CFPB, Federal Agencies, State Agencies, and Attorneys General
The staff of the Federal Trade Commission has published Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) to warn the automobile industry that it must comply with FTC Act requirements on vehicle pricing.
The guidance emphasizes that the advertised price of a vehicle must be the actual price that a consumer can walk in and pay to purchase the vehicle.… Continue Reading
On October 8, 2026, at the request of Mayor Zohran Mamdani, the New York City Council introduced Int. No. 1105, the POWER (People and Organizations Winning Economic Relief) Act. Sponsored by Council Member Harvey D. Epstein, the bill would prohibit unfair methods of competition and unfair, deceptive, abusive, or unlawful acts or practices in or affecting business, trade, or commerce.… Continue Reading
The Supreme Court’s June 29, 2026 decisions in Trump v. Slaughter and Trump v. Cook raise fundamental questions about presidential power, the independence of federal agencies, and the constitutional structure of the administrative state. Although both cases involved the President’s authority to remove federal officials, the Court’s decisions appear to point in different directions.… Continue Reading
Artificial intelligence is increasingly changing single‑plaintiff consumer litigation, particularly by enabling pro se plaintiffs to file longer, more citation‑dense complaints more quickly, while simultaneously giving defense counsel tools to assess cases, identify weaknesses, and pursue early resolution or dismissal strategies. In the first episode of this series focusing on consumer financial services litigation, Joseph Schuster and Matthew Morr, partners at Ballard Spahr in our Consumer Financial Services Group, discuss both the tactical opportunities and the professional responsibility/ethics risks created by AI use in litigation.… Continue Reading
Noting that impersonation scams have topped the list of consumer fraud complaints reported to the FTC in recent years, the commission is considering whether to update its Rule on Impersonation of Government and Businesses or take other action to prevent ad-optimization practices by online platforms that may be furthering impersonation scams.… Continue Reading
California has once again expanded its regulation of financial services. On September 30, 2026, Governor Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill 2116, which will subject a broad range of commercial financing providers and brokers to licensing, substantive conduct requirements, and regulatory oversight by the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation (DFPI).… Continue Reading
Saying that taking action against payment processors is an effective way to reach foreign and domestic businesses that scam consumers, the FTC has announced it has settled with two such processors, Nuvei and Humboldt Merchant Services.
“Payment processors are crucial intermediaries between businesses and consumers that must take their role seriously and operate in good faith to screen out bad actors; they should be able to do so without fear that they will become responsible whenever an associated merchant behaves poorly,” Commission Chairman Andrew N.… Continue Reading
For decades, the debate over arbitration agreements and class action waivers in consumer financial services contracts has largely played out in courtrooms, before regulators and Congress, and in academic journals. Advocates and critics have debated issues ranging from consumer access to justice and deterrence to litigation costs and whether the benefits of arbitration are ultimately passed along to consumers.… Continue Reading
Legislation that prohibits a health care provider or debt collector from reporting medical debt to credit reporting agencies has become law in Washington, D.C.
The legislation became law without the signature of Mayor Muriel Bowser, who said she supported the medical debt provisions, but opposed some unrelated provisions.
Among other things, the law:
The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) has responded to the multistate lawsuit challenging its recent actions concerning mortgage escrow accounts with a motion that presents a merits argument as well as three distinct procedural paths: dismissal, transfer, or, potentially, a pause while the Supreme Court considers related preemption issues.… Continue Reading
