Alert number: CA058727_11.24
Originally posted: November 13, 2019
Updated: November 21, 2024
The State of Washington Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) has received complaints from Washington consumers that Elem Indian Colony of Pomo Indians may be operating several subsidiaries as online lenders under the following business names:
- First Loan Tribal Loan Company
- Valley Servicing
- Next Loan
- Right Now Loans
These businesses claim to be subsidiaries of the Elem Indian Colony of Pomo Indians. The Elem Indian Colony of Pomo Indians claims to be a federally recognized sovereign American Indian Tribe located in California.
The Elem Indian Colony of Pomo Indians and these businesses are not licensed by DFI and are not registered to conduct business in Washington State by the Department of Licensing, the Department of Revenue, or the Secretary of State.
Elem Indian Colony of Pomo Indians and these businesses have been associated with the following contact information:
First Loan Tribal Loan Company
Address: PO Box 1536
Lower Lake, CA 95457
Phone: 888-340-2911
Website: [www.firstloan.com]
E-mail: [support@firstloan.com]
Valley Servicing
Email: contact@valleyservicing.com
Toll Free: 1-800-943-0692
Fax: 1-866-618-8062
Next Loan
PO Box 9090
Mesa, AZ 85214
Right Now Loans
[www.rightnowloan.com]
Toll Free: 1-866-660-8743
Tribal Dispute: 1-866-399-8594
Fax: 1-707-361-0507
PO Box 31690
Mesa, AZ 85275
PO Box 4102
Clearlake, CA 95422
If you have a complaint against any of these entities, you may contact:
Elem Indian Colony of Pomo Indians
1400 North Dutton Ave. Suite 7
Santa Rosa, CA 95401
Important Information for Washington Consumers About Unlicensed Lenders
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 (1-877-746-4334), 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 Washington State Department of Licensing.
Make sure that the entity is licensed. 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.
Do 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 All Consumers
If you received a loan from a lender and someone else is now attempting to collect the loan, 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 1-877-382-4357 or online at www.ftc.gov.
If you feel you have been the victim of a scam, you can contact the FTC at 1-877-382-4357 or online at www.ftc.gov; or the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) at 1-855-411-2372 or online at www.consumerfinance.gov.
If you feel you have been the victim of a financial scam, or 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 live in another state, find the regulator in your home state.