While the Yountville resident paid off his $900 loan within two months, he was still on the hook for $2,646.69 in interest charges.

The TV commercials make payday advance apps sound so helpful: Are you short on cash? Just get your paycheck a couple of days early. You also can’t blame anyone for being interested in the idea ...

Whether you call them loan apps, borrow-money apps, cash advance apps or payday advance apps, these online lenders can provide financial lifelines to people in a penny pinch. They're not ideal.