Kellerwerks
New Member
- Jurisdiction
- Texas
Well, this is a situation. I'm looking for answers and getting a lot of shoulder shrugging.
Been a little over a decade since I tangled with payday loans, I finally killed that monster, but now I'm sorry to find myself back in a way. Same situation, different dressing. I swore I would never get trapped by payday loans again and, technically, I haven't. These are "installment" loans, but it looks like they're all run by PDL companies. I have been able to pay quite a few off or consolidate some, but now I got four big ones that are giving me a headache. One of them is store front, so I guess it's the most 'legit' of all.
I won't deny that I've played with the PDLs and installments from time to time since I first got stung, but I was always careful to take out not exorbitant amounts and pay them off quickly. It just takes one false move for the avalanche to start…
I had contacted InCharge Debt Solutions with the info. I called them once to confirm that they dealt with "installment" loans, and even name checked two. But when I spoke to someone the next day, I found that only my credit cards were showing up in their system. When I named the companies and gave them the info, they told me that these were Payday Loan companies and that's why they weren't showing up in their system.
I know that there are a number of PDL Consolidation companies out there who I would assume work with these "Installment" loans, but I think I find a lot of them only slightly more shady than the PDL Companies themselves, so I don't know who to trust.
So the info:
I'm in Texas.
The loans:
1. Check N Go. Storefront. Loan was for $5000. Current balance is $6076.75. Payments are $725. Paid nothing yet.
2. Maxlend. Online. Loan was for $2500. Current balance is $2229.25. Payments are $422. Paid $3376.
3. Makwa Finance. Online. Loan was for $600. Current (payoff) balance is $817.02. Payments are $145.85. Paid back $729.25
4. Sunshine loans. Online. Loan was for $1000. Current balance is $1953.54. Payments are $280.40. Paid back $280.40.
Maxlend and Makwa are tribal loans. Now, what I heard on another forum was that since tribal loans operate outside of state and local laws and mandates, all I REALLY owed such companies was the principal amount that I originally borrowed. After I paid that amount off, I did not have to pay any of the exuberant interest. I asked to make sure this was true on AVVO, another legal board, and was responded to with "I think that is not correct. As with any lender they can collect what you agreed to pay unless the interest is above what state law allows." I am pretty sure that the interest IS above what state law allows, so… I'm covered? Not covered?
Finding straight answers and info is hard. I called the Texas Consumer Commission, and was told that they didn't know as they didn't govern tribal law. They suggested I contact a consumer attorney, but everyone I've contacted has said that they had no idea and wouldn't even know where to find that information.
So that's the situation I'm in. Nobody knows anything, but I'm pretty sure those lenders are going to try to snag what they believe they're owed. How, or how successful they'll be…?
As of right now, I've closed my old checking account, so they can't make ACH debits from it anymore. I guess I will be spending the weekend trying to make sense of this all. It is certainly a distracting thing to contend with in one's mind during work hours.
So, obviously, if anybody has anything even slightly resembling a knowing answer, I'm keen to hear it. Any advice whatsoever would be greatly appreciated.
Been a little over a decade since I tangled with payday loans, I finally killed that monster, but now I'm sorry to find myself back in a way. Same situation, different dressing. I swore I would never get trapped by payday loans again and, technically, I haven't. These are "installment" loans, but it looks like they're all run by PDL companies. I have been able to pay quite a few off or consolidate some, but now I got four big ones that are giving me a headache. One of them is store front, so I guess it's the most 'legit' of all.
I won't deny that I've played with the PDLs and installments from time to time since I first got stung, but I was always careful to take out not exorbitant amounts and pay them off quickly. It just takes one false move for the avalanche to start…
I had contacted InCharge Debt Solutions with the info. I called them once to confirm that they dealt with "installment" loans, and even name checked two. But when I spoke to someone the next day, I found that only my credit cards were showing up in their system. When I named the companies and gave them the info, they told me that these were Payday Loan companies and that's why they weren't showing up in their system.
I know that there are a number of PDL Consolidation companies out there who I would assume work with these "Installment" loans, but I think I find a lot of them only slightly more shady than the PDL Companies themselves, so I don't know who to trust.
So the info:
I'm in Texas.
The loans:
1. Check N Go. Storefront. Loan was for $5000. Current balance is $6076.75. Payments are $725. Paid nothing yet.
2. Maxlend. Online. Loan was for $2500. Current balance is $2229.25. Payments are $422. Paid $3376.
3. Makwa Finance. Online. Loan was for $600. Current (payoff) balance is $817.02. Payments are $145.85. Paid back $729.25
4. Sunshine loans. Online. Loan was for $1000. Current balance is $1953.54. Payments are $280.40. Paid back $280.40.
Maxlend and Makwa are tribal loans. Now, what I heard on another forum was that since tribal loans operate outside of state and local laws and mandates, all I REALLY owed such companies was the principal amount that I originally borrowed. After I paid that amount off, I did not have to pay any of the exuberant interest. I asked to make sure this was true on AVVO, another legal board, and was responded to with "I think that is not correct. As with any lender they can collect what you agreed to pay unless the interest is above what state law allows." I am pretty sure that the interest IS above what state law allows, so… I'm covered? Not covered?
Finding straight answers and info is hard. I called the Texas Consumer Commission, and was told that they didn't know as they didn't govern tribal law. They suggested I contact a consumer attorney, but everyone I've contacted has said that they had no idea and wouldn't even know where to find that information.
So that's the situation I'm in. Nobody knows anything, but I'm pretty sure those lenders are going to try to snag what they believe they're owed. How, or how successful they'll be…?
As of right now, I've closed my old checking account, so they can't make ACH debits from it anymore. I guess I will be spending the weekend trying to make sense of this all. It is certainly a distracting thing to contend with in one's mind during work hours.
So, obviously, if anybody has anything even slightly resembling a knowing answer, I'm keen to hear it. Any advice whatsoever would be greatly appreciated.