The Washington State Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) warns consumers to verify that any lender with which they consider doing business holds a Washington State license for providing any type of loan services. Consumers are urged to verify licensing status prior to giving the lender nonpublic personal information, such as social security number and checking account access.

DFI has received a complaint from a Washington State consumer against Mountain Summit Financial, Inc. It appears that this entity is operating as an online payday lender at the following website: http://www.mountainsummitfinancial.com and may be charging fees in excess of the fees permissible under Washington State law. Mountain Summit Financial, Inc. asserts that it is wholly owned by the Habematolel Pomo of Upper Lake, a federally-recognized Indian Tribe.

Mountain Summit Financial, Inc. is not licensed by the Washington State Department of Financial Institutions. This entity is not registered to conduct business in Washington State by the Department of Licensing, the Department of Revenue, or the Secretary of State. Washington 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 is uncollectible and unenforceable in Washington State.

Mountain Summit Financial, Inc. operates a website at http://www.mountainsummitfinancial.com and lists its phone number as 855-819-7200 and its email address as customerservice@mountainsummitfinancial.com. The address that has been associated with this entity is:

Mountain Summit Financial, Inc.
635 E. Hwy 20
Upper Lake, CA 95485

If you have a complaint against Mountain Summit Financial, Inc. you can submit it to the company through their legal counsel at:

Karina Alvarez, Esq.
Rosette, LLP Attorneys at Law
193 Blue Ravine Road, Suite 255
Folsom, California 95630

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 atwww.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(link is external).

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(link is external).

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(link is external); or contact the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (855) 411-CFPB or online atwww.consumerfinance.gov(link is external). 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(link is external).

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(link is external).

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.