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Showing posts with the label Loan Sharks

Warning on Carmarthenshire loan sharks

As Christmas approaches, Carmarthenshire residents are being warned to avoid using illegal money lenders and look to other options for short term loans. Carmarthenshire County Council executive board member for business, public protection and youth services Cllr Pam Palmer and executive board member for corporate property, customer focus and community wellbeing Cllr Kevin Madge said: “The current economic climate is placing pressure on families and making it harder to make ends meet. People who may have lost their jobs, have outstanding debts or are struggling to raise credit through the usual means can become desperate and turn to loan sharks. “It’s important that we get this message out to residents that loan sharks should be avoided because they will make a difficult financial situation much worse.” Loan sharks operate illegally and ignore regulations from the financial industry, which means borrowers are not protected. Loan sharks often charge extortionate amounts of interest and h...

Carmarthenshire alert on loan sharks

Carmarthenshire Trading Standards Service is urging people to be wary of loan sharks, particularly at this time of year. A Loan Shark is someone who lends money without the appropriate license issued by the Office of Fair Trading. Loan Sharks rarely, if ever, give any paperwork and if payments are missed they often use intimidation and violence to get money from their clients. Victims often find they are unable to repay the extortionate interest rates and can face threats of violence unless they pay up. Carmarthenshire Trading Standards Service Manager Roger Edmunds said: “Loan sharks tend to prey on people in desperate need of financial help. They offer seemingly helpful solutions to money worries in return for unrealistic and unaffordable repayments.” Carmarthenshire County Council executive board member for public protection Cllr Pam Palmer said: “Loan sharks are dangerous people to get involved with and I urge anyone thinking of borrowing money from them to stay clear.” Carmarthens...