Baltimore Sun editorial says payday lending
loophole should be closed

March 8 -- Today marks the first day of National Consumer Protection Week, so it was heartening to see The Baltimore Sun's editorial this morning about the need to close a loophole in Maryland law that allows payday lenders to charge outrageous fees. This is one of MCRC's top legislative priorities.

"For more than a quarter-century, Maryland has capped the interest rates for short-term consumer loans and has kept the storefront payday lenders and their rip-off financing plans at bay. But exploiting a possible loophole in state regulations, lenders have shifted tactics and found a way to charge Maryland consumers the equivalent of 600 percent annual interest rates and higher." Read the full piece here, and go here to read MCRC's testimony about the legislation.

Three consumer bills move forward

In a victory for Maryland consumers, the General Assembly's Senate Finance Committee on Tuesday ended debate on SB 762 and voted to send the bill on to the full senate. The bill regulates refund anticipation loans (RALs) that consumers take out against their anticipated tax refunds. These loans are typically loaded with outrageous fees and extremely high interest rates. The bill would not eliminate the loans but would require clear disclosures to consumers about their true costs.

Lawmakers also considered another legislative priority of MCRC: payday lending. The House Consumer Protection and Commercial Law Subcommittee passed HB 79, which closes a loophole that allows shady lenders to circumvent Maryland law limiting excessive loan rates, and sent it to the full Economic Matters Committee. It is unknown when companion legislation, SB 678, will get a vote in the Senate Finance Committee.

“SB 678 clarifies that all fees be included within the 33 percent cap. Closing this loophole protects Maryland consumers from predatory payday lenders and is consistent with past actions the Maryland legislature has undertaken to maintain a 33 percent rate cap in the state.”

The Senate Finance Committee on Tuesday considered regulation of the debt settlement industry. Marceline White testified on this issue, along with two Maryland consumers who lost thousands of dollars to separate debt settlement schemes.

The Senate is forming a working group to study the issue further, and MCRC is expected to be part of that effort. For more information, click here

1st Consumer Reception

The 1^st Consumer Issues Reception, held on February 3 in the Lowe House Office Building, was a rousing success and we heartily thank the nearly 100 people who participated. Legislators who joined us include Del. Saqib Ali, Del. Pamela Beidle, Del. Liz Bobo, Del. Alfred Carr, Del. Jim Gilchrist, Del. Sue Hecht, Del. James Hubbard, Del. Tom Hucker, Del. Steve Lafferty, Del. Susan Lee, Del. Shirley Nathan-Pulliam, Del. Doyle Niemann, Del. Kirill Reznick, Del. Dana Stein, Sen. Jennie Forehand, Sen. Mike Lenett, Sen. Paul Pinksky, and Sen. Jamie Raskin.

Some of our coalition partners in attendance include AARP, the ACLU, the Attorney General's Office, MAIF, Common Cause, SEIU, Progressive Maryland, League of Conservation Voters, People's Insurance Counsel, and the Community Law Center.

The event was sponsored by MCRC, Maryland PIRG, JOTF, the Maryland Homeowners’ Association and the Maryland CASH Campaign. Special thanks to the Woodland Job Corps Center for catering the event, and to Maria Topper of Del. Hucker's office who was an invaluable help in coordinating the event logistics. 

MCRC releases report on debt settlement;
holds news conference with Attorney General Gansler
and  Deputy Commissioner of Financial Regulation