Exploitive?

The Center for Responsible Lending concludes payday lending is a predatory business in that it lures borrowers into a "debt trap." The problem, the Center says, is this: borrowers take out short-term loans with high interest rates and transaction costs. The costs are so burdensome that borrowers soon find they need additional loans. This cycle traps borrowers in a situation of revolving high-priced, short-term credit. The Center’s study estimates conservatively that borrowers spend $3.4 billion dollars annually in lending fees.

Is there a solution? Short of banning payday lending altogether, the Center advocates that payday lending companies be permitted to advance no more than 4 loans per customer per year and that these loans have 90-day terms (instead of 14-30 day terms). In this way, spendthrift borrowers are prevented from abusing the service and falling into the trap of revolving credit.