The CFPB announced last week that it has entered into a consent order with Commonwealth Financial Systems, Inc. (Commonwealth), a third-party debt collection company that collects past-due medical debts and furnishes information about consumers to consumer reporting agencies (CRAs), to resolve Commonwealth’s alleged violations of the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) and the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA). … Continue Reading
442 Congress members did NOT join anti-arbitration letter to CFPB
Recently, 93 members of Congress (all Democrats) signed a letter in support of the pending Petition for Rulemaking filed by consumer advocacy groups in September that would prohibit pre-dispute consumer arbitration clauses and permit only post-dispute clauses. The letter argues that the proposed rulemaking is “much-needed” to protect consumers from “forced arbitration clauses in the fine print, take-it-or-leave-it terms accompanying many financial products and services.”… Continue Reading
Oral Arguments Held in CFPB v. Townstone Financial Case
On December 8, 2023, oral arguments were held before a three judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit in the CFPB v. Townstone Financial case, in which the CFPB alleges that Townstone Financial, a non-bank mortgage company (Townstone), engaged in redlining in the Chicago area in violation of the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA).… Continue Reading
This week’s podcast episode: The Biden Administration’s “junk fees” initiative continues: What the latest actions mean for the consumer financial services and rental housing industries, Part II
This two-part podcast repurposes our most recent webinar on the latest salvo of actions in the Biden Administration’s initiative directed at combatting so-called “junk fees.” Launched in January 2022, the initiative shows no signs of abating.
In Part II, we first look at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s advisory opinion on fees charged by large banks and credit unions to respond to information requests, including the Bureau’s discussion of non-fee obstacles such as chatbots that could unlawfully impede consumers’ ability to make an information request. … Continue Reading
Professor Sovern’s reply underscores need for consumer education
Recently, Professor Sovern replied to our blog post that commented on the letter that he and 160 other law academicians submitted to the CFPB in support of the pending Petition for Rulemaking that would prohibit pre-dispute consumer arbitration clauses and permit only post-dispute clauses.
In response, we would like to acknowledge that two of Professor Sovern’s statements are accurate. … Continue Reading
CFPB rulemaking on post-dispute consumer arbitration agreements not mentioned in Fall 2023 rulemaking agenda: is there significance?
As we reported, the CFPB just released its Fall 2023 rulemaking agenda as part of the Fall 2023 Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions.
I have been contacted by many clients who have asked me whether we should read any significance into the fact that the anti-arbitration Petition for Rulemaking submitted to the CFPB by a consortium of consumer advocacy groups on September 13 is not mentioned in the new rulemaking agenda. … Continue Reading
Atlantic Union Bank to pay $6.2M for its unlawful overdraft opt-in practices
On December 7, 2023, Atlantic Union Bank (the “Bank”) entered into a consent order with the Consumer Financial Protections Bureau (CFPB) related to its in-person and telephone overdraft opt-in sales practices during 2017-2020. The settlement requires the Bank to refund affected consumers $5 million in overdraft fees and pay a $1.2 million civil money penalty to the CFPB.… Continue Reading
CFPB Fall 2023 rulemaking agenda indicates imminent issuance of final credit card late fees rule and proposed rules on overdraft and NSF fees
The CFPB has released its Fall 2023 rulemaking agenda as part of the Fall 2023 Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions. The agenda’s preamble indicates that “[t]he Bureau reasonably anticipates having the regulatory matters identified [in the agenda] under consideration during the period from November 2023 to October 2024.”… Continue Reading
CFPB comments on California proposal to supervise providers of earned wage access products
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has sent a letter to the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation (DFPI) commenting on the DFPI’s proposal that would require providers of “income-based advances” to register with or obtain a license from the DFPI and comply with the fee and interest rate limits of the California Financing Law (CFL).… Continue Reading
CFPB Director Chopra addresses AI concerns
According to media reports, CFPB Director Rohit Chopra expressed his concerns over the rise of generative artificial intelligence (AI) technology in his remarks at an Axios event in Washington, D.C. last week. Director Chopra indicated that AI could concentrate “enormous” power within the grasp of a few companies and their top executives. … Continue Reading