Fintech & Disguised Credit

New forms of credit can pose new problems and old ones, often evading consumer protections. Buy now pay later credit, earned wage advances and other cash advance apps, and other new forms of credit can pose a number of risks. Rent-to-own (RTO) and lease-to-own sales may be exempt from or violate lending laws. New underwriting methods also impact the safety of credit. NCLC works to ensure that new and evasive forms of credit have strong consumer protections.

The Tricks Cash Advance Apps Use to Coerce Borrowers to “Tip”

April 23, 2025

A new form of fintech payday loan offered through cash advance apps uses “tips” as a form of disguised interest. These apps claim that tips are voluntary, but they use dark patterns, actual or implied repercussions for not tipping, manipulative interfaces, behavioral and psychological tricks, and other techniques to make tips almost as certain as…

Read More about: The Tricks Cash Advance Apps Use to Coerce Borrowers to “Tip”

From the NCLC Digital Library

Consumer Credit Regulation

Innovative thinking and precise authority on predatory lending and other consumer credit, including analysis on other players in consumer accounts and payment systems.

Read Chapter One

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