Over the past six months, iWatch News has published a series of investigative stories in our Debt Deception series about abusive lending practices and the efforts of some lenders to avoid government oversight.
We’ve written about auto lenders that jack up interest rates without customer knowledge.
We’ve reported on payday lenders that are setting up shop on tribal lands to escape federal oversight.
Most recently, we investigated credit unions that are getting into the high-cost payday lending business.
Now, we want to hear your stories. Have you borrowed money only to learn later that the terms were different than you first thought? Or did a lender take advantage of you in some other way?
Your answers will help inform our reporting at an important time. Next month, a new federal agency with broad powers to regulate the consumer finance market will open its doors. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau promises to be a “cop on the beat” looking out for the best interest of consumers. But there’s much we don’t know about the new agency. What will be its first priorities? Will it challenge banks on practices sanctioned by other regulators? Who will head it up?
Most importantly, we want to know if it will address lending problems reported by consumers like you. Please take a few minutes to fill out our short survey.