ASIC annouced today enforcable undertaking with Payday lenders Web Moneyline and Good to Go Loans, to cease using a loan product, called OACC2, following concerns raised by ASIC that the product may not have complied with the small amount credit contract provisions under the National Consumer Credit Protection Act 2009 (National Credit Act).
Both lenders are required to
- write off all outstanding OACC2 loans including any outstanding debts which have arisen as a result of entering into these loans;
- notify the relevant credit reporting body that these loans have been settled, in order to correct the affected consumers’ credit records; and
- not enter into the OACC2 loan product with any new consumers.
Here are the ASIC releases:
Payday lender Web Moneyline has entered into an Enforceable Undertaking with ASIC to cease using a loan product following concerns raised by ASIC that the product may not have complied with the small amount credit contract provisions under the National Consumer Credit Protection Act 2009 (National Credit Act).
ASIC’s investigation identified that the loan product, called OACC2, was provided to consumers on terms which fell outside the definition of a small amount credit contract. However, on the same day consumers entered into an OACC2 loan, almost all of the OACC2 agreements were modified to repay the loan at higher regular repayment amounts over a shorter period of time, which may have exposed consumers to a higher risk of default. Web Moneyline may have charged above the cap on fees and charges had the loans been construed as small amount credit contracts as defined under the National Credit Act.
Under the Enforceable Undertaking , Web Moneyline is required to:
- write off all outstanding OACC2 loans including any outstanding debts which have arisen as a result of entering into these loans;
- notify the relevant credit reporting body that these loans have been settled, in order to correct the affected consumers’ credit records; and
- not enter into the OACC2 loan product with any new consumers.
ASIC Deputy Chairman Peter Kell said, ‘Financially vulnerable consumers can be at particular risk from this sort of activity, and in many cases will have little real understanding of the greater risks of default they are being exposed to. ASIC will take action to protect those consumers from falling victim to unsuitable payday loans.’
All consumers with outstanding debts from OACC2 loans taken out between 21 August 2014 and 26 May 2015 are not required to make any more payments and will shortly receive communication from Web Moneyline confirming that their loan is now finalised.
Consumers who believe they may have entered into a loan contract with Web Moneyline (either in-store or online) that was unsuitable, are encouraged to lodge a complaint with the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) on 1800 367 287 or info@fos.org.au. If you need help lodging a complaint with FOS, you can talk to a free and independent financial counsellor by ringing the National Debt Helpline on1800 007 007 during business hours. ASIC’s MoneySmart website has useful guidance on how payday loans work and alternative credit options.
Payday lender Good to Go Loans has entered into an Enforceable Undertaking with ASIC to cease using a loan product following concerns raised by ASIC that the product may not have complied with the small amount credit contract provisions under the National Consumer Credit Protection Act 2009 (National Credit Act).
ASIC’s investigation identified that the loan product, called OACC2, was provided to consumers on terms which fell outside the definition of a small amount credit contract. However, on the same day consumers entered into an OACC2 loan, almost all of the OACC2 agreements were modified to repay the loan at higher regular repayment amounts over a shorter period of time, which may have exposed consumers to a higher risk of default. Good to Go Loans may have charged above the cap on fees and charges had the loans been construed as small amount credit contracts as defined under the National Credit Act.
Under the Enforceable Undertaking, Good to Go Loans is required to:
- write off all outstanding OACC2 loans including any outstanding debts which have arisen as a result of entering into these loans;
- notify the relevant credit reporting body that these loans have been settled, in order to correct the affected consumers’ credit records; and
- not enter into the OACC2 loan product with any new consumers.
ASIC Deputy Chairman Peter Kell said, ‘ASIC will continue to take action to protect financially vulnerable consumers, many of whom are recipients of welfare payments, from falling victim to unsuitable payday loans.’
All consumers with outstanding debts from OACC2 loans taken out between 18 May 2014 and 20 May 2015 are not required to make any more payments and will shortly receive communication from Good to Go Loans confirming that their loan is now finalised.
Consumers who believe they may have entered into a loan contract with Good to Go Loans (either in-store or online) that was unsuitable, are encouraged to lodge a complaint with the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) on 1800 367 287 or info@fos.org.au. If you need help lodging a complaint with FOS, you can talk to a free and independent financial counsellor by ringing the National Debt Helpline on 1800 007 007 during business hours. ASIC’s MoneySmart website has useful guidance on how payday loans work and alternative credit options
