Maine Payday Loan Laws and Regulations
Find out if short-term Payday Loans are legal in Maine and what amounts, interest rates and repayment terms are set by the state's Legislation.
Legal Payday Loans Online for Maine residents
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Maine Payday Loans Rates and Terms
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Legal Status
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Legal Status The status of a loan type according to the Federal laws and regulations. What concerns Payday Loans some states consider them legal, some – illegal and some restrict them in terms of amounts and interest rates. |
Available (with some restrictions) |
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Maximum Loan Amount
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Maximum Loan Amount It’s the maximum sum of cash advance allowed to apply for in the state. It usually ranges from $500 to $1000. But it may vary depending on the lender and his requirements. |
$2000 |
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Maximum APR
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Maximum APR The maximum percentage allowed that actually represents annual cost of your loan. The APR is based on several things, including the amount you borrow, the interest rate and costs you’re being charged, and the length of your loan. |
30.00% |
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Finance Charges
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Finance Charges All the payments you’re going to be charged for the loan including APR and other fees. |
$5 for amounts financed up to $75; $15 minimum charge for amounts financed of $75.01-$249.99; or $25 for amounts financed of $250 or more |
To apply for a Payday Loan in Maine safe study the laws, rules and regulations concerning short-term cash advance in the state.
Table of Contents:
Are Payday Loans legal in Maine?
Maine Payday Loan Terms and Amounts
Maine Payday Loans online laws
Maine Payday Loans interest rates, fees and other finance charges
Maine Payday Loans direct lenders regulations
Maine Payday Loans consumer information
Legitimate Payday Loans online with NO credit check in Maine
Does Maine law allow Payday Loans for bad credit borrowers?
Legit Payday Loans in Maine collection practices
Maine Payday Loans news - latest changes
Are Payday Loans Legal in Maine?
Short-term Payday Loans are Available (with some restrictions) in Maine and are regulated through Me. Rev. Stat. Ann. tit 9-A §1-201 and Me. Rev. Stat. Ann. tit. 9-A §1-301. The Payday Lending legislation covers all the parts of the process concerning:
- Payday Loan amounts
- Payday Loan repayment terms
- Payday Loan online direct lenders
- Payday Loan stores near you
- Payday Loan interest rates and other fees
- Payday Loan collecting practices
- Payday Loan default penalties
- The number of outstanding Payday Loans as well as a cooling-off period in-between etc.
Read more: Payday Loans in Maine
To see if you're eligible for a Payday Loan in Maine check out the lenders' requirements:
- US residence
- Minimum regular income of $1,000 per month
- Valid checking or savings account with direct deposit
- Phone number and e-mail address
Payday loans are short-term, high interest rate, unsecured loans. The term “payday loan” derives from the fact that historically, workers borrowed money on Monday and promised to repay the advance, with interest, on Friday, which was traditional “payday.”
Maine law currently limits the interest rate on unsecured loans of less than $2000 to 30.00% APR. In the alternative, lenders can charge $15 on a loan between $75 and $250, or $25 on a loan in excess of $250. Payday lenders, by contrast, often charge 25% per week, for the equivalent of 1300% APR.
For other details read further to find out how many Payday Loans you can borrow, whether rollovers or extensions are allowed, etc.
Maine Payday Loan Terms and Amounts
Maine residents who are eligible for a Payday Loan can get $2000 cash advance per contract. The repayment term is not limited. neither are the purposes of loan usage. Any urgent expenses, unforeseen bills, car repair, home repair, etc. may seem a sound reason to apply for a Payday Loan in Maine.
If $2000 is not enough, there are always other options to receive the necessary funds in Maine:
- unsecured Installment Loans,
- bad credit Personal Loans,
- Title Loans,
- Check Cashing,
- Pawn Shops, etc.
Maine Payday Loans online laws
Cash advances (payday loans) from both storefront and online lenders are legal in the state of Maine pursuant to the The Bureau of Consumer Credit Protection, Department of Professional and Financial Regulation, 35 State House Station Augusta ME 04333, 800-332-8529. Reputable online lenders operating in accordance with all relevant state and federal laws can be applied to and compared on our platform using a simple online application form.
You state the necessary amount, fill in your personal information and get suitable offers from legit direct lenders. It takes only a few minutes and doesn't affect your credit score.
In recent years, some internet-based payday lenders have located themselves on Native American reservations in Oklahoma, Nebraska and other states. These lenders claim that state law is inapplicable to them since they are governed solely by Tribal law and procedure.
Finally, a review of consumer complaints reveals that some internet payday lenders are located in such places as Nevis, West Indies; the Island of Malta (in the Mediterranean); British Columbia, Canada; and in England. These companies, like the Native American-based lenders, claim that state laws are not applicable to them, as foreign, sovereign entities. So, check the legal status of online Payday lender before submitting the request to avoid scams.
Maine Payday Loans interest rates, fees and other finance charges
The main part of payday loan payment is mostly made up of the interest rate, or APR. The maximum APR that may be charged for short-term cash advance in Maine is capped at 30.00%. It means that if you borrow $100 Payday Laon for 14 days the finance charges will be $5 for amounts financed up to $75; $15 minimum charge for amounts financed of $75.01-$249.99; or $25 for amounts financed of $250 or more.
Besides the total cost of a Payday Loan you may be charged some additional fees find it out with a lender.
The law obligates Maine Payday Loan lenders to provide you with a written disclosure of all the rates and fees in the understandable language. You should read them carefully and if you agree acknowledge the notification by signing the contract.
Maine Payday Loans direct lenders regulations
According to Maine payday loan laws all direct lenders are obliged to register their companies which will allow issuing payday loans contract. It concerns both Online Payday Loans and Payday Loans Near Me.
12 companies that currently hold valid Maine Payday Lending licenses are registered at the present moment. Under the state’s Consumer Credit Code, these licenses are a sub-category of a “supervised lender” license. However, these lenders do not make mortgage loans secured by real estate, nor do they generally make loans secured by collateral such as automobiles.
Licensed companies conduct business within the regulatory structure of Maine law, including the interest rate caps. In addition, before receiving their 2-year license they had to demonstrate to the bureau a net worth of at least $25,000, and post a surety bond in the amount of $50,000.
The bureau has not received consumer complaints about licensed lenders. However, in cases of complaints against other categories of licensed entities, staff obtains quick, substantive responses. The companies know that responding promptly and fully to complaints is a condition of continued licensure, and they also understand that the bureau can access the funds represented by the surety bond if a consumer can demonstrate they’ve been financially harmed by the actions of a licensed, bonded entity. Licensed companies are also subject to compliance examinations conducted by bureau personnel, so the state has a way to monitor the operations of licensed entities.
Compare top legit Payday Lenders in Maine:
LendYou will help you get the cash you need when you need it. You can apply for Payday Loans, Installment Loans or Personal Loans, etc. Compare the lenders and get matched with the best one.
- MIN Loan Amount: $100
- MAX Loan Amount: $35000
- Terms: Varied
- Rates and fees: Starting at 4.99% APR
- Turnaround Time: 1 business day
- $100 - $1000 Payday Loans
- $1000 - $5000 Installment Loans
- $5000 - $35000 Personal Loans
- 18 years of age or older
- U.S. citizenship
- Valid checking or savings account with direct deposit
- Minimum regular income of $1,000 per month
- Not be a regular or reserve member of the Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marine Corps or Navy (or be a dependent of someone who is,) serving on active duty under a call or order that does not specify a period of 30 days or fewer.
- Pros
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- High up to $15,000 loan amounts.
- Minimal restrictions on how you can use your loan.
- No collateral or guarantor.
- Bad credit is OK.
- Cons
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- It's not a direct lender, so you'll need to clarify rates and terms with the company you are matched with.
Greenlight Cash created an online platform to connect consumers like you with reliable lenders across the country. They partner with a large network of professionals so you get a chance to work with one of them and meet the challenge of improving your financial situation in the most effective way. Once you tap submit, you get one step closer to receiving the funds.
- Payday Loans
- Installment Loans
- Personal Loans
- be a legal U.S. resident
- be at least 18 years old
- have a stable source of income
- be currently employed
- have an active bank account
- Pros
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- Unrivaled flexibility and accessibility.
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Predictable monthly payments
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Quick and simplified borrowing process
- Any credit is welcome
- Cons
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- Not a direct lender.
GoGoPaydayLoans offers Payday Loans at affordable rates with convenient repayment terms.
- MIN Loan Amount: $100
- MAX Loan Amount: $1000
- Terms: Vary by state.
- Rates and fees: 261% to 782% APR
- Turnaround Time: 1 business day
$100 - $1000 Payday Loans
- Active checking account open for 90+ days
- US citizen or permanent resident
- Personal and work phone number
- Valid email address
- 21+ years old (19+ in Alabama)
- Social Security number (for Indiana residents only)
- Pros
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- You can get even as low as $100.
- Quick funding on the next business day.
- Money can be used for any personal needs.
- Cons
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- Not available in every state.
- APR can be more than 153.73% depending on your state.
- High late payment fees.
Indyloan.com offers Personal Loans online at affordable rates with convenient repayment.
- MIN Loan Amount: $100
- MAX Loan Amount: $5000
- Terms: Vary by state
- Rates and fees: Varied
- Turnaround Time: 1 - 2 business day
Personal Loans
- Active checking account open for 90+ days
- US citizen or permanent resident
- Personal and work phone number
- Valid email address
- Pros
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- Quick - no driving, waiting, faxing, paperwork.
- High approval rate even for bad credit borrowers.
- Online Payday cash advance with no collateral or co-signer.
- 24 / 7 online service.
- Cons
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- High interest rates.
- Available not in all the states.
- Only loans up to $5000 are available.
Extralend.com offers Personal Installment Loans online at affordable rates with convenient repayment.
- MIN Loan Amount: $100
- MAX Loan Amount: $3000
- Terms: 6 months - 2 years
- Rates and fees: Varied
- Turnaround Time: 1 - 2 business day
Personal Installment Loans
- At least 18 years of age
- US residence
- A valid telephone number and email address
- An active bank account in your name
- Be employed for at least 90 consecutive days with the same employer
- Meet minimum income guidelines
- Pros
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- Quick - no driving, waiting, faxing, paperwork.
- High approval rate even for bad credit borrowers.
- Online Payday cash advance with no collateral or co-signer.
- 24 / 7 online service.
- Cons
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- High interest rates.
- Available not in all the states.
- Only loans up to $3000 are available.
Maine Payday Loans consumer information
Besides amounts, rates and fees, consumers must be also well aware of other details of Payday Loans in Maine. They include the availability and number of rollovers, extensions and repayment plan, a cooling-off period, any default penalties or additional fees, etc. Check out the table below to find the most essential information:
| Rollovers or extensions | Not stated |
| Cooling-off period | Not stated |
| Other default penalties | None |
| Criminal actions | Prohibited |
Look for more detailed information on the official Maine state regulator website - https://www.maine.gov/pfr/consumercredit/index.shtml, https://www.maine.gov/pfr/consumercredit/index.shtml.
Legitimate Payday Loans Online with NO credit check in Maine
Looking for a legal Payday Loan with No credit check in Maine? You must understand the meaning of this phrase correctly at first. No credit check implies that a lender will not inquire about your credit history information from or send your borrowing data to any of the three major credit bureaus Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion.
If you don’t want to damage your credit history Maine law allows you to apply for a Payday Loan with No credit check. But you should understand that a lender needs to check your creditworthiness at least in some way. He can perform a soft credit check when a lender pre-approves you for a loan and this inquiry will not appear on your credit report. Or there’re other ways to prove you can afford the cash advance. Payday Loan lenders use the tracking system to verify your debts, check your income, etc. And generally, they charge higher interest to lessen the risks.
Maine Payday loans online no credit check is one of the easiest options of getting quick cash to cope with emergency financial requirements, especially for the people with poor credit.
Does Maine law allow Payday Loans for bad credit borrowers?
The average credit score in Maine is 689, placing it in the fair range. But it doesn't mean that those who have a worse credit can't apply for a Payday Loan in Maine.
- First of all, there're a lot of legit direct lenders in Maine providing Payday cash advance to borrowers with both good and bad credit score.
- Secondly, you can always find a cosigner to increase your chances of being approved for a bad credit Payday Loan.
- Find out how to improve your credit score and do your best to do it fast.
- Or consider taking out bad credit Installment Loans, or bad credit Personal Loans.
Legit Payday Loans in Maine collection practices
If consumers default on the loans, by not having sufficient funds in their accounts or by closing their accounts, many of these debts are given to unlicensed debt collectors who use aggressive, often illegal tactics to collect the debts.
As regulators, bureau staffers are often frustrated in their efforts to assist consumers in debt to payday lenders, since the actual locations of the lenders or collectors hired by them are not known. Of those whose whereabouts are known, several large lenders are situated on Native American reservations in other states, and assert that tribal law supersedes state laws. While bureau staff has a great deal of success in individual cases obtaining refunds or convincing lenders to abandon the alleged debts, getting control of this activity is a priority for regulators in Maine, in other states, and at the federal level within the new Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB).
Another troubling development occurs when a consumer stops paying the alleged payday loan debt, usually by working with their own financial institution to close the account from which the debts are being taken, or by having their institution reject claims for payment from the lender. The accounts are then commonly assigned to unlicensed, out-of-state debt collectors, and the consumers are subject to a barrage of phone calls threatening civil action or even the institution of criminal proceedings. These are all specious threats – in the bureau’s experience not a single unlicensed internet-based payday lender has ever used the Maine court system to advance a claim – but the calls take an emotional toll on the consumer, and communications sometimes include calls to the consumers’ places of work or to their supervisors. As in the case of the unlicensed lenders, these unlicensed collectors pose a challenge to bureau staff, since their whereabouts are purposely hidden, and since they use phone-masking technology to “spoof” or disguise their outgoing telephone numbers.
If you think that your payday lender violates the Maine Payday Loans law, you may file a written complaint with The Bureau of Consumer Credit Protection, Department of Professional and Financial Regulation, 35 State House Station Augusta ME 04333, 800-332-8529.
Maine Payday Loans news - latest changes
Today, there are about 23,000 payday lenders across the country. Young people today have bad financial difficulties compared with previous generations. They must pay for basic expenses and student loans, etc. Payday loans seem a convenient and easy way to solve the problem. However, considering that most payday loans go to borrowers who take out multiple payday loans per year, these loans are the opposite of a quick problem solver.
Based on these data, the CFPB adopted a rule, set to take effect this year, to limit back-to-back loans and require lenders working with repeat borrowers to examine the borrower’s ability to repay the loan–looking at income and expenses in the way that responsible banks and other above-board creditors do.
Maine Payday Loans historical background
| 2000s | Payday Loans were regulated by Rev. Stat. Ann. tit 9-A §1-201 |
| 2006 | Loans to the military were capped at 36% interest. |
| June 2, 2016 | A Payday Loan Rule was proposed. |
| 2017 | Lenders tried to broaden their limits but without success. |
Maine Payday Loan alternatives
If you're looking for instant cash advance in Maine but not a Payday Loan, consider other alternative ways to get the necessary funds:
- Apply for a Maine Installment Loan - $1000 - $5000 cash advance repaid over several months or years in equal installments.
- Take out a Car Title Loan in Maine if you own a vehicle to use as collateral.
- Sell some of your valuable stuff online or at a pawn-shop.
- Consider borrowing from a bank or credit union - Central Maine Federal Credit Union, Maine State Credit Union, etc.
- Qualify for one of Federal or Maine government assistance programs: MaineCare, the Earned Income Tax Credit, the Maine Rent and Tax Refund Program.
