By Dave Ress, Daily Press It took less than five minutes for a House of Delegates committee to kill a bill to shut down a kind of high interest rate loan that keeps piling on debt even when borrowers make their basic monthly payments. The sponsor, Del. David Yancey, R-Newport News, figured that was progress. “The […]

The following is blog post from VPLC’s Director of Outreach and Financial Advocacy, Dana Wiggins: Today the Obama Administration and Department of Defense came out with proposed changes to the Military Lending Act that would plug loopholes being used by lenders that exploit members of the military. We doubt that anyone can seriously argue that […]

By Gray Hall, NBC 12 There is a warning about a suspicious email that may show up in your inbox. It’s an offer for a loan. If you need some quick cash, it may sound good but consumer experts say don’t reply. The subject of this email is “Do you need a loan?” If you […]

By Diane Walker, NBC 12 Scammers have put together a sophisticated scheme to steal from people applying for emergency cash through a company offering services for a payday loan. If you have to send money to borrow money, it’s a bad move. Jacob Coker saw numerous red flags, he says, after he was taken for $420, […]

By Monique Coppola, Public News Service-VA April is National Financial Literacy Month, and one group would like Virginians to know that if they have ever tried to stop automatic debits from their bank account, only to be given the run-around by the bank, they do have recourse. Dana Wiggins is the director of outreach and financial advocacy for […]

By Jeremy Slayton, Richmond Times-Dispatch Chesterfield County leaders this week signed off on a strict policy that limits where financial lenders offering high-cost instant loans can operate. According to the policy, alternative lenders must maintain a minimum separation of 1 mile between closest property lines, and they are banned from locating next to residential property […]

Dana Wiggins, who for six years has assisted Virginians who owe money to predatory lenders, will be honored by the National Consumers League with its Florence Kelley Award. Wiggins is the director of outreach and financial advocacy for the Virginia Poverty Law Center and the responsible lending coordinator for the Virginia Partnership to Encourage Responsible […]

By Craig Carper, WCVE News A coalition of consumer protection advocates says laws regulating the payday lending industry are working to shield customers from excessive interest rates. Listen to the full story Aired: February 15, 2013 More articles on payday lending: Group Thanks Lawmakers for Curbing Payday Lending By Kathy Adams, The Virginian-Pilot Published: February […]

By Frederick Kunkle, The Washington Post When Brenda Ann Covington needed money a few months ago, she had only one big item left to pawn: her Chevy truck. Covington used the 2005 Silverado pickup as collateral to borrow money from one of the growing number of Virginia businesses that lend cash against a person’s car. […]

With another General Assembly session behind us, the staff at the Virginia Poverty Law Center (VPLC) has had some time to reflect on what our advocacy work means and why it matters. Regardless of which political party holds a majority in the state legislature, and in spite of the often negative rhetoric that comes with […]

By Gray Hall, WWBT NBC12 A settlement check may be coming your way. CashPoint, a car title lender, will refund nearly $600,000 to more than 800 Virginia customers. Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli alleges the company operated without a license for two months in 2010. In a letter sent to hundreds of Virginia’s CashPoint admits it made […]