What do you think the highest rate of interest that can be legally charged in the US is? 25%? 30%? Maybe even 50%?
Not even close, try over 300%. You read that correctly, over 300%. I work in an HQ for a title loan company, and I was astounded to see what they are doing to poor people.
Right now I am looking at one woman's account. She used her car title to get a $350 loan three years ago. Fast forward to today - she has paid over $2700 and has hardly paid down the loan at all. Her interest rate is 304.17%. Its absolutely insane that this is legal - its an exploit of the 1994 banking deregulation. A lot of states have clamped down on it but too many haven't.
Now, this woman is an idiot. Theres no doubt about that. The car she used as collateral is a 1982 Toyota pickup. She would be better of letting them repo it. Theres no way that car is worth more than a few hundred bucks, yet shes paid 2700 to keep it. The best part is she has another loan that is exactly like this, so take what she's paid and owes and multiply it by 2.
I am leaving the job soon to go for a PhD - I would like to research the effect of these types of loans and see if I can't help get them banned outright. This woman may be an idiot, but the people who own the company know EXACTLY what they are doing - taking advantage of poor ignorant people.
You wonder what helps cause the credit crunch? This is one of the causes. Write your papers, congressmen, etc... we need to stop this ASAP.
Not even close, try over 300%. You read that correctly, over 300%. I work in an HQ for a title loan company, and I was astounded to see what they are doing to poor people.
Right now I am looking at one woman's account. She used her car title to get a $350 loan three years ago. Fast forward to today - she has paid over $2700 and has hardly paid down the loan at all. Her interest rate is 304.17%. Its absolutely insane that this is legal - its an exploit of the 1994 banking deregulation. A lot of states have clamped down on it but too many haven't.
Now, this woman is an idiot. Theres no doubt about that. The car she used as collateral is a 1982 Toyota pickup. She would be better of letting them repo it. Theres no way that car is worth more than a few hundred bucks, yet shes paid 2700 to keep it. The best part is she has another loan that is exactly like this, so take what she's paid and owes and multiply it by 2.
I am leaving the job soon to go for a PhD - I would like to research the effect of these types of loans and see if I can't help get them banned outright. This woman may be an idiot, but the people who own the company know EXACTLY what they are doing - taking advantage of poor ignorant people.
You wonder what helps cause the credit crunch? This is one of the causes. Write your papers, congressmen, etc... we need to stop this ASAP.