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The CFPB recently issued an advisory opinion to consumer reporting companies about their obligation to prevent obviously false “junk data” from appearing on consumers’ credit reports.  The opinion states that companies must take steps to reliably detect and remove logically inconsistent data from consumers’ credit reports such as information that is obviously impossible.… Continue Reading

If you’re collecting debt for nursing home care, you might want to double check who is responsible for payment.  Last week, in conjunction with a field hearing, the CFPB issued a new Consumer Financial Protection Circular and an Issue Spotlight on Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) and Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) violations in connection with nursing home debt.  … Continue Reading

In Bibbs, the Third Circuit ruled that in determining whether a credit report is inaccurate or misleading under the FCRA’s “maximum possible accuracy” requirement, a district court should apply a “reasonable reader” standard.  After reviewing the background of Bibbs, we discuss the analysis that Bibbs requires a district court to perform in determining whether a credit report is inaccurate or misleading, how Bibbs broadly undercuts the claims of plaintiff’s lawyers in FCRA cases alleging pay status information is misleading, Bibbs’ implications for data furnishers that follow Metro 2 guidelines or other industry standards, and Bibbs’ impact on defendants’ litigation strategy and the threat of plaintiffs’ attorney fees.… Continue Reading

The CFPB recently published a report analyzing how certain actions announced earlier this year by the three largest national consumer reporting agencies—Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion—will affect people who have allegedly unpaid medical debt on their credit reports  The new report is the CFPB’s third report issued this year on medical debt.… Continue Reading

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit has ruled that in determining whether a credit report is inaccurate or misleading under the Fair Credit Reporting Act’s “maximum possible accuracy” requirement, a district court should apply a “reasonable reader” standard.  Ballard Spahr attorneys are currently representing clients in cases involving this legal issue.… Continue Reading

The CFPB announced last week that it has entered into a settlement with Hyundai Capital America (Hyundai) to resolve alleged violations of the Fair Credit Reporting Act and Regulation V arising from Hyundai’s reporting of information on vehicle retail installment contracts and leases to consumer reporting agencies (CRAs) from 2016 to 2020. … Continue Reading

In a new advisory opinion, the CFPB addresses the Fair Credit Reporting Act’s permissible purpose requirement as it applies to both consumer reporting agencies and users of consumer reports.

Consumer reporting agencies. FCRA Section 604(a) enumerates the circumstances under which a consumer reporting agency (CRA) may provide a consumer report to a user.… Continue Reading

The CFPB has issued an interpretive rule on the scope of the Fair Credit Reporting Act’s preemption provisions.  The rule’s narrow reading of those provisions appears intended to encourage and support state legislative efforts to enact laws targeting credit reporting issues of concern to the CFPB, such as the reporting of medical debt.… Continue Reading

The CFPB’s new blog post titled “Buy Now, Pay Later and Credit Reporting” appears intended to send a message about the CFPB’s expectations to industry. 

For companies offering buy-now-pay-later (BNPL) products, the CFPB’s message is that “when BNPL payments are furnished [to CRAs] it is important that lenders furnish both positive and negative data.”… Continue Reading

The CFPB has sent letters to the chief executive officers of six major credit card issuers regarding their companies’ payment furnishing practices.

In the letters, the CFPB cites a 2020 report in which it provided data showing a decline in the share of credit card tradelines containing actual payment data since 2012. … Continue Reading