The Justice Department announced in a March 15 press release that it has reached an agreement with property management company PRG Real Estate Management (PRG) and several related entities to settle claims that PRG violated the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) by obtaining evictions and money judgments against service-member tenants by filing affidavits that did
Military Issues
CFPB Complaint Report Highlights Servicemember Complaints in 2018 from All 50 States
The CFPB recently published the latest complaint snapshot report which detailed complaint numbers, trends, and top issues reported by servicemembers, veterans, and their families across the country. The report provides complaint information nationwide and on a state-by-state basis for all 50 states and the District of Columbia. It covers complaints submitted throughout 2018 and notes…
Justice Dept. Obtains $80,000 Consent Order with California Auto Lender, Including Record Payment of $30,000 to One Individual Servicemember, for Improper Repossession of Servicemember Vehicles
On March 6, 2019, a California subprime auto lender, California Auto Finance, agreed to enter into a consent order with the Justice Department related to allegations that it repossessed vehicles in violation of the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA). Under the terms of the consent order, which is still subject to court approval, California…
Industry continues efforts seeking withdrawal of Department of Defense MLA interpretation on GAP insurance financing
Early last year, several trade groups, including the National Automotive Dealers Association (NADA), sent letters petitioning the Department of Defense (DoD) to rescind or withdraw Question and Answer #2 (Q&A 2) from its 2016 interpretative rule for the Military Lending Act (MLA) final rule and its December 2017 amendments. Q&A 2 has generated much uncertainty…
CFPB issues report on servicemember first-time homebuyer mortgage loans
The CFPB has issued a report, “Mortgages to First-time Homebuying Servicemembers,” that focuses on mortgage loans made from 2006 to 2016 to first-time homebuyers who are serving in the military or are veterans. In its press release, the Bureau states that the report represents “the first time researchers have been able to…
This week’s podcast: a discussion of the CFPB’s annual report on servicemember complaints
Servicemembers are the subject of heightened legal protections. In this week’s podcast, we discuss the CFPB’s annual report on servicemember complaints issued at the end of last month. We look at the products that received the most complaints from servicemembers, the specific issues complained about, and the litigation and regulatory risks to consumer financial service…
CFPB issues annual report on servicemember complaints
The CFPB’s Office of Servicemember Affairs has released its annual report on complaints submitted to the Bureau by servicemembers.
The report covers the period April 1, 2017 through August 31, 2018. During that period, the Bureau received approximately 48,800 complaints from servicemembers, with credit reporting, debt collection, and mortgages, respectively, the first, second, and third…
CFPB seeking legislative fix to give it clear MLA examination authority
The CFPB announced yesterday that it has transmitted a proposal to Congress that would give it clear authority to conduct supervisory examinations for compliance with the Military Lending Act (MLA).
Last summer, former CFPB Acting Director Mulvaney reportedly announced that he planned to end routine examinations for MLA compliance because the Dodd-Frank Act did not…
FTC and Veterans Affairs announce MOA on referrals for deceptive advertising, sales or enrollment practices targeting veterans using military education benefits
At the end of last week, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced that they have entered into a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) “to provide mutual assistance in the oversight and enforcement of laws pertaining to the advertising, sales, and enrollment practices of institutions of higher learning and other…
Democratic House members urge Kraninger to resume MLA exams
Twenty-three Democratic members of the House Financial Services Committee have sent a letter to Kathy Kraninger, the CFPB’s new Director, urging the Bureau to resume examining its supervised entities for compliance with the Military Lending Act (MLA). The Democrats signing the letter include Maxine Waters, currently the Ranking Member, who is expected to become Committee…