Cllr Gary Doherty
STRANORLAR Electoral area Sinn Féin Councillor Gary Doherty has again warned of the dangers of illegal money lenders.
He wa speaking after receiving reports that new flyers offering money have been circulating in the Finn Valley in recent days.
Speaking today, Cllr Doherty said a number of people have raised concerns over the issue while on the canvass trail.
“These flyers do not have a business name on them, just a number to call. These people are attempting to take advantage of the difficult financial position many people find themselves in at the moment,” Cllr Doherty said.
“We have seen this before in the Finn Valley where people have taken loans from these guys and are then charged extortionate interest rates. The net result is that those taking out the loans are then put under extreme duress to repay them, causing them further hardship.”
Cllr Doherty urged anyone who receives one of the flyers to pass it on to Gardaí.
Cllr Doherty claims that illegal money lending is becoming a major problem in the Finn Valley.
“Since I took office in November, this is the third instance where I have been contacted by a constituent who was offered a loan by these means. It is an alarming trend and one that I, as a public representative, will do my utmost to stop.
“It is important for anyone who is struggling financially to know that there are alternatives. Household utility providers will almost always be willing to enter into a payment plan in order to pay off arrears that may be on your account. Alternatively, if you must get access to credit, the best advice is to join your local Credit Union who may be in a position to help.”
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