By Harry Samler, CBS46 (Watch video) ATLANTA, Ga. (CBS46) — Many people are out of work now and going into debt. Commercials offering debt relief may be tempting, but consumer experts say these firms may make promises they can’t keep. Liz...
More infoGeorgians report online scammers taking advantage of coronavirus fear
By Stanley Dunlap – Georgia Recorder Peachtree Corners’ Hyebin Eom spent $350 on protective masks last month only to find out in the ensuing days the company would not deliver the masks she hoped would keep her family and friends safe during the...
More infoAs the wave of joblessness crashes, quick-cash outlets could be about to reap bonanza
By Kevin G. Hall – McClatchy DC On the website of the nation’s largest car-title lender TitleMax and its Florida subsidiary InstaLoan, a letter from Otto Bielss, company president, reassures customers that 1,176 locations nationwide are being...
More infoTitle Loan Bill Passes Senate Finance Committee
ATLANTA (March 2, 2020) | Senate Bill 329, introduced by Senator Randy Robertson (R-Cataula), passed the Senate Finance Committee today. Also known as the Motor Vehicle Title Loan Act, this bill would close legal loopholes that currently allow car titles...
More infoBill would cap car title interest
By Riley Bunch – Valdosta Times Alice Harris was watching television with her two grandkids when a commercial came on for an auto title loan company. At that time in May 2017, she was in the thick of a custody battle and out of money to pay her...
More infoCar title loans face interest rate caps in Georgia Senate bill
PHOTO: David Goldman By: Beau Evans, Capitol Beat News Service ATLANTA — The practice of pawning one’s car title to make ends meet could get a bit more restrictive in Georgia under a bipartisan bill filed in the 2020 legislative session. Using a...
More infoWARNING: Georgians taking out high interest loans that could cost them their car
By Leah Dunn – WSB-TV (Watch Now) ATLANTA — Channel 2 consumer adviser Clark Howard says Georgians looking to borrow against the value of their vehicle need to understand that the loan may come with a big catch if it comes from a title...
More infoDebt traps, easy filing rules fuel Georgia’s high bankruptcy rate
By Willoughby Mariano – The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Georgia’s remains among the top three states in the nation for personal bankruptcy filings, even as the state unemployment rate drops to all-time lows. The state’s overall number of...
More infoEquifax reaches $700 million settlement over breach
By Michael E. Kanell and Greg Bluestein – Atlanta Journal-Constitution Atlanta-based Equifax on Monday announced it has reached a $700 million-plus settlement with the government that, pending court approval, will mean an end to legal...
More infoSunTrust CEO talks community investment, merger updates with BB&T
By J. Scott Trubey – The Atlanta Journal-Constitution SunTrust Banks plans to double its annual community investment in metro Atlanta over the next three years, part of the company’s promise to remain a powerful local civic figure as it merges with...
More infoTell the CFPB Not to Repeal Protections Against 300% APR Car Title Loans
Comments are due May 15, 2019 to urge the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) not to repeal the heart of the payday and car title loan rule. Georgia voters across the state overwhelmingly support reform of the predatory lending industry...
More infoLending practices skirt Georgia law
Well, that’s easy, Renee McKoy thought, seeing the offer. The Gwinnett County woman knew she could buy shoes and groceries online. So why not also try to shop for a loan? She clicked an email link, squiggled a digital signature and watched $800 pop into...
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