Why a bad deal is a bad deal

Posted 5/24/12

To the Editor: A recent letter by Douglas R. Knight Jr., director of operations in Rhode Island for Check 'n Go, would have readers believe that taking out a payday loan, which nationwide traps the …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

E-mail
Password
Log in

Why a bad deal is a bad deal

Posted

To the Editor:

A recent letter by Douglas R. Knight Jr., director of operations in Rhode Island for Check 'n Go, would have readers believe that taking out a payday loan, which nationwide traps the average borrower in nine transactions per year at 260 percent annually, is better than an occasional overdraft fee.

The truth is that a bad deal is a bad deal. Payday loans are designed to lure struggling Rhode Island families with promises of emergency cash into a cycle of repeated borrowing. Studies have found that people who took out payday loans have difficulties paying off their bills and nearly doubled their chances of filing for bankruptcy.

Payday loans don't help borrowers with other predatory fees. In fact, as Harvard Business School Study found, 260 percent payday lending makes matters worse because borrowers end up deeper into the hole, resulting in more fees and many ultimately losing their checking accounts.

Mr. Knight and other payday lenders appear simply unable and unwilling to acknowledge those harms and are desperate to talk about anything but their own toxic product. These types of tactics have led me to believe that Rhode Island needs to revoke the special deal granted to payday lenders in 2001 that allows them to charge triple-digit interest rates. Perhaps then, families in Rhode Island will have real affordable financial options to choose from instead of just another debt trap.

Representative Frank Ferri
District 22
Warwick

Comments

2 comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here

  • bendover

    Rep. Ferri is correct and there in lies the truth. The GA allowed these things, "check cashing businesses" into RI in the first place. Secondly, if the GA hadn't turned Rhode Island's business climate into something that resembles a Kabul beggars market over the last 40+ years, there would be no need for check cashing, usury abusing scofflaws in these establishments.

    Keep in mind that these are the House members that all voted for the idiotic 38 Studios deal. These are the people who have sponsored or co-sponsored legislative grants over the last 20 years for the now missing Dan Doyle of International Institute for Sports at the University of Rhode Island. So Rep. Ferri, you are correct by using the terms " predatory fees", " borrowers end up deeper into the hole", "many ultimately losing their checking accounts", "filing for bankruptcy" we, the taxpayers of Warwick and RI are the real victims and it goes far beyond "pay day loans". You people need to be held accountable and simply being voted out is too good for about 95% of you. You should be tarred and feathered.

    Tuesday, May 29, 2012 Report this

  • Knowing54

    The Check Cashing businesses shows just how bad the States economy truly is...

    Friday, June 1, 2012 Report this