Colorado AG Settles with Lenders Over Alleged Violations of Consumer Credit Protection Laws

State Attorney General Consumer Lending Usury

On June 8, Colorado AG Cynthia Coffman announced a settlement with various lenders to resolve allegations that they violated Colorado’s consumer credit protection laws by making, servicing, and collecting high-cost loans. According to AG Coffman, the lenders made unlawful personal loans to more than 5,000 Colorado consumers, some of which had annual interest rates exceeding 355%. The AG’s office asserted that, in “the most egregious cases, consumers paid over five times the amount they borrowed in unlawful fees and interest.” Pursuant to a consent judgment entered by the Denver District Court, the lenders must pay $7,384,005.12 in disgorgement and restitution. The settlement comes after the State of Colorado obtained a $565,000 consent judgment against various entities in January 2014 arising out of similar conduct, making this the second Colorado AG settlement in connection with high-cost loans.