Customers of payday lenders are ashamed, broken and suicidal, Senate inquiry told – The Australian Financial Review

“There are some people for whom payday lenders is appropriate,” Ms Guthrie said. However, very few FCA clients would enter into such arrangements after an initial consultation, it was heard. FCA counsellor Sandra Blake, who appeared alongside Ms Guthrie at the hearings, said she had not seen one instance where payday loans had been useful…

MN attorney general sues tax debt relief firm for violating consumer protections – St. Paul Pioneer Press

Minnesota Attorney General Lori Swanson is suing a tax debt relief company for allegedly violating the states consumer protection laws. Swanson filed a lawsuit in Hennepin County District Court Tuesday against Virginia-based Wall and Associates. The complaint alleges that Wall did not register with the state, collected large advance payments and was unresponsive to some…