States across the US that legalize payday lending have special laws in place to make sure loans are fair for both lenders and consumers. Payday loan laws vary from state to state, but most states regulate interest rates, payment plans, and roll overs to make sure consumers are responsible and lenders don’t engage in predatory practices. Most payday lenders are trustworthy, but some are more interested in profit than customers. Payday loan laws make sure that potentially predatory lenders are kept in check.
Interest Rate Caps
Several states monitor the interest charged by payday lenders. Some states require lenders to abide by the state maximum interest rate, while others set special parameters just for payday lenders. States like Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York require lenders to stick with the statewide cap set for all financial institutions. Other states like Texas and California set a rate cap specifically for the payday loan industry, so that lenders can still make the profit they need while charging their customers a fair price for their loans.
State interest rates apply to online payday loans as well. Most consumers can borrow an online payday loan in any state from an online lender in any state, as long as that lender is licensed in the consumer’s home state and abides by the interest rate laws there. Any lenders who don’t follow the rules should be reported to your state’s financial regulation board.
Roll Overs
Payday loan rollovers have been known to cause plenty of consumer debt. Rollovers allow a customer to extend their cash loan instead of having to pay it back right away. However, the customer must still pay the interest due, plus a new service fee every time they wish to roll over the loan. As the fees add up, so does the debt. Most states limit rollovers to one or two per customer to keep consumers out of these debt traps.
Payment Plans
Some states ban rollovers altogether. These states usually have some kind of rules regarding payment plans that lenders must follow. Payment plans can make your cash loan more affordable with installment payments instead of being required to repay your loan with one lump sum.
Knowing the laws in your state will help make you a more responsible borrower.