InfoBytes Blog
Michigan AG Announces Default Judgment against Auto Title Loan Company
On June 8, Michigan AG Bill Schuette announced that a Michigan court entered a Default Judgment and Final Order for Permanent Injunction against an auto title loan company, several associated alias companies, and the company manager. The Judgment and Order found the defendants in violation of Michigan law for: (i) engaging in consumer lending without requisite authority or license in Michigan; (ii) charging or receiving interest on title loans in excess of 36%; (iii) misrepresenting in communications with borrowers the status of legal action taken or threatened to be taken in violation of Michigan’s Regulation of Collection Practices Act; (iv) engaging in conduct deemed unlawful under the Michigan Consumer Protection Act during the course of soliciting, selling, and collecting upon unauthorized title loans with illegal interest rates; and (v) transacting business in Michigan without a certificate of authority since at least June 28, 2013. Under the court’s judgment, the company is prohibited from, among other things, (i) making loans in Michigan without proper licensure; (ii) making, servicing, or collecting on any title loans sold or issued to certain Michigan consumers; (iii) accepting title loan interest or other payments made by certain Michigan consumers; (iv) engaging in any collection activities on title loans issued by defendants for certain Michigan consumers; (v) asserting a security interest in any vehicles allegedly pledged as security for repayment of a title loan; and (vi) selling or otherwise transferring interest in any motor vehicle associated with a title loan. The company must also pay a total of $2,208,698, $790,050 of which will be paid to the State and $1,418,648 of which is allocated for consumer restitution.