Filipina loan-shark in London ordered to pay £40,000.

[Tawi2]

I was behind the scenes in Heathrow today and picked up a copy of Heathrow Villager to read,page 3 or jan 8'th issue was a story of note,I knew these types of filipina operated in Hong Kong as they always took passports as security,didnt even consider we had them here in the UK:Erm: In 2008 her"Business" had a turnover of £393000 :cwm24:


Loan shark jailed for money laundering
Mar 15 2010 By Jack Griffith

A LOAN shark whose enterprise within London's Filipino community made an annual profit of over £390,000 has been jailed.

Heide Wahida Baker, 44, of Bourne Avenue, Hayes, was sentenced to 15 months imprisonment at Isleworth Crown Court last Friday (March 12) after admitting to two counts of money laundering, illegal money lending, fraud and two counts of illegally possessing people's passports.

Baker lent money to people in some of London's poor Filipino communities with victims in , Barnet, Fulham, Southwark and Redbridge, and her 'business' was said to have raked in a massive £393,000 in 2008, shortly before she was prosecuted.

Prior to handing over the money, she gave a number of her victims a document to sign which falsely claimed that the transaction was being done in association with the Phillipine Embassy and was therefore governed by Philippine law.

When her property was searched last February, these forged official documents were found, along with passports taken from some of her victims as 'security'.

The court heard how each transaction carried with it a 100 per cent mark-up, although the figures varied between transactions and interest rates peaked at over 200 per cent on some occasions.

One of Baker’s 'clients' borrowed £500 but was told that she was responsible for a £1,600 loan given to a relative. Her 'debt' was increased to £2,100 with monthly interest charges of £210. This victim was forced to hand over her passport as security as well as her savings account card and PIN, from which Baker took £350.

Judge McGregor Johnson said that he took the fact that it was Baker's first offence into consideration but was undeterred in handing down the custodial sentence.

He said: "Based on the way you were operating, the term loan shark is an accurate one."

"You were lending money to people who couldn't obtain credit elsewhere, and you were able to charge them extortionate rates of interest.

"You drew up fraudulent documents designed to reassure your victims, and these are all unattractive features in this case."

"You did this not for friends as you continue to allege; you did it purely for profit."

She was sentenced to 15 months for illegal lending and money laundering, 12 months for fraud and 9 months for the illegal possession of passports. All sentences are to be served concurrently.

Baker was investigated and prosecuted by the London Trading Standards, in partnership with Hillingdon council, and Peter Richardson, manager of London's illegal money lending team, said: “This is a great result for the victims who came forward and it should give communities in London the confidence that we will help and continue to bring these loan sharks to justice."

[Sim11UK]

Blimey! she must have been busy :NoNo:
Well I'm glad she got caught...Not the stereotypical sweet Filipina. :NoNo:

[Ako Si Jamie]

http://hayes.uxbridgegazette.co.uk/heidebaker200.jpg

That's her.

[Sim11UK]

I've only really heard of the 5 - 6 money lenders in the Philippines...Only 20% mark up.
Small fry, compared with her 100% + :cwm24:

[Tawi2]

Chances are if you see a bombay in the boonies its a five-six,used to know of several pinay loan sharks in Honkers who held passports till the Utang was cleared.


That's her.
Wonder if she would loan me a tenner :Erm:

[bornatbirth]

looks like penny :icon_lol:

[Tawi2]

looks like penny
It actually DOES look like Ate Pennybarry:cwm24:Pen,if your reading this you know I am only joking ;)(loan me a tenner please?).

[gWaPito]

That seems to have put Jamie's angelic filipina theory out the window! I guess many more will be shocked to read such a story about the fragile, delicate and sensitive Pinays. This goes to show, they are no different to any other, they too, can be hard as nails. They are human beings after all. Hurrah! Good one, Tawi

[Ako Si Jamie]

That seems to have put Jamie's angelic filipina theory out the window! :Erm: ???

[joebloggs]

That seems to have put Jamie's angelic filipina theory out the window! I guess many more will be shocked to read such a story about the fragile, delicate and sensitive Pinays. This goes to show, they are no different to any other, they too, can be hard as nails. They are human beings after all. Hurrah! Good one, Tawi

not sure if it was jamie, but nigel use to :furious3: a bit and others saying how decent filipina's are, at the end of the day there are good, bad, ugly and scammers ones, whether their men or women and the country their from doesn't matter one bit. :NoNo:

[Tawi2]

at the end of the day there are good, bad, ugly and scammers ones, whether their men or women and the country their from doesn't matter one bit.
Amen :)

[waterloo1]

hello everyone, i wonder if i can find a loan shark that doesnt charge as much as her, i am so desperate for a £1000 loan, can anyone help. Ive tried virtually anything but failed.

[Ako Si Jamie]

But in the Phils, the good ones are diamonds and that's what attracts us.

[Ako Si Jamie]

hello everyone, i wonder if i can find a loan shark that doesnt charge as much as her, i am so desperate for a £1000 loan, can anyone help. Ive tried virtually anything but failed.The Provident?

[Tawi2]

But in the Phils, the good ones are diamonds and that's what attracts us.
As the old saying goes you have to search a mountain of rock to find a single diamond ;)

[sars_notd_virus]

5/6??..very bad!!

[Ako Si Jamie]

As the old saying goes you have to search a mountain of rock to find a single diamond ;)
The guy who came out with that must have been dating Western women :icon_lol:

[Manila_Paul]

She was sentenced to 15 months for illegal lending and money laundering, 12 months for fraud and 9 months for the illegal possession of passports. All sentences are to be served concurrently.

Not sure 3 years is long enough given what she was up to. 200% interest? :NoNo:

[Tawi2]

She has also had forfeiture or assets,but yup,feeding off human desperation,she isnt a very nice lady(classic understatement).

[RickyR]

Oh well, I'm sure she'll have fun in prison. Sky TV, Pool Tables etc.

[gWaPito]

Sorry Jamie. Umm been saying that alot lately. Jamie You mentioned on your ' treat them mean, keep them keen' thread about them being sensitive etc etc so, used the word 'angelic' as your description. Look, never let the truth get in the way of a good story ha ha ha. My excuse was, i was coming to an end of a long working day hence, jumping in with what came to mind first. Im old too! Ha ha

[Sim11UK]

never let the truth get in the way of a good story

I remember reading that, on the back of an old Bryant & May matchbox attributed to Dave Allen, the comedian...It stuck in my mind. :D

[gWaPito]

Ah Dave Allen That takes me back to tv on Saturday nights. He would be doing the normal smoking drinking and what seemed to me, half cut! Happy days ah. Strangely I remembered many of his stories to this day. When it comes to normal every day stuff to remember, im hopeless So says the wife, of course she's right ha ha. Dickie Henderson was another show I liked, all around the same time.

[Ako Si Jamie]

Sorry Jamie. Umm been saying that alot lately. Jamie You mentioned on your ' treat them mean, keep them keen' thread about them being sensitive etc etc so, used the word 'angelic' as your description. Look, never let the truth get in the way of a good story ha ha ha. My excuse was, i was coming to an end of a long working day hence, jumping in with what came to mind first. Im old too! Ha ha No worries our kid although I didn't use the word angelic and I was referring to women in general not just Pinays. :xxgrinning--00xx3:

[keithAngel]

pawnshops charge 3% first 10 days go figuer thats secured no cheap money in the phils

[fred]

Why do they call these lenders victims?? They know exactly what they are signing up for,they have done it all their lives..
If the authorities are so worried about these poor victimised Filipinos then they should give them access to cheap loans..Problem solved.
Because that will never be the case these people will search out more underground lenders and borrow again.. 5/6 is ingrained in their culture.. Let them get on with it IMO.. Stupid is..Stupid does.

[fred]

pawnshops charge 3% first 10 days go figuer thats secured no cheap money in the phils


Exactly Keith.. Money is a very expensive commodity here because of the risk factor..Even secured loans suffer high interest rates because its so easy for banks and pawn shops to get away with it..
Think about it!!I could undercut all the Bombay 5/6 merchants by 50% if I wished and have the poor of Bohol queuing up to to take my money...This time next year I could be a zillionairre!!! Not!

[mindanao]

Money is a very expensive commodity here because of the risk factor..Even secured loans suffer high interest rates because its so easy for banks and pawn shops to get away with it.. totally agreeing with you Fred:xxgrinning--00xx3:

In pinas, you can't blame money lenders to put high interest rates coz there are even greater number of people getting loans from them, Look at the small sari sari stores, money lenders riding in motorbikes comes around between 5pm-7pm and collecting daily monies. 5/6 is prohibited under the Central bank Lending laws, But who will apprehend these 5/6 people:rolleyes:

[somebody]

My advice is ensure your Mahal if from Phill understands the dangers of credit and how its not free money etc.
Thankfully the Wife has learned to be wise but not before she had her head turned when first over here.

Maybe a little different post crash here in the UK but often it seems those who are new to the UK their credit rating is based partly on their spouse if a Bristish Citzen. As I have mentioned before the Wife has been offered after Credit check huge sums of money way more than when she first came to the UK could if we both be honest comprehend in her pocket.

Folks this is a terrible example and I know of OFW's who the Wife knows as CHild hood friends who have nearly had to contemplate using the service of such types and often for tiny sums:NoNo:

One very close childhood friend who lives a distance away who has a new born was so desperate money wise and luckly the Wife was able to help her out with presents for her baby to stop her needing to use a loan shark. Many born and bred in the UK may not get how with little high street credit open to them and no bank of the family and close friends to borrow off how easy it is to full into the trap for some OFW's.

I also know of a guy who has a part time job as money collector for one of the door to door loans companies (a nasty piece of work it seems on the quiet) Myself and others had known of him for years before it slipped out..

Anyway he collects from many Filipinas nurses and other OFWs/Students and it appears from what i have heard he goes to house shares and everyone in there owes something..

Its partly why i shy away from the Filipino Propety boom with the condos etc. Plenty of pretty low income ofws seem to have loads of propety which they are loaned up to the max for:NoNo: