Predatory Lending Assistance

Programs that provide assistance for people who believe they are victims of unscrupulous lending institutions that have pressured them into signing a loan agreement they cannot afford. Predatory lending tactics include high pressure sales techniques; misleading or fraudulent direct mail campaigns; failure to disclose unusually high interest rates, hidden transaction costs, excessive fees and punitive penalty clauses such as balloon payments; and loan agreements that are based on home equity rather than a realistic ability to repay. Predatory lenders frequently target the most vulnerable consumers including older adults, low income individuals, and people residing in communities underserved by traditional banking institutions.