A protest for something that’s not often protested was seen near 23rd and Louisiana streets Saturday, as about two dozen people protested a car title loan business in Lawrence.

Protesters from Wichita-based Sunflower Community Action, a nonprofit grass-roots organizer, held signs in front of LoanMax, 800 W. 23rd St., for half an hour, decrying what they called “predatory lending” practices.

Title loan businesses offer loans, with interest rates sometimes in the triple digits, that use a customer’s car as collateral.

Rickie Coleman, a protester, said title loan companies can leave customers in a cycle of debt that becomes difficult to pay off.

With high interest rates, Coleman said, payments usually don’t cover the principle of the loan, but rather the interest.

“What you’re paying for is almost 100 percent interest,” Coleman said.

Sunflower Community Action has gone to Topeka to lobby for a bill that would cap interest rates for title loan businesses at 36 percent.

LoanMax was closed for the day at the time of the protest.

A disclaimer inside the building recommended customers consider lower cost options before entering into a title loan.

“This line of credit is not intended to meet long term financial needs,” the disclaimer said.

A statement from the company released in December defended the company as an alternative for people who don’t qualify for loans from banks.

“We offer a needed service at attractive rates. We invite others to do the same,” said Rod Aycox, president of LoanMax, in a statement. “We also challenge those who oppose our business model to offer a better alternative … and serve those who need credit.”