Even so, six months after Wonga (Brit-slang for money) was launched in July 2008, it was already profitable and is now the biggest short-term lender in Britain.

FORBES: Names You Need To Know: Wonga

And the Public Accounts Committee (at 3.15pm) returns to its hearing on the effectiveness of consumer credit regulation - having berated Wonga and other lenders last week, the regulators, the Office of Fair Trading, and the Financial Services Authority will be in the committee's sights this time.

BBC: Week ahead in committees

High-profile money lending firm Wonga has been criticised by the Office of Fair Trading for using aggressive and misleading debt collection methods.

BBC: Wonga debt collection methods criticised by OFT

"It is not about the desperation of customers - we reject about 60% of applicants, " Wonga boss Errol Damelin told the Reuters news agency.

BBC: Wonga profits triple on strong loan demand