Consumer Alert
Northway Financial dba Cash Transfer Centers
dba Zip19.com

Updated: February 21, 2013

The Washington State Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) has received complaints from Washington consumers who reported they obtained online payday loans from Zip19.com which also does business as Northway Financial and Cash Transfer Centers.

Northway Financial d/b/a Cash Transfer Centers d/b/a Zip19.com provides payday loans to consumers via the internet and may be located in Malta. This company has been associated with the following website address, email address, telephone number, and fax number:
http://www.zip19.com
customercare@zip19.com
1-877-947-1947
1-866-202-6498

Northway Financial d/b/a Cash Transfer Centers d/b/a Zip19.com. is not licensed by DFI, and is not registered to conduct business in the state of Washington by either the Department of Revenue or the Secretary of State.

DFI has taken formal enforcement action against this company; but is unable to pursue additional action because it is located outside the United States.

Verify Licenses

DFI strongly recommends that consumers deal only with those lenders that are properly licensed to conduct business. Consumers can determine whether lenders are properly licensed using the “Verify a License” feature on DFI’s website at www.dfi.wa.gov/consumers/findcompany.htm.

Report Fraud

If you are suspicious of unlicensed activity by a payday lender please contact the DFI at 1-877-RING-DFI (746-4334), or online at dfi.wa.gov.

If you feel you have been the victim of a loan scam please contact the Federal Trade Commission at 1-877-FTC-HELP (382-4357), or online at www.ftc.gov. Because the scammers have access to bank account information and social security numbers, victims should consider themselves victims of identity theft and take appropriate precautions. The Federal Trade Commission has information for victims of identity theft available online at www.ftc.gov.

Payday Loan Debt Collection Laws

Consumers should know that Washington state law prohibits threatening or harassing behavior by individuals attempting to collect a payday loan. Only licensed companies are permitted to make payday loans in Washington.

The federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act says debt collectors must send consumers a written notice within five days of their first phone call, showing how much the consumer owes and where the debt is from. The law says collectors can not say or even imply that nonpayment is a crime.

They can’t call before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m. Collectors are not allowed to speak to a consumer’s employer about their debt. They are prohibited from harassing or abusing consumers and they must stop calling if the consumer asks them to.