Campaigners who claimed a payday lender in Kilburn was “masquerading” as The Samaritans to entice vulnerable residents into high-interest loans are celebrating after adverts promising ‘you are not aloan’ were taken down last week.
Managers at Speedy Cash on Kilburn High Road, took down the advertising after the Times reported on a campaign run by community group Just Money which called for council action against posters advertising loans with yearly interest rates of up to 1,223 per cent.
David Barclay, from Camden Citizens which runs the Just Money campaign said: “We are delighted. They have finally bowed to public pressure and taken down these adverts.
“The question now is what comes next- will this extend to London or the rest of the country?”
The campaigners joined forces with lawyer Jacob Turner last month to submit a formal complaint to Camden Council detailing legal action they could take to curb advertising practices which Mr Barclay claimed were “unacceptably” targeting cash-strapped residents.
After receiving the complaint, which was endorsed by community leaders including Tulip Siddiq, Labour MP for Hampstead and Kilburn, the council visited the premises to carry out an assessment last week.
It is understood managers at Speedy Cash took an independent decision to take down the posters, banners and sandwich board on September 11.
Mr Barclay added: “The lesson here is it was a good alliance of the technical skill of Jacob as a lawyer and the well-organized campaigning of Just Money, London Citizens and the Kilburn fair credit campaign.”
Councillor Phil Jones, Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Planning and Transport said: “Council officers visited the site on September 8 to make an assessment after receiving a complaint. Although the sign was removed it was not as far as the council is aware as a result of that visit.”
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here