Photo: 123RF
Financial mentors are worried more people will spiral into debt now that regulations requiring affordability checks for loans have been scrapped.
The rules under the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Act were criticised by the government for being overly prescriptive, and were lifted on Tuesday.
Loan-related disputes already make up a third of complaints to the Financial Ombudsman.
David Verry of North Harbour Budgeting Services says without the regulations to protect them, fewer complainants will be successful.
Kathryn also speaks with Finance Ombudsman Susan Taylor about the six per cent rise in complaints her scheme has received in the last year.