Preview

Predatory Lending

Powerful Essays
Open Document
Open Document
2377 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Predatory Lending
The Ethical and Moral Issues of Predatory Lending
Caryn Williams
Southern New Hampshire
Business Law
Gerri Drelling
August 24, 2014
Abstract
From childhood to adulthood, we have been taught that part of achieving the “American dream’ is owning a home. How will the worth of that dream be altered after absorbing hundred of billions of dollars in losses incurred from the subprime mortgage crisis (Ruzich and Grant, 2009). Moreover, many potential homeowners saw subprime loans as a means to achieve this dream. In many cases, consumers had no idea what the long term effects would be with making this particular choice. In correlation, the financial crisis forced these same consumers to use payday loans a means to supplement income. Unfortunately, both loans are laced with incentives and high interest rates that translated into predatory lending. These issues were the driving force behind the collapse of the subprime market and ultimately the economy. My mind sometimes wonder if everyone involved in the crisis had exercised some moral and ethical self-control, the crisis could have been avoided.

The Ethical and Moral Issues of Predatory Lending
The Effects of Payday Loans to Consumers
The payday lending industry has grown by leaps and bounds over the years. This trend reflects the rampant economic insecurity and market neglect by the traditional banking sector. These payday lender and similar outlets are now commonplace in many communities across the United States. The past decade has seen a significant increase in economically distressed areas and areas where predatory mortgages are rampant.
All the banking institutions say the politically correct things about race and equality. They all offer diversity programs. Many financial institution support liberal causes. Yet, many analysts feel that the banking industry covertly uses payday lenders as a smoke screen, a way to prey on minorities without getting their hands dirty. It’s a chain



Cited: Cracking Down on Predatory Payday Lenders. (2013, August 29). Retrieved from The New York Times: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/30/opinion/cracking-down-on-predatory-payday-lenders.html?_r=0 Denning, S. (2011, November 11). Lest We Forget: Why We Had A Financial Crisis. Retrieved from Forbes: http://www.forbes.com/sites/stevedenning/2011/11/22/5086/ Grant, C. R. (2009, August 1). Predatory Lending and the Devouring of the American Dream. Retrieved from Wiley Online Library: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1542-734X.2009.00704.x/abstract;jsessionid=DEECA3438181EBBD0B60C251E6F795FF.f01t04?deniedAccessCustomisedMessage=&userIsAuthenticated=false Jennings, T. a. (2013). Business Law Principles for Today 's Commercial Enviroment. Connecticut : Cengage Learning. Singletary, M. (2014, March 25). The trap of payday loans can lead to triple-digit interest rates. Retrieved from The Washington Post: http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/the-trap-of-payday-loans-can-lead-to-triple-digit-interest-rates/2014/03/25/ca1853dc-b471-11e3-8cb6-284052554d74_story.html Victimizing the Borrowers: Predatory Lending’s Role in the Subprime Mortgage Crisis. (2008, February 20). Retrieved from Wharton University of Pennsylvania: http://knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/article/victimizing-the-borrowers-predatory-lendings-role-in-the-subprime-mortgage-crisis/

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Best Essays

    Subprime mortgages are generally granted to borrowers who cannot obtain conventional mortgages due to insufficient or delinquent credit histories. These borrowers may be forced to take interest-only loan, which have lower monthly payment but are very difficult to pay off in the end. Problems with mortgage financing are the generally accepted cause of the financial meltdown that occurred between 2007 and 2008 (Gorton, 2009). The Subprime Mortgage Crisis, or "mortgage mess" or "mortgage meltdown," was caused by a precipitous rise in home foreclosures that started in 2006 and spiraled out of control in 2007 and 2008. The excessive use of subprime lending during the housing bubble caused an unprecedented foreclosure fallout, the effects of which caused credit markets as well as global and domestic stock markets to face a major financial crisis (Mayer, 2008). The goal of this paper is to address the subprime mortgage crisis, the effects prior to and after the crisis, and discuss who were the biggest players affected by this crisis. Finally, Team A will provide several concepts learned during the course of this class, which may help ensure that something similar does not happen again in the future.…

    • 2391 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Best Essays
  • Good Essays

    As our nation's economy has been declining and struggling to recover for nearly a decade, the finance industry has changed with the times. Payday lending and other short-term financing services are now mainstream funding options for many Americans. Despite the predatory practices and unreasonable interest rates, alternative funding sources are beginning to become the norm - including pawn brokers. Pawning personal items for quick cash is now so common that reality shows like Hardcore Pawn and Pawn Stars and even documentaries like Broke. The Documentary are emerging as slice of life evidence that America's economy is evolving in the 21st Century. However, all pawn brokers are not ruthless capitalists who prey on the poor, and not all pawn shops are created equal.…

    • 553 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    According to a study from The Los Angeles Times, the average payday loan business model is designed to keep borrowers in debt, not to provide one-time assistance during a time of…

    • 627 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    The real estate industry is thriving with approximately sixty-eight percent of all Americans being homeowners. With low interest rates, 1st time home buyer down payment assistance programs, and government funded educational opportunities (i.e. the Home Ownership Center of Greater Cincinnati), the real estate and mortgage lending industries will continue to flourish. However, there are some unethical lending practices that are threatening the housing industry as a whole.…

    • 3069 Words
    • 13 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    The Dodd-Frank Reform

    • 348 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Richard Cordray will focus on the following provision in the Dodd-Frank Reform: “Consumer Protections with Authority and Independence: Creates a new independent watchdog, housed at the Federal Reserve, with the authority to ensure American consumers get the clear, accurate information they need to shop for mortgages, credit cards, and other financial products, and protect them from hidden fees, abusive terms, and deceptive practices.” Richard Cordary will target Payday loans first.…

    • 348 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    AD 712 Term Paper

    • 3253 Words
    • 9 Pages

    Predatory lending is any lending practice that imposes unfair or abusive loan terms on a borrower. It is also any practice that convinces a borrower to accept unfair terms through coercive, deceptive, exploitative, or unscrupulous actions for a loan that a borrower can’t afford, doesn’t need, or doesn’t want. Predatory lending benefits the lender, not the borrower by ignoring or hindering the borrower’s ability to repay the debt. These lending tactics attempt to take advantage of a borrower’s lack of understanding about loans, terms, or finances in general (Krulick, 2014). Who can be targeted in these illegal practices?…

    • 3253 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Because payday loans are notorious for charging astronomical interest rates, they give the whole industry a bad impression from the very start. In comparison to the normal credit card company that charges an annual rate of 32% interest, the two-week payday loan at 17.5% interest generates an annual interest rate of 455%. The numbers can be staggering, which adds proof to the fact that they are a bad financial decision from the very first…

    • 612 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Predatory lending is unfair and abusive lending practices that convince borrowers who are not adequately knowledgeable in financial matters and who do not have high enough credit score to get a loan at standard condition, to accept the extremely unfavorable credit conditions. Predators lenders’ extremely unfavorable credit conditions that are set such terrible conditions that borrower pay increased loan fees, and higher rates and sometimes the loan terms can cause borrower to lose a significant portion of his own funds or property. Generally, predatory lending strategies include tricking the clients, taking advantage of customer’s lack of knowledge on finance matters, not revealing or hiding the real lending terms, and applying forceful sales techniques.…

    • 799 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Predatory lenders and the tactics they use to originate loans with unsophisticated buyers are unfair. We now have predatory legal and rescue services popping up everywhere with the defense that they are here to help us. I intend to provide you with information to free legal services and information to assist in the fight to hold the mortgage lenders accountable for what they are doing.…

    • 1472 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Better Essays

    American Loan Sharks

    • 2297 Words
    • 10 Pages

    Twenty-five years ago, the banking industry successfully eliminated a critical restriction: the limit on the interest rate a lender can charge a borrower (“Do You Know What You”). These restrictions were known as usury laws. These laws were in effect for centuries prior to the 20th century (Geisst 2). Usury laws were established to protect the borrower from predatory behavior (Geisst 3). “Prior to the 20th century, charging interest on loans was considered heresy by the church. Anyone caught charging excessive interest was excommunicated and often punished” (Geisst 3). Banks fought for restrictions to be lifted arguing the usury laws were standing in the way of progress (“Do You Know What You”). Banks won the battle over consumers. The deregulation of the usury laws occurred in the early 1980’s and created a whole new invention, the unsecured credit card.…

    • 2297 Words
    • 10 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Payday loans

    • 1754 Words
    • 8 Pages

    People in the economy have negative perceptions of how payday lending companies operate. This is looked at as an increasing concern because many people think these companies take advantage of low income people in financial trouble. If the people continued to renew their loans every time they pay them back they will eventually paying more money in fees than they can…

    • 1754 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Best Essays

    When the U.S. economy began to melt down in 2007 and entered a rapid period of decline in 2008, all eyes were fixed on the subprime mortgage crisis. Though the mortgage crisis, triggered by spurious lending practices and unprecedented risky investment bank practices, was undoubtedly the dominant factor affecting the American consumer in 2008, credit card debt and default was also making a contribution to the deteriorating economy and collapsing standard of living. As the subprime mortgage crisis accelerated, the increasing number of people falling behind on payments or defaulting on credit card debt…

    • 4822 Words
    • 20 Pages
    Best Essays
  • Good Essays

    So I’m confident there are other lending practices that may be used in order to address this public issue. I refer to this as a public issue because proponents of this lending practice have argued that these types of business are needed in order to offset or makeup for the deficiencies in the economy, government, and social setting (i.e.: things that the aforementioned variables can’t provide: higher paying jobs, benefits, education, etc.). One option would be Personal Installment Loan – One alternative is a personal unsecured installment loan from a responsible lender such as a credit union, bank or other financial institution. According to the Center for Responsible Lending, in contrast to payday loans these products…

    • 454 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Predatory lending has caused many conflicts in the American society. Victims who fall for predatory lending are usually low income homeowners or those having financial difficulties. Consumers do not realize that mortgage payments are impossible until 3-4 years after predatory lending. This imposes a significant role in the destruction of the American dream. Constance M. Ruzich, a teacher at Robert Morris University in Pittsburgh, and A. J. Grant, also a teacher at RMU, state in their essay, “Subprime mortgages are home loans made at higher rates of interest to burrowers who represent higher credit risks and have lower credit scores.” People with subprime mortgages have a difficult time paying their taxes. Predatory lending, or subprime mortgages, has significantly taken part in the downfall of the economy. Ruzich and Grant say, “Ten years ago, few Americans had heard of subprime mortgages or predatory lending, but by 2008, a survey of economists had identified the effects of the mortgage crisis as the number one threat to the U.S. economy, greater than that of terrorism or conflict in the Middle East.” This statement shows how these lendings have affected the economy at a reasonably rapid rate. The economy of the United States has crumbled at a very accelerated rate like a house on fire. It is no longer what it used to be and in only getting…

    • 1266 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    The American Dream

    • 1515 Words
    • 7 Pages

    Cited: “Predatory Lending and the Devouring of the American Dream” by Constance M Ruzich and A.J. Grant…

    • 1515 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Powerful Essays