Alert Number: CA049673_11/16/18(11/19)
Updated: December 14, 2018
Originally posted: September 23, 2013
The Washington State Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) has received complaints about the following online lenders:
- Aaniiih Nakoda Finance, LLC d/b/a Bright Lending
- Island Finance, LLC d/b/a White Hills Cash
- Clear Water Lending, LLC d/b/a Cash Fairy
- West River Finance, LLC d/b/a West River Cash
- Blue Thread Lending, LLC
- North Star Finance, LLC d/b/a Northcash
- Northern Plains Funding, LLC d/b/a Northern Plains Funding
- Riverbend Finance, LLC d/b/a Riverbend Cash
- Target Finance, LLC d/b/a Target Cash Now
The Department has most recently received a complaint from a Washington consumer against Aaniiih Nakoda Finance, LLC d/b/a Bright Lending (Bright Lending). The consumer reported that Bright Lending provided the consumer with a small loan (payday loan), and that Bright Lending began taking payments from the consumer’s checking account without any notice. The consumer further alleged that Bright Lending refused to provide a payment schedule or repayment terms. These facts are alleged by the consumer and have not been verified by the Department.
It appears that Bright Lending may be operating as an unlicensed online tribal payday lender. Bright Lending claims to be an affiliated entity of the Fort Belknap Indian Community of the Fort Belknap Reservation of Montana, a federally-recognized Indian Tribe located in Montana.
Bright Lending is not licensed by the DFI and is not registered to conduct business in Washington State by the Department of Licensing, the Department of Revenue, or the Secretary of State.
The companies have been associated with the following contact information:
Aaniih Nakoda Finance, LLC d/b/a Bright Lending
www.brightlending.com
866*441*7674
866*376*2877
[customerservice@brightlending.com]
[accountresolution@brightlending.com]
Island Finance, LLC d/b/a White Hills Cash
www.whitehillscash.com
800*986*1962
[customersupport@whitehillscash.com]
Clear Water Lending, LLC d/b/a Cash Fairy
www.cashfairy.com
866*300*6046
West River Finance, LLC d/b/a West River Cash
www.westrivercash.com
888*890*7700
[support@westrivercash.com]
Blue Thread Lending, LLC
www.bluethreadlending.com
888*220*BLUE (2583)
[support@bluethreadlending.com]
North Star Finance, LLC d/b/a Northcash
www.northcash.com
855*333*6570
[customercare@northcash.com]
Northern Plains Funding, LLC d/b/a Northern Plains Funding
www.northernplainsfunding.com
888*667*8499
[customersupport@northernplainsfunding.com]
Riverbend Finance, LLC d/b/a Riverbend Cash
www.riverbendcash.com
888*387*1977
[customerservice@riverbendcash.com]
Target Finance, LLC d/b/a Target Cash Now
www.targetcashnow.com
800*346*9348
If you have a complaint against any of these entities, you may call the Fort Belknap Tribal Hotline at 888*517*3696 or mail your complaint to:
Bright Lending
PO Box 578
Hays, MT 59527
White Hills Cash
Attn: Michelle Fox
PO Box 330
Hays, MT 59527
Blue Thread Lending
Attn: Michelle Fox
PO Box 535
Hays, MT 59527
Riverbend Cash
Attn: Michelle Fox
PO Box 557
Hays, MT 59527
Cash Fairy
Attn: Michelle Fox
PO Box 320
Hays, MT 59527
Northcash Attn: Michelle Fox
PO Box 498
Hays, MT 59527
West River Cash
Attn: Michelle Fox
PO Box 30
Hays, MT 59527
Northern Plains Funding
Attn: Michelle Fox
PO Box 516
Hays, MT 59527
Target Finance, LLC d/b/a Target Cash Now
Attn: Michelle Fox
PO Box 552
Harlem, MT 59526
DFI warns Washington consumers that before doing business with a financial services provider the consumer should:
- Make sure that the entity is lawfully entitled to conduct business in Washington. Consumers can use the “Verify a License” feature on DFI’s website at www.dfi.wa.gov to check whether a payday or consumer loan company is licensed to conduct business in the state of Washington.
- Not provide any personal information, such as social security number or bank account number or access if the company is not licensed or authorized to conduct business.
Important Information for Washington Consumers About Unlicensed Lenders
Washington State residents are informed that Washington State law provides in RCW 31.45.105(1)(d) and (3) that a “small loan” made by an unlicensed entity (which is not otherwise exempt from licensure) to a person physically located in Washington State is uncollectible and unenforceable in Washington State. A “small loan” is defined in RCW 31.45.073 as a loan that does not exceed $700 and requires repayment between 7 and 45 days after the loan is made. You should consider obtaining legal advice to determine if your loan is collectable or enforceable in Washington before deciding not to pay.
Washington State residents are informed that Washington State law provides in RCW 31.04.035 that fees or interest charged in the making of a nonresidential loan by an unlicensed lender (which is not otherwise exempt from licensure) must be refunded to the borrower.
Washington residents only: If you suspect unlicensed activity by a payday lender or consumer loan company, please contact the Department at 1-877-RING-DFI (746-4334), or online at www.dfi.wa.gov. Even if the activity involves a loan you obtained over the internet, a license is generally still required. If a collection agency is attempting to collect a debt from you, check that the company is licensed by the state of Washington Department of Licensing.
Collection activities by payday lenders in the state of Washington are subject to RCW 31.45.082, which limits the time, place, and manner by which a payday lender may collect a debt. Payday lenders must also provide borrowers with an installment plan if the borrower is not able to pay the small loan back when it is due.
Important Information for All Consumers
- If you received a loan from a lender and someone else is now attempting to collect the loan, the collection activity may be subject to the federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA). If you are contacted by a third party claiming you owe a debt, you can request a “written validation notice,” which must provide the amount of the debt, the name of the creditor you owe, and your rights under the FDCPA. If you have questions regarding federal debt collection laws you can contact the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at 1-877-FTC-HELP or online at www.ftc.gov.
- If you feel you have been the victim of a scam you can contact the FTC at 1-877-FTC-HELP (382-4357) or online at www.ftc.gov; or the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) at 1-855-411-CFPB (2372) or online at www.consumerfinance.gov.
- If the scammers already have your bank account information, social security number, or other personal information, you may be a victim of identity theft. You can contact your bank and the three major credit bureaus to take appropriate precautions. The FTC has information for victims of identity theft online at www.ftc.gov.
- If you feel you have been the victim of a scam involving the internet you can contact the Internet Crime Complaint Center online at www.ic3.gov.
- If you feel you have been the victim of a financial scam and are concerned about your personal financial information, you can contact your banking institution and the three major credit bureaus. Procedures for contacting the credit bureaus are available on the FTC’s website at www.ftc.gov.
- If you live in another state, go to this webpage to find the regulator in your home state. http://mortgage.nationwidelicensingsystem.org/consumer/Pages/AgencyContacts.aspx.