Green Gate Services LLC
Unlicensed Payday Loans

August 21, 2014

The Washington State Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) has received complaints against Green Gate Services LLC (Green Gate) http://greengateservicing.com. It appears that Green Gate Services LLC is operating as an online tribal payday lender. Green Gate claims to be owned by the Big Lagoon Rancheria, a federally recognized Indian tribe exercising its sovereign immunity. Green Gate asserts that it is subject to regulation only by the United States Government.

Green Gate is not licensed by DFI. Green Gate is not registered to conduct business in Washington State by the Department of Licensing, the Department of Revenue, or the Secretary of State. Washington State residents are advised that state law provides in RCW 31.45.105(1)(d) and (3) that a small loan made by an unlicensed entity to a person physically located in Washington State is uncollectible and unenforceable in Washington State.

Green Gate operates a website at greengateservicing.com. It lists its phone number as 866-266-9136 and its address as 600 “F” Street, Suite 3 #721, Arcata, CA 95521.

If you have a complaint against Green Gate, you can mail it its tribal regulator:

Big Lagoon Tribal Financial Services Regulatory Authority
PO Box 3060
Trinidad, CA 95570

Verify License

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 the DFI’s website at www.dfi.wa.gov/consumers/findcompany.htm.

Payday Loan Debt Collection Laws

Collection activities are subject to the federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. Therefore, if you have questions regarding debt collection laws please contact the Federal Trade Commission at 1-877-FTC HELP, or online at www.ftc.gov.

Debt collectors cannot state or imply that failure to pay a debt is a crime. They cannot call before 8:00 a.m. or after 9:00 p.m. They cannot harass or abuse consumers, or contact consumers’ places of employment.

Report Fraud

Washington State residents, if you are suspicious of unlicensed activity by a payday lender please contact the Washington State Department of Financial Institutions at 1-877-RING-DFI (746-4334), or online at www.dfi.wa.gov.

If you live in another state, find your state regulator.

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; or contact the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (855) 411-CFPB or online at www.consumerfinance.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.

If you feel you have been the victim of a loan scam involving the Internet please contact the Internet Crime Complaint Center online at www.ic3.gov.

If you feel you have been the victim of a loan scam and are concerned about your personal financial information, contact your banking institution, and the three major credit bureaus.