Our special guest is Richard (“Rick”) Hackett, former Assistant CFPB Director responsible for auto finance regulation and presently a member of the Board of F&I Sentinel, which supports lender compliance in the auto finance and insurance industry.  In December 2023, the FTC announced its final Combatting Auto Retail Scams Rule, otherwise known as the “CARS Rule,” which sets new requirements on the sale, financing, and leasing of new and used vehicles by motor vehicle dealers. … Continue Reading

The CFPB recently published a notice in the Federal Register indicating that it is seeking approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for the collection of additional auto finance data pursuant to its authority under the Dodd-Frank Act .

In February 2023, the CFPB announced that it had issued market monitoring orders to nine large auto lenders requesting information about their auto lending portfolios. … Continue Reading

Our special guest is Richard (“Rick”) Hackett, former Assistant CFPB Director responsible for auto finance regulation and presently a member of the Board of F&I Sentinel, which supports lender compliance in the auto finance and insurance industry.  In December 2023, the FTC announced its Combatting Auto Retail Scams Rule, otherwise known as the “CARS Rule,” which sets new requirements on the sale, financing, and leasing of new and used vehicles by motor vehicle dealers. … Continue Reading

On January 18, 2024, the Federal Trade Commission’s (“FTC”) announced that it is postponing the effective date of the Combating Auto Retail Scams Rule (“CARS Rule”) in light of the legal challenge from industry trade associations seeking judicial review of the new rule.  In a 3-0 vote, the FTC’s commissioners approved an order that, while taking issue with the trade associations’ arguments in the petition for review that the FTC maintains are “mischaracterizations,”  stays the effective date pending the completion of that review “in the interests of justice.” … Continue Reading

On January 5, 2024, two trade groups representing auto dealers filed a petition for review challenging the Federal Trade Commission’s (“FTC”) new Combating Auto Retail Scams Rule (“CARS Rule”). In the petition, the National Automobile Dealers Association (“NADA”) and Texas Automobile Dealers Association (“TADA”) ask the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit to vacate or modify the rule and stay its enforcement pending resolution of the petition.… Continue Reading

In December 2023, the Federal Trade Commission announced its Combatting Auto Retail Scams Rule, otherwise known as the “CARS Rule,” which sets new requirements on the sale, financing, and leasing of new and used vehicles by motor vehicle dealers.  The final rule prohibits certain misrepresentations in the financing process, sets disclosure requirements on dealers’ advertising and sales communications, mandates that dealers obtain consumers’ express, informed consent for charges, and prohibits the sale of add-on products or services if there is no benefit to the consumer.… Continue Reading

On December 12, 2024, the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) announced its Combating Auto Retail Scams Rule, otherwise known as the “CARS Rule,” setting new requirements on the sale, financing, and leasing of vehicles by motor vehicle dealers. The final rule, which is effective on July 30, 2024, prohibits certain misrepresentations in the financing process, sets disclosure requirements on dealers’ advertising and sales communications, mandates that dealers obtain consumers’ express, informed consent for charges, and prohibits the sale of add-on products or services if there is no benefit to the consumer.… Continue Reading

The Federal Trade Commission and Wisconsin Attorney General have entered into settlements with a group of auto dealerships, their current and former corporate owners, and their general manager for allegedly engaging in unlawful discrimination in connection with financing offered to customers and for allegedly engaging in deceptive practices in connection with the sale of add-on products. … Continue Reading

In a comment letter sent last week to Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) Director Rohit Chopra, a key financial industry trade group raised concerns that a recent edition of the CFPB’s Supervisory Highlights did not provide sufficient details about the facts or analysis behind the Bureau’s conclusions regarding certain exam findings. … Continue Reading

The CFPB has filed a lawsuit in a Georgia federal district court against USASF Servicing (USASF) in which the CFPB alleges that USASF engaged in various unfair acts or practices in violation of the Consumer Financial Protection Act.  USASF services retail installment sales contracts (RICs) originated by its affiliate, U.S. Auto Sales, Inc.,… Continue Reading