Consumer Alert:
La Posta Tribal Lending Enterprise
(aka Gentle Breeze Online)
Unlicensed Payday Lender
Updated: March 20, 2013
The Washington State Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) received a complaint from a consumer related to transactions entered into with La Posta Tribal Lending Enterprise a/k/a Gentle Breeze Online. The consumer alleged that this entity charged the consumer to extend the repayment of the loan. The consumer also alleged that Gentle Breeze Online charged loans fees twice and has not applied any payments towards the principal of the loan.
La Posta Tribal Lending Enterprise a/k/a Gentle Breeze Online has stated they are an entity wholly owned by the La Posta Band of Mission Indians and has sovereign immunity.
La Posta Tribal Lending Enterprise a/k/a Gentle Breeze Online is not licensed with DFI and is not registered to do business with the Washington Secretary of State or Department of Revenue.
The entity’s website is gentlebreezeonline.com and mailing address is PO Box 1120, Boulevard, CA 91905.
File a Complaint
If you have a complaint against La Posta you can mail it to:
La Posta Tribal Lending Enterprise a/k/a Gentle Breeze Online
Javaughn Miller, Tribal Administrator
PO Box 1120
Boulevard, CA 91905
Verify Licenses
DFI strongly recommends that consumers deal only with those lenders that are properly licensed to conduct business. Consumers can determine whether lenders are properly licensed using the "Verify a License" feature on the DFI’s website at www.dfi.wa.gov.
Payday Loan Collection Laws
Washington State law prohibits threatening or harassing behavior by individuals attempting to collect a debt. The federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act states that debt collectors must send consumers a written notice within five days of the first collection phone call, stating the amount of the debt and what it relates to. Debt collectors cannot state or imply that failure to pay a debt is a crime. They cannot call before 8:00 a.m. or after 9:00 p.m. They cannot harass or abuse consumers, or contact consumers' places of employment.
Report Fraud
If you are suspicious of unlicensed activity by a payday lender please contact the Department of Financial Institutions at 1-877-RING-DFI (746-4334), or online at www.dfi.wa.gov.
If you feel you have been the victim of a loan scam please contact the Federal Trade Commission at 1-877-FTC-HELP (382-4357), or online at www.ftc.gov.
If you feel you have been the victim of a loan scam involving the Internet please contact the Internet Crime Complaint Center online at www.ic3.gov.
