Is AdvanceMeToday licensed to operate?

No, or at minimum, they have been ordered to cease operations by a state regulator.

The Evidence:

The New York Department of Financial Services (DFS) sent Advance Me Today a formal "cease and desist" letter in August 2013, directing them to stop offering payday loans in New York . This action was taken because the company was charging "interest rates many times the legal limit" .

Your Rights Regardless of License Status:

Even if a lender claims to be licensed, you must know and exercise these rights:

1. Right to Verify Licensing: Contact your state's Department of Financial Services or banking regulator to confirm if a lender is licensed.
2. Right to Usury Protections: In New York, loans with interest above 16% from non-bank lenders are void. If a "licensed" lender charges illegal rates, the license does not make it legal .
3. Right to Refuse Illegal Collection: Debt collectors attempting to collect on void, usurious loans violate the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. You can dispute the debt .
4. Right to Report Violations: Report illegal lenders to your state Attorney General or financial regulatory agency.

Action Item: If AdvanceMeToday contacts you, ask for their license number and the states where they are authorized to lend. Demand this in writing before providing any personal information.