ASIC has handed a five-year ban to an unlicensed payday lender, saying unlicensed lending poses a risk to the public.
Victorian payday lender Victor Manatakis has been banned by the regulator after an investigation uncovered that his business was conducting credit activities without an ACL. Manatakis' business, Billpal, was the operator of payday lending business Cashpal. ASIC found that between August and October of 2011, Billpal issued credit contracts despite the fact it held no licence.
ASIC commissioner Peter Kell said the unlicensed lending could pose a risk to the public.
"People in the consumer credit industry need to be aware of the licensing requirements and the implications they will face if they fail to meet these requirements," Kell said.