Idaho Payday Lending Bill Passes Amidst Criticism

Idaho Statesman
Wednesday, March 19, 2014

An Idaho bill setting restrictions on payday lending has passed the state's House of Representatives by only one vote and now awaits the Governor's approval. The bill limits the amount of payday loans a borrower can take out to 25 percent of monthly income and caps the number of times a lender can try to redeem a bounced check at two, ending the possibility of racking up additional fees. The bill also allows a borrower who can't pay within the usual two-week term to request an extended payment plan without additional fees. But Dawn Juker  of Catholic Charities of Idaho said the bill doesn't go far enough and she'd rather have no bill at all instead of the one speeding through the Legislature. "There's too many things the consumer would have to be responsible for -- such as requesting an [extended payment plan] -- that payday lenders would not typically market," Juker said.