Dundee City Council say no to Pay-day loans
In an attempt to eliminate the risk of people getting into increased levels of debt over the Christmas period, Dundee City Council have blocked access to pay-day loan websites. The authorities IT department has been instructed to disable access to such websites on council computers.
All council buildings, community centres and libraries will be affected by the ban in a bid to reduce the number of people turning to loan providers for financial aid. Figures show that one in ten people in Scotland use high interest loans to fund Christmas shopping.
The number of providers of quick flexible loans has exploded in recent years. The aims of the council lie with preventing misery and worry, by reducing the risk of individuals getting into debt due to pressures around Christmas.
The Consumer Finance Association, representing some of the largest and responsible pay-day loan companies in the UK, have criticised the decision. They highlighted the fact that such loans are increasingly popular and that lenders (should) operate by a strict code of conduct to protect consumers.
Their research showed that 91% individuals who took out pay-day loans are satisfied with the experience with 85% having no trouble paying them back.
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