Lendcare accused of working with shady firms

On its website, LendCare says it helps customers afford some of life’s big or unexpected expenses.

“Whether it’s buying braces for your child’s teeth, having emergency auto repairs done or getting your pet potentially lifesaving medication, LendCare has your back,” the Pickering-based lender says.

That pitch comes as Canadians, pinched by higher prices and rising unemployment , are turning to loans to supplement their incomes and pay for everything from beauty products to used cars.

But as more consumers take on high-cost loans — with interest rates sometimes above 30 per cent — a Star investigation has found that LendCare is working with unscrupulous businesses across the country that prey on vulnerable borrowers through scams and other exploitative contracts.

In more than 70 laws