Consumer complaint received 2025-10-13 00:00:00
Product: Payday loan, title loan, personal loan, or advance loan — Payday loan
Issue: Was approved for a loan, but didn't receive the money — 
Company: Crow Creek Sioux Tribe
State: OR

Complaint narrative:
Consumer Complaint XXXX River Valley Loans To Whom It May Concern, I am submitting this complaint regarding my recent experience with River Valley Loans, which I believe involves deceptive, misleading, and potentially fraudulent practices. 
On XX/XX/year> at XXXX. I applied and submitted a personal loan through River Valley Loans. I was pre-approved for a loan of {$870.00}, and subsequently completed the full application process. This included providing sensitive personal information such as my Social Security number, bank account number, routing number, and other identifying information. During the application, the {$870.00} loan amount was reconfirmed, and I was issued what appeared to be a finalized loan agreement, complete with due dates and a loan number. 

Following this, I received no notification of any change to my loan status, nor any indication that there was a problem. I was informed only that I needed to call in to finalize the loan, which I did promptly. During the call today XX/XX/year>, I was told I had only been approved for {$170.00}, a significantly lower amount than the original agreement. Additionally, the interest rate on this {$170.00} was extremely high, requiring repayment of nearly XXXX times the borrowed amount which I found predatory and unacceptable. 
When I requested to speak to a supervisor, I was repeatedly put on hold, transferred multiple times, and ultimately disconnected without resolution. No one provided a consistent or clear explanation for why my loan was altered or voided. When I did speak with a supervisor, I was told that the loan had been voided but they could not verify when or why. This contradicted previous statements made by other representatives. 
Despite providing all required personal and financial information, no funds were disbursed, and I was given no formal denial notice, written explanation, or email communication regarding the change in loan status. This lack of transparency and professionalism is extremely concerning, particularly given the sensitive nature of the information I was required to provide. 
I believe River Valley Loans is engaging in predatory lending practices, particularly targeting individuals from lower economic backgrounds. There are widespread claims that the company uses tribal affiliations as a legal loophole to circumvent state interest rate laws, thereby exploiting vulnerable borrowers with exorbitant interest rates and deceptive tactics. 
Additionally, I informed River Valley Loans during XXXX of the calls that I was recording the conversation for documentation purposes and possible legal action. Their response was evasive and they attempted to shift blame, claiming I had somehow acted improperly by completing the application, despite following their instructions every step of the way. 
Given the above, I am filing this complaint for the following reasons : * Misrepresentation and misleading advertising ( pre-approval amount not honored ) * Failure to disclose material changes to loan terms or loan status * Collection of sensitive personal data under false pretenses * Predatory interest rates and unethical lending practices * Refusal to provide clear, written communication or support * Breach of contract and fraud I request a full investigation into this lender 's practices. I would also appreciate follow-up regarding any actions taken or findings in this case.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation