Privacy in Online Lending: An Analysis of Online Payday Lenders’ Privacy Policies

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Organization

Consumers’ Association of Canada (Manitoba)

Published

2015

Project Leader(s)

Gloria Desorcy, Executive Director, CAC (Manitoba)

Summary

The Consumers’ Association of Canada (CAC) Manitoba undertook research into privacy and the online payday lending industry to determine whether the privacy policies of online lenders conform to the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA) and provincial legislation. The researchers also examined the privacy knowledge and expectations of online payday lending customers and areas in which their privacy may be at risk.

The research found that customers generally had a high expectation of privacy but had little knowledge of their privacy rights with respect to payday lending services.  In particular, the research found that the majority of consumers do not read privacy policies and statements before purchasing payday loans from on-line lenders. The results of the review of on-line lenders’ privacy policies also suggest that there may be a low level of compliance with PIPEDA in the industry.

Based on its research findings, CAC Manitoba makes a number of recommendations aimed at empowering consumers and encouraging payday lenders to be more privacy sensitive in their business practices.

This document is available in the following language(s):

English

• English (HTML document)

OPC Funded Project

This project received funding support through the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada’s Contributions Program. The opinions expressed in the summary and report(s) are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada. Summaries have been provided by the project authors. Please note that the projects appear in their language of origin.

Contact Information

21-222 Osborne Street South
Winnipeg, MB R3L 1Z3

Telephone: (204) 452-2572
Fax: (204) 284-1876
Email: cacmb@mts.net