Rally was a huge success.  Well over 2,000 employees.  Speakers included industry CEOs, employees, a state senator and small lenders.     Lots of media to get the message out.  

The word from people on the ground is that more than 2,000 payday lending employees are there and they’re really letting lawmakers hear them.   Lots of media coverage as well.

More pics to come.  

The Payday Pundit received this email tonight.

I have worked for a payday loan company for 5 years, and we are definitely a help to our community. Our customers are from varied walks of life: retired, some on social security income, unemployed, people who make over$50,000 a year, people who live paycheck to paycheck (who doesn’t?). There are some who depend on us regularly and some who come in just when something unexpected comes up. Our customers will be in a bad situation if we close our doors. They sign the contract and agree to their (usually 2 week, not a YEAR) FEE. Everything is upfront and they are aware of exactly what they are signing. They are not helped by their banks or have gotten in trouble with their banks and high interest credit cards. They don’t want to ask their families for help.

We need to charge the appropriate fee in order to pay for our labor, rent, utilities, etc. as any business does. We also provide many other services besides payday loans although this is our main service.

Payday lending is a service that is very needed, if not, why would there be so many of us and so many customers?

We also support many good causes such as the Susan G Koman Breast Cancer Foundation, Juvenile Diabetes Research Fund (JDRF) and currently the Big Brother/ Big Sister Foundation.

Here are the details:

WHAT: Rally and press conference to discuss impact of House-passed legislation on Ohio’s leading payday lending companies.

WHO: Payday lending employees and customers, other supporters of the industry

WHERE: North Steps, State Capitol Building, Columbus, OH

WHEN: Tuesday, May 6th, 11am

Melissa Lutz, owner of Fast Check Cash Advance in Newark, Ohio, is worried about her customers if the Ohio House legislation becomes law: 

 We have a lot of customers that are going to have nowhere to go to get short-term loans,” she said. “If our legislature will look at other states that have (capped lending rates) … the people in that state are worse afterwards than they are before.”

The article also has comments from Ms. Lutz’s employee who is worried about her job and health benefits.  Are Ohio state senators listening?