Oregon Attorney General Announces Lawsuit Against Car Title Loan Company Over Illegal Loans

On August 18, 2015, the Oregon Attorney General’s Office and the Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services announced​ that they filed a lawsuit against a regional automobile loan company. The company advertised car title loans online. When consumers completed the online applications, the company allegedly deceived them into signing security agreements in which consumers’ automobiles served as collateral for the loans. The company also allegedly charged illegal interest rates and balloon payments equal to more than the total amount of the loan. The Attorney General also alleged that the company failed to disclose the interest rates, balloon payments, and other loan terms. Because the company allegedly obtained security interests in the automobiles, consumers that defaulted on these loans faced the risk of repossession of their automobiles. The Attorney General filed the complaint in Oregon state court, alleging violations of Oregon’s consumer protection statutes.