40 Years, 40 Faces: George

Chester, Virginia

George, a customer service representative, enjoys being an assistant coach for his daughter’s 16-and-under girls’ slo-pitch softball league. Recently, he encountered a game he was not prepared for: one designed by a payday lender. George borrowed money from an internet lender to help out a family member but didn’t realize the lender was a loan shark who did not want him to pay off the loan but continue to pay the high interest for as long as possible. George contacted the VPLC Predatory Lending Helpline for assistance. But when George told the lender he had contacted legal aid for help, they hired a debt collection company to harass him. VPLC teamed up with attorneys on the VPLC Board of Directors and successfully resolve.

##

“40 Years, 40 Faces” was a 2018 photography and storytelling project marking VPLC’s 40th anniversary. Photographer Glen McClure and writer Marshall McClure documented Virginians impacted by VPLC’s work, using portraits and interviews to highlight resilience, dignity, and the ongoing fight for justice.