your debt to collections. Some types of government benefits ( example: SSI) normally cannot be garnished by a debt collector. Each time the check bounces, the bank will charge you an overdraft fee. Some payday lenders might try to cash the check several times. Your bank and the payday lender will both charge you a fee. If you do not have enough in your account, your check will bounce. It can cash it on the date payment is due. I am in a payday loan debt trap, or I think the payday lender has violated the law.Can I file a complaint about a payday lender?.The lender is charging a higher rate than state law allows. Can the lender threaten me with criminal charges?.(It won.) My only income is from social security or a pension. Can I close my checking account to try to stop a payday lender from taking money from it?.Will I have to pay to cancel a payday loan?.Can I ask the payday lender for a payment plan?.
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