Michigan Payday Loan Law and Legislation

Deferred Presentment Service Transactions Act governs payday lending in the state of Michigan since 2005. There hasn’t been much change to the industry for the past years regardless of the attempts.

Michigan Payday Lending Statutes

In the state of Michigan payday loans are considered legal according to the Mich. Comp. Laws 487.2121 et seq., or “Deferred Presentment Service Transactions Act“. Thus, in Michigan, payday loans are legally called deferred presentment service transactions.

While the practice is legal, there are certain limitations with regards to lenders that the latter should comply with provided they want to operate in the state.

Specifically, the Act requires that a lender provided customers with a written contract to sign. The contract should disclose all the includes fees, APRs, and repayment terms and timelines. It should also contain a list of consumer rights disclosed.

Loan Amount in Michigan

• The maximum amount of loan is $600 taken from a single lender.
• Borrowers are allowed to have not more than two outstanding loans, although, from different lenders.

Rates, Fees and Other Charges in Michigan

Licensed lenders are permitted to assess charges for a service fee on each payday loan transaction. The date of the transaction is used to determine the date the service fee is applied. Lenders are permitted to charge both of the amounts shown below as a feature of their service fee:

• An amount no greater than the accumulation of those shown below, where applicable:
  • 15 percent of the initial $100 loan;
  • 14 percent of the second $100 loan;
  • 13 percent of the third $100 loan;
  • 12 percent of the fourth $100 loan;
  • 11 percent of the fifth $100 loan;
  • 11 percent of the sixth $100 loan.

• An amount of a database verification fee as permitted by §,34(5) of Comp. Laws 487.2121 et seq.

While seemingly low 15%-11% service fees do not seem like a lot, they have a tendency to pile up, and this is the usual story for customers who resort to such loans or renew them often. Thus, real APR in Michigan can reach 369% for the average $300 payday loan (According to the Center for Responsible Lending 2019).

• Also, Section 408.020. reads: “When no rate of interest is agreed upon, nine percent allowed as legal interest.“

The Maximum Term

• Loans are given for the term of 14-31 days.

Consumer Information

Attention
From July 2020, lenders are not required to check a borrower’s ability to repay a loan.
Be careful, evaluate your financial situation, don’t get into a debt trap.
The rule was changed by the CFPB.

• Criminal actions against borrowers are prohibited in the state.
• In case a borrower cannot repay in time, an installment payback plan should be requested. Basically, lenders charge $15 for such services. Moreover, it is also legal for lenders to charge a $25 insufficient funds fee in case of defaulted repayment. The borrower is still responsible for the repayment and may be subject to collection actions from the lender.
• A borrower is also eligible to notify a lender with a letter in case the former considers that the latter was operating against the law. In such a case, a lender has got three days for a decision. In case a lender admits the violation, he should pay a borrower five times the fee (minimum $15) associated with the loan.

More information about payday loans in Michigan can be found on the official page of the Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services.

Borrowers who happened to have a bad experience with payday lenders or want to report illegal practices can use an Online Complaint Form.

Regulator: Complaints & Information

Department of Insurance and Financial Services

Mailing Address: P.O. Box 30220, Lansing, MI 48909-7720
Address: 530 W Allegan St 7th Floor, Lansing, MI 48933
Phone: 517-284-8800 or 877-999-6442 (toll free)
Fax: 517-284-8837
Url: http://www.michigan.gov/difs
File a Complaint: https://www.michigan.gov/difs/0,5269,7-303-12902_12907—,00.html

Submit a Complaint to the CFPB

Number of Michigan Consumers Complaints by Topics

According to CFPB Consumer Complaint Database

• Fraud and threat ( 141 )
• Charges from account ( 113 )
• Not exiting debt ( 96 )
• Lender is not available ( 47 )
• Not requested loan ( 38 )
• Loan to return ( 35 )
• Credit rating ( 28 )
• Loan not received ( 16 )

The Quantity of Top Michigan Stores by Cities

The History of Payday Loans in Michigan

• 2005 – Michigan passed Deferred Presentment Service Transaction Act that regulates all payday lending in the state. There hasn’t been much change to it over the years.
• 2006 – The Military Lending Act effectively capped payday loans offered to the military at 36% APR. No lender in Michigan is now allowed to offer loans to the military in excess of 36% APR.
• 2017 – Senate Bills 430, 431, and 432 were introduced. They proposed to increase payday loan amounts to $2,500 and loan term to a maximum of 48 months. At the same time, APR would have been capped at 180%. However, all three bills seem to have never left the Senate Committee on Banking and Financial Institutions after getting there in 2017. And at the present moment, there is nothing left but to wait. The law has proponents as well as numerous opponents.
• June 2, 2016 – The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) proposed a Payday Loan Rule that hasn’t yet fully come into effect (the federal rule is expected in November 2020).failed attempts were:
• Oct 5, 2017 – The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) issued the Final Payday Loan Rule that hasn’t yet fully come into effect.
• 2019 – In the light of the coming (or not) federal legislative restrictions, Michigan does not have any current state legislative proposals to bring on a vote.
• June 22, 2023 – Michigan’s House approved HB 4343, mandating annual payday lending reports to combat predatory practices with unfair loan terms.

[Updated As of March 2024]