TOM HORNE ISSUES HOLIDAY CONSUMER ALERT ON PAYDAY LOAN AND COLLECTION CALL SCAMS

PHOENIX (Wednesday, December 21, 2011)-- As the holiday approaches, many consumers may feel the need to obtain extra money from resources such as online payday lenders. Arizona Attorney General Tom Horne warns consumers that payday loans are illegal in the state of Arizona, including the solicitation of online loans to consumers in the state of Arizona, and warns consumers to be alert of collection calls scams relating to outstanding payday loans.

Many Arizona consumers have received collection calls from fake law firms or fake government agencies telling consumers they owe monies to a payday loan company and threaten consumers with legal action. They frequently ask the consumer to provide bank account information to pay off the outstanding debt and may supply partial social security numbers or dates of birth as a tactic to obtain sensitive information from consumers. The company may also have information about the consumer’s employer and personal friends and relatives.






If a consumer obtained a payday loan prior to June 30, 2010 (the last day payday loans were legal in Arizona) and a balance is still due, the consumer is still obligated to pay back the debt. Also, internet payday lenders are generally subject to the same laws governing consumer loan lenders in Arizona. Consumers should be cautious of signing up for an online payday loan. Many Arizona consumers, who have attempted to apply for an online payday loan, have become victims of harassing calls simply because they entered their personal information into an unsecured website. Even if you do not accept the online loan, your information still may be vulnerable to third party companies. Remember: If you never took out a payday loan then you do not owe debt towards a payday loan.






Here are some tips to remember if you receive a telephone call from a collector claiming you owe debt to a payday lender:

• 1.  Do not give out personal identifying information over the telephone, including bank account information or credit card information.

• 2.  If you had a payday loan and paid it in full, clarify with the original lender that your debt has been paid in full before making additional payments.

• 3.  The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act prohibits collectors from using unfair, abusive or deceptive practices to collect debt, including:

• A. threatening to arrest you if you do not pay your debt;

• B.  threatening to garnish your wages;

• C.  calling repeatedly and harassing you;

• D.  falsely claiming to be law enforcement, an attorney or law firm; or

• E.  falsely claiming you committed a crime.

The Federal Trade Commission handles scam telephone calls and offers an FAQ for consumers: http://ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/credit/cre18.shtm


To stop a collector from harassing you, make sure you take the following precautions:

• 4.  Ask the collector to send you a statement in writing of the debt that is owed;

• 5.  If a debt is not owed and you would like the collector to stop contacting you, send a letter to the company via certified mail;

Make sure your number is listed on the Do Not Call registry to prohibit harassing, unwanted and unnecessary telephone calls: http://donotcall.gov


If you feel you’ve been a victim of consumer fraud, please contact the Arizona Attorney General’s Office Consumer Information & Complaints Unit at (602) 542-5763 / (520) 628-6504 / (800) 352-8431. You can also file a consumer complaint online at: www.azag.gov/consumer/complaintform.html.


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