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Advance America started in 1997, we’re guessing in Spartanburg, South Carolina. That’s where they are currently headquartered but we can’t find info on where they started. They are one of the largest storefront lenders with around 2,100 stores. They have a good online presence as well, but not to the extent of their stores.
Their website went up in 2001, though it was pretty sparse for a few years. It looks like they began lending online in 2008, along with many of their competitors.
Advance America is a direct lender.
What States Does Advance America Lend To?
Advance America currently operates in the following states: Alabama, California, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Missouri, Mississippi, Nebraska, Nevada, Ohio, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
What Services Does Advance America Offer?
- Payday loans
- Title loans
- Installment loans
- Tax Services
- MoneyGram Services
- Prepaid cards
What Does the Advance America BBB Page Say?
The BBB page is pretty blank except for 195 consumer complaints. They are not accredited but they do have an A+ rating.
Our main takeaways from the BBB page are in the two sections below; government action and scammers using their name. You can see their full BBB page here.
Government Action Against Advance America
In 2015 the company entered into an agreement with the State of Pennsylvania to reimburse customers to the tune of 8 million dollars. They also forgave an additional 12 million in consumer debt owed to them. 2 million went to the state itself. The charges seemed to be based on the interest rates they charged and other violations of the Consumer Protection Law.
The charges seemed to be based on the interest rates they charged and other violations of the Consumer Protection Law.
If you’d like to read the full document you can here.
Scammer Alert
In June of 2016, an alert was put out that scammers were using the Advance America name to get money from people. The general scam was getting financial details from individuals and also charging them a fee prior to the loan. They would claim it was an administrative fee or something along those lines.
While the scam was using their name, keep in mind that they could use any payday loan company name. You should never have to pay a fee to get a loan from a payday company. All fees are paid upon paying back your loan. Please don’t fall for this.
In fact, never send money to someone saying they are representing a company. This happens with IRS scams every year. If anyone demands you send money, gift cards (seriously), or anything hang up.
If you really think you owe money then call the company back directly at their official customer support line. Tell them what happened, it can help the company alerts others to watch out.
Business Contact and Profile for Advance America Cash
| Name: | Advance America Cash |
| Phone: | (864) 342-5600 |
| Address: | 135 N Church St Spartanburg, SC 29306-5138 |
| Website: | AdvanceAmerica.net |
| Business Started: | 1997 |
| Type of Business: | Payday Loans |
| Principal: | Mr. J. Patrick O'Shaughnessy, President & CEO |
| BBB Accreditation: | This business is not accredited with the BBB and has an A+. |
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