Consumers with difficulties getting loans have been urged by the Financial Regulator to be wary of lenders charging high interest rates.
There are growing concerns that people with poor credit histories are becoming more vulnerable to lenders of last resort.
These are companies which offer high interest loans to people who cannot get money elsewhere.
One of them is CitiFinancial which is part of Citigroup. It charges 34% interest on some loans. Other lenders charge seven to 14% for the same thing.
CitiFinancial says its rates are high because lending to people with money problems is more risky.
An organisation which gives free legal help to people with debts, FLAC, says there needs to be a cap on interest rates.
But the Financial Regulator says limiting rates has been shown not to be in consumers' interests.
The Money Advice and Budgeting Service says more lenders are coming into the Irish market targeting people with financial problems.
