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Complete stranger pays off woman's payday loans

Posted at 5:44 PM, Feb 20, 2017
and last updated 2017-02-20 18:48:03-05

A complete stranger pays off a woman’s payday loans after seeing our story on KMTV.

Diana LaCroix was spiraling into debt after having to take out payday loans to pay for another payday loan and could never seem to catch up.

“A never ending cycle, it’s like a whirlpool I couldn’t swim out of,” said LaCroix.

LaCriox said she couldn’t keep up with the bills after her husband passed away roughly two years ago while also supporting her 18-year-old granddaughter.

But now, those worries are gone as a complete stranger who wishes to remain anonymous gives the gift of compassion and generosity.

“Changed my life,” said LaCriox.

LaCriox says the woman first met her at a Cash Advance Friday morning and paid off LaCroiz’s first loan, then went over to another payday lender up to pay off LaCriox’s second loan.

“I never knew someone like that existed, I really didn’t and now I know there are people out there who can change someone’s life forever,” said LaCriox.

But the generosity didn’t stop there—the two of them sat and ate at this Cinnabon and had coffee, the woman gave her a hundred dollars for groceries and then went and paid the remaining balance on LaCroix’s vehicle a total amount for the day adding up over 15-hundred dollars.

“It was amazing, she was sent from heaven, that’s all I can say,” said LaCriox.

LaCriox says now she doesn’t need to worry about the payday loan cycle she couldn’t get out of.

“Now I can concentrate on just paying my monthly bills, and taking care of my granddaughter, and I have tons of weight lifted off my shoulders,” said LaCriox.

A weight lifted by this so-called guardian angel, watching out for her, from a complete stranger.

“I can’t thank her enough for what she’s done for me,” said LaCriox.

LaCriox said she made a promise to the woman that she will never take out a payday loan again.

And wants to pay it forward, one way she's doing that is going to the legislative hearing Tuesday afternoon in Lincoln to sway lawmakers to vote on a bill dealing with payday lenders.

Sens. Tony Vargas and Lou Ann Linehan introduced a bill to tighten payday lenders' fees. It would cap interest at 36-percent, much lower than 400-percent that some lenders are charging.

 To read previous coverage, click here: http://www.kmtv.com/news/local-news/payday-loans-bill-to-help-nebraskans-in-debt