WIREDGOV

Citizens Advice highlights failings of payday lenders, as new payday loan film is released.

Citizens Advice Chief Executive Gillian Guy said:

“This is nothing more than a glorified advert and is a far cry from the experience of our clients. Day in day out Citizens Advice Bureaux help people who are desperately in debt because of appalling practices of payday lenders.

“All too often lenders failed to properly check if borrowers can afford a loan and have put pressure on customers to rollover loans. People have been left without a penny in their bank account as lenders misuse continuous payment authorities. Payday lenders need to clean up their act and start treating people fairly.”

Citizens Advice is urging people to get ‘mad about the ad’ by encouraging people to report irresponsible payday loan adverts to the Advertising Standards Authority.

CAB clients' experience of payday loans

A CAB in the West Midlands helped a man with mental health problems whose entire wages were taken in three separate instalments on the day he was paid. This left him with no money for essentials and pushed him over £200 into an unauthorised overdraft.

A young woman in Wales came to CAB for help when payday lenders took so much out her account that she was unable to cover her living expenses, despite her trying to cancel the agreements with her bank. The lenders rolled over her loans, meaning that her debts grew so large she was unable to keep up with rent and was eventually forced to move out of her home.

Following advice from CAB, a man in the North East cancelled his CPAs and negotiated repayment plans with his payday lenders. However, one lender still took the full amount owed, leaving him in dire financial straits.

Citizens Advice

Notes to editors

1. The Citizens Advice service comprises a network of local bureaux, all of which are independent charities, the Citizens Advice consumer service and national charity Citizens Advice. Together we help people resolve their money, legal and other problems by providing information and advice and by influencing policymakers. For more see the Citizens Advice website.
2. The advice provided by the Citizens Advice service is free, independent, confidential, and impartial, and available to everyone regardless of race, gender, disability, sexual orientation, religion, age or nationality.
3. To find your local bureau in England and Wales, visit www.citizensadvice.org.uk. You can also get advice online at www.adviceguide.org.uk
4. You can get consumer advice from the Citizens Advice consumer service on 08454 04 05 06 or 08454 04 05 05 for Welsh language speakers
5. Citizens Advice Bureaux in England and Wales advised 2.1 million clients on 6.6 million problems from April 2012 to March 2013. For full 2012/2013 service statistics see our quarterly publication Advice trends
6. Citizens Advice service staff are supported by more than 22,000 trained volunteers, working at over 3,000 service outlets across England and Wales.