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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D">The Oregon Dept. of Consumer and Business Services is launching a public awareness campaign about unlicensed payday lenders and is seeking assistance from libraries in spreading the word. Here is a description
of their campaign:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D">“The Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services regulates payday lending in Oregon. Before offering and providing these loans to consumers, lenders must obtain a license from us and agree to abide by
Oregon’s laws that limit the fees and interest rates. The licensing requirement and agreement extends to those lenders offering payday loans that are not based in Oregon and those providing loans online – currently there are only 3 online payday lenders with
an Oregon license.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D">We are seeing an increase in the use of unlicensed payday loans by Oregonians. In fact we have received an average of two complaints a week. The majority of the complaints are from consumers who agree to a loan
(by an unlicensed lender) and have been charged numerous fees and excessive interest rates (200% - 800%). Worse yet, the lenders have access to the consumers’ bank accounts and debit money from their accounts sometimes on a weekly basis. These, and many other
consumers, are unaware that the lender must be licensed in Oregon.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D">Our campaign goal is to tell (and tell again) consumers to
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<ul style="margin-top:0in" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color:#1F497D;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2">Check the proper Oregon licensing of a prospective payday lender,
<o:p></o:p></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="color:#1F497D;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2">Make sure they are only charged the fees and interest rate allowed by Oregon law, and<o:p></o:p></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="color:#1F497D;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2">How to spot an unlicensed lender.<o:p></o:p></li></ul>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D">As part of our outreach efforts,
<b>we want to work with Oregon’s libraries to spread the word</b> – via mouse pads imprinted with our slogan “Would you pay $1,000 for a $300 loan?”; our website’s URL:
<a href="http://www.stopunlicensedloans.com">www.stopunlicensedloans.com</a></span><span style="color:#1F497D"> (still in production) and our toll-free number. Why mouse pads? Although we don’t have statistics, we know a good portion of those seeking loans
do so by going online. And since many libraries offer free Internet access, this is an effective means to reach people around the state.”
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color:#1F497D">If you are interested in receiving mouse pads, please contact Diane Childs. She can be reached at
<a href="mailto:diane.m.childs@state.or.us">diane.m.childs@state.or.us</a>, via direct phone at 503-947-7423 or via the DCBS toll-free number: 1-866-814-9710.</span></b><span style="color:#1F497D"> She wants to gauge interest by the libraries and get their
“orders” for mouse pads as soon as possible. They hope to launch the campaign by November 29 – Black Friday. The pads will be sent free of charge, and they will also be happy to provide printed brochures with further information.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D">Yet another state agency recognizing the ability of libraries to help get information to Oregonians and a great way to do a “refresh” on your public workstations!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D">--Arlene<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D">Arlene Weible<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D">Electronic Services Consultant<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D">Oregon Federal Regional Depository Coordinator<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D">Library Development Services<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D">Oregon State Library<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D">250 Winter St NE<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D">Salem OR, 97301<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D">503-378-5020<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D"><a href="mailto:arlene.weible@state.or.us"><span style="color:blue">arlene.weible@state.or.us</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D"><a href="http://www.oregon.gov/osl/LD/Pages/technology/sdlp/index.aspx"><span style="color:blue">http://www.oregon.gov/osl/LD/Pages/technology/sdlp/index.aspx</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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