The sun goes down once more on consumers who would make good use of fast personal loans when calamity strikes – if only they could. Operation Sunset is quite exacting. (Photo: Flickr)
Operation Sunset places a rate cap on short-term loans that will drive those lenders out of business and out of the state. However, the Tucson Citizen reports, Arizona Attorney General Terry Goddard is prepared to mount a massive offensive against the supposedly heinous crimes of purveyors of easy personal loans. Part of that offensive is an information campaign informing Arizona citizens of what will happen after Operation Sunset takes effect on July 1, 2010.
Operation Sunset came as no surprise
Let’s think about the phrase “Operation Sunset” for a moment. According to Wikipedia, the most popular use of the term refers to a bloody offensive during the Eritrean–Ethiopian War (1998-2000) where Ethiopia liberated the key town of Badme. Thousands of lives were lost during that war, which makes it all the more disgusting that Arizona lawmakers chose to call the end of easy personal loans in their state “Operation Sunset.”
The sun always sets gradually, and Operation Sunset has been waiting in the wings for some time. Despite opposition from the check cash advance industry and the good word of consumers who wanted to make their own financial decisions rather than being spoon fed by the government as if they were John McCain on a bad day at Shady Pines, Operation Sunset will commence. “Consumer loans with annual interest rates over 36 percent (plus authorized fees) will be illegal as of July 1, 2010,” writes the Attorney General’s office. Consumers with outstanding balances on fast personal loans will “probably not” be able to ignore those charges as of July 1, says the AG. Yet the Attorney General who equates the end of easy personal loans in Arizona with a campaign from a bloody African war does not go into detail on their informative website as to what “probably not” means. What is clear is that amounts due cannot be rolled over into other loans during the Operation Sunset campaign. Rollover is never a good idea, anyway.
Blow, whistleblowers, blow
Reputable check cash advance companies abide by the laws of the land regarding their products. However, Goddard advises consumers via the Tucson Citizen that if they see stray businesses continuing to offer the same products that were outlawed by Operation Sunset, they should inform the Operation Sunset Enforcement Team. They can be contacted at operationsunset@azag.gov and (866) 879-5219 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting (866) 879-5219 end_of_the_skype_highlighting begin_of_the_skype_highlighting (866) 879-5219 end_of_the_skype_highlighting, or by writing to: Arizona Attorney General’s Office of Consumer Complaints, 1275 W. Washington St., Phoenix, AZ 85007.
Cry the beloved check cash advance
Consumers can use the AG’s website to find out which lenders are currently licensed in Arizona. In the event that credit counseling is necessary for consumers who have overextended themselves, they can call (202) 514-4100 or choose an agency licensed by the U.S. Trustee.
Sources:
Arizona AG on Operation Sunset:
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