Debt Hacker takes the fight for fair credit to Parliament

Last Tuesday (23 October) saw Debt Hacker put payday lenders on warning with the launch of its campaign against unfair high-cost loans to the heart of Government.

Debt Hacker founder Alan Campbell formally launched its manifesto, payday loans complaints tool and campaign by inviting MPs, members of the House of Lords and campaigners to sign up to say that it’s time for payday lenders to pay up.

In attendance at the Parliamentary event were Catherine West MP, Lyn Brown MP, Lord Kirkwood of Kirkhope, Lord MacKenzie of Framwellgate, Lord Shipley, Lord Whitty and Baroness Altman. There were also representatives of Laurence Robertson MP, as well as Carolyn Draper from the Treasury Committee.

There were representatives from a wide-range of organisations concerned about problem debt, including the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Fair Business Banking, Toynbee Hall, Centre for Responsible Credit, Positive Money, Money Advice Trust, Christians Against Poverty, Citizens Advice, Fair By Design, MIND, Equality Trust, Jubilee Debt Campaign, FWB Park Brown and Big Issue Invest.

Those in attendance listened to speeches from Debt Hacker’s Alan Campbell, Catherine West MP and payday loans victim Danny Cheetham.

We now look forward to the campaign spreading and questions being asked in the Commons and Lords about unaffordable loans and the companies that offer them.

As well as doing the rounds on radio and television, Alan Campbell has already met with Yvonne Fovargue MP and Jonathan Edwards MP, who both sit on the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Debt and Personal Finance. He also met with Rt Hon Nicky Morgan MP and Charlie Elphicke MP of the Treasury Select Committee.

In the coming weeks, Alan Campbell will also be meeting with Lord Bird and Lord Sharkey.

It’s certainly not a good time to be a payday lender. We’re only just getting started.