All American Check Cashing, Inc.; Mid-State Finance, Inc. (d/b/a Thrifty Check Advance); and Michael Gray
On May 11, 2016, the Bureau filed a complaint against two companies, All American Check Cashing, Inc. and Mid-State Finance, Inc., which offer check-cashing services and payday loans, and their president and sole owner, Michael Gray. The Bureau alleged that the defendants tried to keep consumers from learning how much they would be charged to cash a check and used deceptive tactics to stop consumers from backing out of transactions. The Bureau also alleged that the defendants made deceptive statements about the benefits of its high-cost payday loans and failed to provide refunds after consumers made overpayments on their loans. On November 10, 2022, the court entered a final settlement order, which requires Gray to pay a civil money penalty of $899,350, of which $889,350 was remitted due to a penalty of that amount being paid to the Mississippi Department of Banking and Consumer Finance. The settlement also prohibits Gray from reinstating the corporate defendants, which were dissolved on December 10, 2018.