Platform Housing Group has become the latest organisation to join a national crackdown on loan sharks by becoming an official access point for the England Illegal Money Lending Team (IMLT), known as Stop Loan Sharks.
The housing provider, which supports more than 120,000 customers across the Midlands, has joined a growing network of community organisations helping people safely access specialist support if they have been affected by illegal money lending.
The Stop Loan Sharks team operates a confidential 24-hour helpline covering the whole of England, but the new access point initiative aims to make support even more accessible by providing safe, physical locations where people can seek help in person.
Platform staff have received specialist training and will be able to help anyone wishing to contact Stop Loan Sharks, whether by phone, email or online live chat. They can also provide a safe and supportive environment for people who may not have access to a phone, computer or private space to make contact.
Dave Benbow, head of the IMLT, said: “Illegal lenders are often well known within communities and can target vulnerable people through existing social networks. When someone has been affected by a loan shark, they can feel isolated, frightened and unsure where to turn for help.
“Taking that first step can be incredibly difficult, particularly if someone doesn’t have access to a phone, computer or a safe place to make contact.
“These new access points are a lifeline. They provide practical, face-to-face support and help people connect with our team. We’re delighted that Platform Housing Group has joined the network, giving even more people access to the support and protection they need.”
Platform Housing Group manages homes across a wide area of the Midlands stretching from Herefordshire in the west to the Lincolnshire coast in the east, and from the Derbyshire Dales in the north to the Cotswolds in the south.
Chris Pinson-Bradley, Community Engagement Manager at Platform, said: “People affected by illegal money lending can feel frightened, isolated and unsure about where to turn for help. Making that first approach can be particularly difficult if someone doesn’t have access to a phone or computer, or simply doesn’t feel safe making contact from home.
“Becoming an official access point means our community Help Centres and drop-ins can provide a safe and familiar place where people can take that first step and connect with the specialist support available through Stop Loan Sharks.
“We already have regular Help Centres and drop-ins across many of the communities we serve, where our teams build trusted relationships with local people. This partnership is another way we can use that network to make important support easier to reach.
“Nobody should feel they have to deal with an illegal lender alone, and we would encourage anyone who is worried about their own situation, or that of someone they know, to seek help.”
Illegal money lenders are often introduced to borrowers through friends, family or local contacts. Unlike legitimate lenders, they operate outside the law, usually lending money without paperwork and adding excessive charges or interest. What may begin as a seemingly friendly arrangement can quickly escalate into intimidation, threats and other forms of abuse when repayments cannot be made.
Stop Loan Sharks was set up more than 20 years ago to investigate and prosecute illegal money lenders while providing practical and emotional support to borrowers.
To contact Stop Loan Sharks directly, people can call the 24/7 confidential helpline on 0300 555 2222 or send a WhatsApp message to 07700 102773. More information is available from www.stoploansharks.co.uk where there is also a Live Chat service. WhatsApp and Live Chat operate weekdays from 9am to 8pm.
