Idaho Hearing More Complaints about Pay Day Loans

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Idaho financial regulators are logging more complaints from consumers about the practices of payday lenders. The Idaho Department of Finance received 56 complaints about payday loans last year, up from 38 in 2011.

The Idaho Statesman reports  the agency also recently issued nine cease and desist orders against online payday lenders, with most targeting out-of-state websites. Payday loans are often considered a predatory form of lending because of their high fees and interest rates.

Consumer Finance Bureau Chief Michael Larsen says most of the complaints from consumers are about illegally garnished wages or lenders pushing through unfinished loan applications. Lawmakers have tried but failed in recent years to impose limits on the industry. Idaho caps payday loan amounts at $1,000 but doesn't regulate interest rates.