A former CFPB examiner has written U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions claiming that CFPB officials falsified examination reports in connection with a CFPB examination of ACE Cash Express that led to the CFPB extracting $10 million of restitution and penalties from ACE.  At the time the CFPB forced ACE to enter into this consent order, even in the absence of any allegations of fraud on the part of the CFPB, we sharply criticized the CFPB for its treatment of ACE.… Continue Reading

The CFPB has withdrawn its request to OMB to conduct an online survey of 8,000 individuals as part of its research on debt collection disclosures.  Last month, the CFPB published a notice in the Federal Register that it was submitting its request to OMB and solicited comments which were due by December 14, 2017.… Continue Reading

Last week the Department of Defense (DoD) issued an interpretive rule under the DoD’s Military Lending Act final rule (MLA Rule). The interpretive rule amends four of the “Q&A” format interpretations that DoD issued on August 26, 2016. Readers may recall that the DoD published this guidance just over one month before the MLA Rule’s October 3, 2016  compliance deadline for most products other than credit cards.… Continue Reading

In September, our Firm announced that, effective January 1, 2018, it will merge with the law firm of Lindquist & Vennum.  I previously had the pleasure of introducing our future colleagues and guest blog post authors Amy Lauck, whose practice focuses on prepaid cards, mobile banking, and payment systems, and Scott Coleman, whose practice focuses on banking-related transactions and regulatory issues.… Continue Reading

On Thursday, December 14, the Federal Communications Commission voted 3-2 to reverse its 2015 order classifying the provision of broadband internet access services as a “telecommunication service” subject to Title II of the Communications Act of 1934, and restoring the classification of broadband internet access services as an “information service” under Title I of the Communications Act. … Continue Reading

As we’ve reported, Lower East Side People’s Federal Credit Union (“People’s”), filed suit in the Southern District of New York to block Mick Mulvaney’s appointment as CFPB Acting Director.  On December 12, People’s filed a motion for a preliminary injunction.

People’s Argument

In general, People’s arguments track those made by Leandra English, Richard Cordray’s choice for Acting Director, in her case before the D.C.… Continue Reading

Since Mick Mulvaney’s appointment by President Trump as CFPB Acting Director, there have been widespread media reports about Mr. Mulvaney’s plans to impose a freeze on the CFPB’s collection of personally identifiable information (PII), such as individual loan level data, until the CFPB improves its data security systems.  Mr. Mulvaney’s concerns about the CFPB’s data security systems were reportedly prompted in part by reports issued by the Office of Inspector General for the CFPB that found deficiencies in the CFPB’s data security practices.… Continue Reading

This week, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo issued a press release directing the New York Department of State to issue a new regulation impacting consumer reporting agencies.  The new regulation was adopted on an emergency basis and went into immediate effect in order to protect consumers from identity theft and other potential economic harms that may arise following a data breach.… Continue Reading

The CFPB’s Ombudsman’s Office has issued its sixth annual report covering the Office’s activities during fiscal year 2017 (October 1, 2016 through September 30, 2017).  The role of the Ombudsman’s Office is to assist in the resolution of individual and systemic issues that a depository entity, non-depository entity, or consumer has with the CFPB.… Continue Reading

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit has partially lifted a preliminary injunction that prevented the U.S. Department of Education (Department) from placing defaulted student loans with private collection agencies (PCAs).  Following this ruling, the U.S. Court of Federal Claims has ordered the Department to complete its efforts to reevaluate bids associated with a disputed contract procurement process by January 11, 2018.… Continue Reading