A Scottish woman says she has been the target of a four-year-long campaign of intimidation by an illegal loan shark.
“Linda” – not her real name, as we are protecting her identity – thought she had borrowed money from a caring friend but they were actually a predatory money lender.
After being lent a few thousand pounds, Linda was “hounded” for interest worth £10,000.
“I couldn’t believe it – she wanted another ten grand,” Linda told STV News.
“They were coming to the door, I was having to get the police and everything. I had to get the police about six times.”
And Linda isn’t the only one affected by the issue.
An investigation by STV News has found that 7% of people have reported that they, or someone they live with, had interacted with an illegal money lender.
Before they were Linda’s loan shark, they were her friend
After being diagnosed with a chronic health condition, Linda found herself relying on help from somebody she believed to be a close friend.
“She could not do enough for me,” Linda told STV News. She would take me to doctors’ appointments and things like that.
“She was a good friend – you wouldn’t think she’d do anything like this to me.”
Unable to work, Linda found herself needing cash. So when her friend offered to lend her a few thousand pounds, Linda decided to take the help.
“I borrowed [a few thousand] but it wasn’t all in one go…it was like bits and bobs,” she said.
“It sounds like a lot of money but it wasn’t in one (go) and she said I could give it back when my money came in. I was obviously going to give her a wee bit of interest.
“But then she wanted, I couldn’t believe it, she wanted another £10,000.”
Linda struggled to pay back this huge interest applied to the debt – and that’s when the harassment began.
“She was hounding us, hounding us, hounding us,” said Linda.
Over four years, the loan shark continued to pursue Linda and her partner – using increasingly aggressive tactics.
Linda said: “They were putting stuff on Facebook, my picture, my partner’s picture, and all my details, my address, saying that I owed them money.
“They were coming to the door, I was having to get the police and everything.
“I had to get the police about six times.”
The ordeal took such a huge toll on Linda’s mental and physical health – which was already fragile – that she suffered a heart attack.
Linda said: “It was definitely stress that caused it”.
“It was absolutely horrendous, I was crying every night. When I had my heart attack, I just didn’t want to be here.
“That’s how bad I felt.”
How Linda got help
With the police unable to help her, Linda eventually contacted Citizens Advice, who referred her to the Scottish Illegal Money Lending Unit.
The unit helps victims like Linda understand their rights and how to take back control. In some cases they investigate the illegal loan shark.
Linda was told that she had done nothing wrong and hadn’t broken the law by borrowing from an illegal lender.
They explained the loan shark had acted illegally and that they didn’t have any right to enforce the debt.
The unit told STV News that illegal lenders, like Linda’s loan shark, can often reside within the community – they can appear trustworthy but turn aggressive when the debts aren’t paid.
Today, Linda still feels the impact of the loan shark’s aggressive campaign.
She said: “I am still a wee bit scared of her, because I know what she’s capable of.
“To do that to a friend, my reputation’s been taken away from me for a start, because of everything she’s put up (on social media).
“I don’t go out, my life has been taken away from me.”
You can contact the Scottish Illegal Money Lending Unit helpline on 0800 074 0878 or visit stopillegallending.co.uk and fill out an online form.
You can also get advice at your local Citizens Advice Bureau or at https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/scotland/
Watch the full report, Scotland Tonight: Dealing with Dangerous Debt, tonight at 8:30pm on STV and the STV Player.
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