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posted by martyb on Wednesday November 21 2018, @02:18PM   Printer-friendly
from the always-read-the-fine-print dept.

In a long article on Bloomberg News, but well worth the read:

How unscrupulous lenders have used an obscure legal document to wreck havoc against small businesses nationwide.

The lenders’ weapon of choice is an arcane legal document called a confession of judgment. Before borrowers get a loan, they have to sign a statement giving up their right to defend themselves if the lender takes them to court. It’s like an arbitration agreement, except the borrower always loses. Armed with a confession, a lender can, without proof, accuse borrowers of not paying and legally seize their assets before they know what’s happened. Not surprisingly, some lenders have abused this power. In dozens of interviews and court pleadings, borrowers describe lenders who’ve forged documents, lied about how much they were owed, or fabricated defaults out of thin air.

By seizing their bank deposits, Yellowstone had managed to collect its money ahead of schedule(60k on a 38k loan) and tack on $9,990 in extra legal fees, payable to a law firm in which it owns a stake. In about three months, the company and its affiliates almost doubled their money. At that rate of return, one dollar could be turned into 10 in less than a year.

Everyone else involved in the collection process got a slice, too. SunTrust got a $100 processing fee. Barbarovich’s office(NYC Marshal) got approximately $2,700, with about $120 of that passed along to the city. The Orange County Clerk’s office got $41 for its rubber stamps. The New York state court system got $184.

Cash-advance companies have secured more than 25,000 judgments in New York since 2012 worth an estimated $1.5 billion.

It sure explains why my small business gets a ton of loan/cash advance offers.

It should be noted that these letters have been prohibited in some states for over 50 years, and banned nationwide for consumers since 1984. (but even when banned by a state, they pursue it in a state where they are legal.)


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  • (Score: 3, Troll) by VLM on Wednesday November 21 2018, @02:25PM (5 children)

    by VLM (445) on Wednesday November 21 2018, @02:25PM (#764716)

    Isn't it antisemitic to complain about perfectly legal bankers?

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  • (Score: 2) by DannyB on Wednesday November 21 2018, @02:29PM

    by DannyB (5839) Subscriber Badge on Wednesday November 21 2018, @02:29PM (#764719) Journal

    That's banksters not bankers / wankers, etc.

    --
    To transfer files: right-click on file, pick Copy. Unplug mouse, plug mouse into other computer. Right-click, paste.
  • (Score: 3, Insightful) by crafoo on Wednesday November 21 2018, @02:57PM

    by crafoo (6639) on Wednesday November 21 2018, @02:57PM (#764739)

    What ever you do, don't look into who owns the vast majority of "check cashing" services. Somewhat tangential to this particular scam. I must admit, owning part of the law firm and exploiting a particular legal loophole to smash small businesses with fees and false claims is even more brazen that I expect.

    But you know, financial parasitic behavior on the engine of our economy .. I mean it essentially written into the doctrine. If you reach out and a snake bites you, well, it was just being a snake.

  • (Score: 4, Insightful) by DeathMonkey on Wednesday November 21 2018, @06:53PM (2 children)

    by DeathMonkey (1380) on Wednesday November 21 2018, @06:53PM (#764883) Journal

    Isn't it antisemitic to complain about perfectly legal bankers?

    No, but implying the problem is cause by the Jews is.

    • (Score: -1, Troll) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday November 21 2018, @10:46PM (1 child)

      by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday November 21 2018, @10:46PM (#764978)

      When you know perfectly well that today's jews aren't even jews. They are fakers who adopted judaism but jews are a race and not a religion and one cannot change their race. In fact, the murderous jews and bankers you hear so often about (or not) are worshipers of Satan. Accept it or don't but the facts remain. Israelis and their exported bankers are khazars who come from khazaria, not israel. Historical facts cannot be changed.