The CFPB has released the Spring 2022 edition of its Supervisory Highlights. The report discusses the Bureau’s examinations in the areas of auto servicing, consumer reporting, credit card account management, debt collection, deposits, mortgage origination, prepaid accounts, remittance transfers, and student loan servicing that were completed between July 2021 and December 2021. … Continue Reading
Credit Reports
CFPB issues report on consumer complaints involving medical debt; Biden Administration announces actions relating to medical debt
Just a little more than a month after issuing a report taking aim at medical debt collections, the CFPB has issued a new report on “Medical billing and collection issues described in consumer complaints.”
The report analyzes debt collection and credit or consumer reporting complaints submitted to the Bureau in 2021 that involved medical debt. … Continue Reading
Ninth Circuit draws line on FCRA required disclosures
In Theresa Tailford, et al. v. Experian Information Solutions, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit recently affirmed a district court decision which held that Experian Information Solutions, Inc. did not violate the Fair Credit Reporting Act because none of the information the plaintiffs alleged Experian should have disclosed was subject to disclosure by a consumer reporting agency (CRA) under the FCRA.… Continue Reading
CFPB files lawsuit against TransUnion and former executive alleging violations of 2017 consent order
The CFPB has filed a new lawsuit against TransUnion, two of its subsidiaries (TransUnion Interactive, Inc. (TUI) and TransUnion, LLC (TULLC)), and a former TUI executive alleging that the defendants violated the CFPB’s 2017 consent order with the corporate defendants.
The consent order settled the CFPB’s claims that TransUnion had engaged in deceptive marketing of credit-related products. … Continue Reading
CFPB proposes rule for credit reports issued on human trafficking survivors
To implement recent amendments to the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has proposed a rule intended to assist survivors of trafficking. The rule would establish a way for survivors to submit documentation to consumer reporting agencies (CRAs) identifying any “adverse item of information” about the consumer resulting from human trafficking, and would prohibit CRAs from furnishing consumer reports containing such information.… Continue Reading
CFPB Deputy Director Martinez invites discussion of payday payment plans and credit reporting of medical debts
CFPB Deputy Director Zixta Martinez recently provided the opening remarks at the CFPB’s Academic Research Council meeting. In her remarks, Martinez emphasized the CFPB’s role as a data-driven agency and welcomed further discussion of state payday extended payment plans and of the inclusion of medical debt in credit reports—two topics that have garnered renewed public interest due to the COVID-19 pandemic.… Continue Reading
Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion announce changes in medical debt reporting
Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion have announced that effective July 1, 2022, they will no longer include medical debt that was paid after it was sent to collections on consumer credit reports. In addition, the time period before unpaid medical collection debt appears on a credit report will be increased from 6 months to one year.… Continue Reading
Pennsylvania federal district court rules public records vendor is consumer reporting agency subject to Fair Credit Reporting Act
A Pennsylvania district court has ruled that a company that provides reports based on a search of public records is a “consumer reporting agency” (CRA) as defined by the Fair Credit Reporting Act.
In McGrath v. Credit Lenders Service Agency, Inc., the plaintiffs applied to a bank for a loan to refinance their home mortgage. … Continue Reading
CFPB highlights changes in VA medical debt credit reporting practices as precedent for broader healthcare industry
In a blog post, the CFPB reported that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has announced a change to when it will report information on outstanding medical bills to consumer reporting companies.
Under the new VA rule, the VA will only report medical debt that meets all of the following standards:
- The VA has exhausted all other debt collection efforts,
- The VA has determined the individual responsible is not catastrophically disabled or entitled to free medical care from the VA, and
- The outstanding debt is over $25.
CFPB issues bulletin on medical debt collection and consumer reporting requirements in connection with No Surprises Act
The CFPB has issued a compliance bulletin and policy guidance on medical debt collection and consumer reporting requirements in connection with the No Surprises Act.
The No Surprises Act sets forth requirements that apply to certain individuals who receive care from an out-of-network provider that furnishes emergency services, inpatient services an in-network facility, or air ambulance services. … Continue Reading