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How to Complain About Payday Lending Problems

flickr.com/andrewbain

The City of Austin is encouraging consumers to come to city staff with complaints about payday lenders and auto title lenders.

It’s been almost one year since the Austin City Council passed an ordinance that requires lenders to register with the city and to follow restrictions on loan amounts and refinancing.

“Recently, the City of Austin put together a resource – an informational website – for both credit access businesses as well as consumers,” says city spokesperson Patricia Fraga.

Loan customers can visit the site to learn about the city’s guidelines and register complaints. They can also email CABcomplaint@austintexas.gov, or call (512) 974-2466. Lenders can use the site to find registration information.

The requirements council passed stipulate that a loan not exceed 20 percent of the consumers’ gross income, and may not be financed more than three times.  

Another of the council’s new requirements is creation of a registry of all licensed short-term lenders in the city. Fraga notes the city began this process in the spring, and currently over halfway finished.

Wells has been a part of KUT News since 2012, when he was hired as the station's first online reporter. He's currently the social media host and producer for Texas Standard, KUT's flagship news program. In between those gigs, he served as online editor for KUT, covering news in Austin, Central Texas and beyond.
Laura first joined the KUT team in April 2012. She now works for the statewide program Texas Standard as a reporter and producer. Laura came to KUT from the world of television news. She has worn many different hats as an anchor, reporter and producer at TV stations in Austin, Amarillo and Toledo, OH. Laura is a proud graduate of the University of Missouri-Columbia, a triathlete and enjoys travel, film and a good beer. She enjoys spending time with her husband and pets.
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