Predatory Lending is a practice wherein a lender forces you into abusive or unfair lending terms. This can be in the form of high interest rates, unreasonable penalties, and hidden fees that aren't part of the mortgage contract. Often, the contract is written out so that it's all but impossible for the borrower to get out of it, even when it puts them under financial stress. In fact, studies show that most of today's foreclosures and defaults can be traced to some form of predatory lending.