wonga lending to under 18s

[motherof2]

My daughter is now 17 and has suffered with depression for the last four years, before Christmas she borrowed money from Wonga (she had a part time job at the time). She paid the money back but was shocked by the amount of interest she paid, when she told me I contacted them by phone and by email and asked for their policy as regards lending to under 18s, they stated they do not lend to under 18s but refused to comment on how this had happened. I also informed them she was not 18. Her job finished and her money was limited again, she has since told me that she has borrowed again from Wonga but that they had sent her emails that told her she could borrow small amounts,she has ended up owing £240. She now has to pay £70 monthly to clear this debt. She has no untilities or bills listed in her name and only has a bank account. I would like advice on where we stand legally and if there is anything I can do as I feel they have taken advantage of a young vunerable person without carrying out adequate checks.

[maroondevo52]

Hello and Welcome,

 

How did your daughter apply for the first loan ?

[motherof2]

Hello and Welcome,

 

How did your daughter apply for the first loan ?

Via their website, she only had to email copies of her bank statements.

[maroondevo52]

I'm thinking in their T's & C's there must be a box to tick to say whether your over 18 or not.

[motherof2]

Thanks for the quick replies. There is and she ticked it to say she was, which was untrue and stupid of her, but after she repaid the first loan, I informed them both via telephone and email that she was not 18 but despite this they still sent her emails offering to lend her small amounts of money. Also she did not at any point have to send proof of her age or address.

[sillygirl1]

This is very very wrong. Why not contact MP Stella Creasy who is collecting evidence against PDL companies, she has journalists waiting for stories on 'the big boys' such as Wonga.

 

I would also complain to the Advertising Standards Agency about the Wonga TV ads to add to the complaints about this lot.

 

It seems they are happy to lend to anyone and this is hardly 'responsible' of them

[ziggylee]

The TV ads targetting pensioners are just as bad!

 

Many older people such as the ones depicted on their 3D rendered dolls wouldn't understand their terms and may be surviving on a low pension. Tobacco advertising is not allowed, the same should apply to Wonga and other loan sharks like them.

[Nagasis]

I've noticed wonga dont have an apr representative on their tv ads too. Not even in the small writing at the bottom of the screen.

[johnvernon74]

At the end of the day your daughter applied for a loan and was under 18. She must have altered her date of birth on the application process. In effect this is fraud however can't see Wonga bothering about this, and I'd say the loan is unforceable as it can't be covered by CCA.

[motherof2]

At the end of the day your daughter applied for a loan and was under 18. She must have altered her date of birth on the application process. In effect this is fraud however can't see Wonga bothering about this, and I'd say the loan is unforceable as it can't be covered by CCA.

She did alter her DOB on the original loan after which I contacted them myself by phone and email informing them of her DOB. Despite this they still sent her emails telling her she could borrow small amounts of money. The issue is not paying the money back, she borrowed it she should pay it back its the way they have targeted her despite knowing her age and encouraged her to borrow money without checking if shes employed and can pay it back, I also informed them of her major depressive illness yet this has made no difference to the way they have treated her

[renegadeimp]

Pay the initial loan off. Thats it. Due to her being underage, they cant make her pay anything else.

[kurvaface]

This should be reported to trading standards!

 

Don't ring the Daily Mail. Just look at their reader comments. They tend to be most unsympathetic, blaming borrowers for their own misfortunes and besides, any article written will be loaded with spelling mistakes. I love their articles that try to criticise the education system. They tend to be the most badly written...I diverge.....

 

Anyway, Trading standards are on

 

08454 040506

Edited October 18, 2012 by kurvaface

[MARTIN3030]

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