404 4.1. Demographics. Most borrowers inside our sample were of working age.

4.1. Demographics. Most borrowers inside our sample were of working age.

4.1. Demographics. Most borrowers inside our sample were of working age.

Figure 1: Respondent age bracket

Respondent age group %
18-24 6
25-34 24
35-44 27
45-54 21
55-59 10
60-64 7
65+ 6

As shown in Figure 1, 72 per cent of participants had been between 25 and 54 years of age. Eighty-three per cent lived in an metropolitan area, and 55 per cent rented their property (while 32 per cent owned a property with a home loan and nine per cent owned one without a home loan. )

More participants had low-to-moderate incomes.

Figure 2: Home earnings

Home income
lower than $32K 28
$32K –

As shown in Figure 2, over 50 per cent lived in households with annual incomes under $55,000, and over 70 per cent lived in households with incomes under $80,000. But, 20 per cent reported home incomes surpassing $80,000, with seven % over $120,000, demonstrating that cash advance use just isn’t limited to canadians that are low-income. Footnote 11

This demographic information will help FCAC to tailor academic resources.

4.2. Understanding expenses

Pay day loans can be a costly method to borrow cash. As shown in Figure 3 Footnote 12, they have been far more costly than many other credit that is short-term.

Figure 3: cash advance price vs. Different ways of borrowing (According to a $300 loan taken for two weeks)

Borrowing from credit line Overdraft security on a bank-account cash loan on credit cards cash advance
$5.81 $7.19 $7.42 $63.00

Regardless of this, less than 50 % of participants comprehended that a payday loan is higher priced than a highly skilled stability or advance loan on a charge card (see Figure 4). This suggests that nearly all participants weren’t alert to the general expenses of most credit that is short-term and may even be making use of pay day loans more regularly because of this.

This shows the necessity to increase customer understanding concerning the general expenses of varied credit services and products.

Figure 4: nearly all participants would not precisely see that payday advances cost significantly more than an outstanding stability or cash loan on a charge card.

Response Percent
Right 43
Wrong 57

4.3. Measurements of loans

Many pay day loans taken down by participants had been reasonably tiny in value.

As shown in Figure 5, three-quarters reported loans of $1,000 or less, while over fifty percent (55 %) reported loans of $500 or less. Twenty per cent reported loans of $500-$1,000, while just four per cent reported loans of $1,001-$1,500.

Figure 5: Could you calculate that total value regarding the final pay day loan you took?

Predicted value per cent
$1 – $500 55
$501 – $1000 20
$1001 – $1500 4
$1501 or higher 7
favor to not respond to 14

In Canada, a payday that is regulated cannot go beyond $1,500, yet seven % stated the worth of the loan ended up being over $1,500. It really is not clear whether these participants had been citing the sum total price of borrowing (including interest and charges), had been considering a different type go to site of borrowing, or could actually access bigger payday-style loans off their loan providers. Almost 50 % of those who accessed loans over $1,500 accessed their loans online, which could suggest that bigger loans are increasingly being accessed in this manner.

4.4. Repayment of loans

While payday advances are created to bridge customers with their paycheque that is next utilized sources apart from their paycheque to settle their final loan.

Some participants reported looking at cost cost savings reports, taking right out new payday advances from another loan provider, borrowing from buddies or household, or making use of banking account overdrafts to settle their outstanding pay day loans (see Figure 6 Footnote 13 ). Just just What continues to be ambiguous is excatly why they didn’t access these sourced elements of funds previously—instead of taking out fully loans that are payday. This might be another indicator that borrowers usually do not understand that payday fully loans cost significantly more than other credit choices and underlines the necessity for relevant customer training resources.

Figure 6: exactly exactly How have you typically repaid the quantity owed for the payday loan(s)? (pick all of that apply)

Supply percent cash that is accessed personal credit line 2
Other 2
lent from the bank or credit union 2
went along to pawnbroker 2
Accessed money through charge card 3
never have yet reduced my loan(s) 4
Sold something 4
Cashed in RRSP or other assets 4
utilized overdraft on a banking account 5
Borrowed from buddies or family 7
Took out an innovative new payday loan(s) 7
Took out funds from a checking account 13
applied my paycheque 70

4.5. Reasons behind loans

Many participants reported taking out fully payday advances to pay for necessary costs.

As shown in Figure 7, nearly half participants (45 per cent) stated they typically used payday advances for unforeseen necessary costs, such as for instance vehicle repairs. Almost as much (41 per cent) said they typically utilized payday advances for recurring and therefore expected necessary expenses, such as for example lease or bills. Footnote 14