EDWARDSVILLE — A woman claims Illinois-based lender AAA Community Finance charged excessive interest rates and does business without a license.
Terrie Luster, individually and on behalf of all others similarly situated, filed a complaint May 13 in the Madison County Circuit Court against JRE Financial LLC, doing business as AAA Community Finance, alleging violation of the Consumer Installment Loan Act and Illinois Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act, unjust enrichment and engaging in lending business without a license.
According to the complaint, Luster was issued a loan by AAA in August 2020 for $475 with an annual percentage rate of 786.72% "which is greater than the maximum of 99% allowed by Illinois law." She alleges that she made "regular payments" on the loan and eventually paid $1,400 to AAA before she stopped making payments. Luster claims AAA is not licensed with the Illinois Department of Financial & Professional Regulation and that AAA sent her a threatening letter, called and sent text messages "multiple times per week" in an effort to collect on the illegal loan. Luster further claims AAA practices predatory lending and refused to provide her with a copy of her full loan agreement unless she paid a fee.
Luster seeks monetary relief, interest, trial by jury and all other just relief. She is represented by Mark Goldenberg, Thomas Rosenfield, Kevin Green and Zachary Shelton of Goldenberg Heller & Antognoli PC in Edwardsville.
Madison County Circuit Court case number 21-L-000585