A NORTH-EAST woman who has debts of about £17,000 from a High Street bank was at the centre of an awareness campaign yesterday.
The unemployed east Cleveland mother told her story on a video which was screened by the Trading Standards Institute at the media launch of its week-long Keep Debt Under Control campaign, in London.
The woman, who is not identified, said: "I want to stop other people from falling into this trap and warn them of the dangers of being persuaded to take out loans by apparently friendly banks. I don't think I would have been treated any different if I had gone to a loan shark."
Trading standards officers from Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council are investigating the woman's case.
Principal trading standards officer Howard Turton said: "The client now has considerable debts linked to this creditor's irresponsible lending behaviour and, while we are now negotiating moratorium payments, she will be burdened for some years to come.
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