Loan sharks and illegal money lending


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Loan Sharks

The best advice for dealing with loan sharks is 'don't'

They're unlicensed moneylenders who charge very high interest rates, sometimes using intimidation, harassment, threats and violence to frighten people who can't pay back their loan. They often pressurise people into borrowing more from them to repay one debt with another.

If a lender isn't listed as having a current licence, don't borrow money from them.

To find out if a lender has a current licence, you can search the Consumer Credit Public Register. The register lists everyone with a licence, as well as everyone who has applied for one, or has had one taken away or suspended. It's free to get basic information from the register, including trading names and the activities for which a business is licensed.

To search the public register, telephone 02072118608 between 9.30am and 4pm Monday to Friday, or visit http://www2.crw.gov.uk/pr/Default.aspx

If you have borrowed money from a loan shark you are under no legal obligation to pay the debt.

If you have borrowed money from a loan shark it is the loan shark who has broken the law - not you.

You should contact Stop Loan Sharks or  Trading Standards immediately. We can help you to deal with your situation in confidence.


Credit Unions

Suffolk County Council works in conjuction with the Suffolk Credit Unions, savings and loans co-operatives which aim to help people in their local area:

Ipswich and Suffolk Credit Union Ltd., 63 Austin Street, Ipswich, IP2 8DF
Telephone 01473 690690
http://www.onesuffolk.co.uk/ipswichandsuffolkcreditunion

Rainbow Saver Anglian Credit Union Ltd. Administration Centre, 229 London Road South, Lowestoft, Suffolk, NR33 0DS
Telephone 01502 584854
http://www.onesuffolk.co.uk/RSACUL