The CFPB recently submitted a proposed stipulated final order that would shut down a credit repair service and permanently enjoin it from “[a]dvertising, marketing, promoting, providing, offering for sale, selling, assisting in the sale of, or administering Credit Repair Services.” The proposed order would also enjoin the credit repair service from “[r]eceiving any remuneration or other consideration from, holding any ownership interest in, providing services to, or working in any capacity for any person engaged in or assisting in advertising, marketing, promoting, offering for sale, or selling Credit Repair Services.”… Continue Reading

In a recent consent order with a legal collection law firm, the Massachusetts Attorney General imposed significant restrictions on legal collection that go beyond previous CFPB consent orders, which we covered here. We believe that the Massachusetts Attorney General is likely to view at least some of the injunctive provisions in this consent order as setting standards for legal collections in Massachusetts generally, although it is possible that some provisions are unique to this particular case.… Continue Reading

Adding to the growing body of cases disputing the CFPB’s authority to issue civil investigative demands (“CID”), a U.S. district court judge in the Central District of California, on May 17, rejected multiple challenges and ordered a company to comply with a CID within fifteen days of the decision. The defendant, Future Income Payments, previously attempted a John Doe challenge to the CID in the U.S.… Continue Reading

Several individuals and organizations filed amicus briefs in support of the CFPB in the en banc rehearing in the PHH case. Among the amici is a brief filed by current and former members of Congress, including Chris Dodd and Barney Frank, the principal architects and namesakes of the Dodd-Frank Act, which created the CFPB.… Continue Reading

Although the Trump Administration has largely been silent with respect to Dodd-Frank and the future of the CFPB, some members of Congress have been very active in proposing significant legislative changes. Several measures to reform the agency are pending in the House and Senate. These bills can generally be broken down into two categories.… Continue Reading

A recent decision from the Eastern District of Michigan in CFPB v. Harbour Portfolio Advisors, LLC; National Asset Advisors, LLC; and National Asset Mortgage, LLC serves as a reminder that the CFPB’s authority to issue a Civil Investigative Demand (“CID”) is very broad, particularly when compared to discovery in federal litigation.… Continue Reading

On Monday, Chairman Hensarling circulated a memorandum to the House Financial Service Committee Leadership Team suggesting key revisions to the CHOICE Act. It only addresses proposed changes to the CHOICE Act; several key features of the original version, including subjecting the CFPB to congressional appropriations, remain in place but are not addressed in the memorandum.… Continue Reading

Early this morning, the CFPB released the findings of its national debt collection consumer survey.  Both the headline of the CFPB’s press release and Director Cordray’s remarks highlight the survey’s finding that “over one-in-four consumers contacted by debt collectors feel threatened” during the collections process.  The press release also highlights likely areas of on-going CFPB focus with respect to collections: failing to honor cease-and-desist requests, collecting on debt impacted by incorrect information (e.g.,… Continue Reading

In a recent case, the Central District of California held that the CFPB’s claims against a credit repair service under the Telemarketing Sales Rule (“TSR”) must meet Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 9(b)’s heightened pleading requirement. CFPB v. Prime Marketing Holdings, LLC, CV 16-07111-BRO, Dkt. No. 32 (C.D. Cal. Nov.… Continue Reading