Predatory Lending Overview

For four years, Virginia Organizing has joined with many other organizations in urging the members of the Virginia General Assembly to stop predatory lenders and the financial trap they set for people in dire financial straights.

In 2008 a payday loan bill was enacted with provisions that fell far short of what we wanted at the time as it only helped reduce, not stop abusive financial practices of payday lenders. However, our efforts to end predatory lending in Virginia continue because predatory car title loans and open-ended loans simply took over where payday loans left off.

In 2010, the Virginia General Assembly enacted legislation providing some reforms to car title lending, helping protect consumers from this financial trap. The legislation was not perfect due to the high interest rates permitted, but was considered a major victory because it included time limits on the loans, interest rate caps, notices before cars can be repossessed, more information provided to borrowers and licensing requirements for lenders.

Virginia Organizing joins organizations throughout the Commonwealth in supporting a 36% interest rate cap on all loans in Virginia, a measure that will end predatory lending once and for all.