While most attention is focused on the CFPB, state attorneys general are very active in investigating and enforcing state laws relating to consumer financial services (and often federal laws when incorporated into state law or when using their Dodd-Frank authority).  We first discuss the CPD’s priorities and how they are determined; use of its state law UDAP authority and available remedies; enforcement of federal law; and collaboration with the CFPB and other state AGs.… Continue Reading

On November 3, 2022, Pennsylvania Attorney General (and Governor-Elect) Josh Shapiro announced that his office had filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania against New York-based Fluent, Inc.—a lead generator that connects companies to potential new customers through the consumers’ harvested personal data—and its subsidiaries for their role in allegedly assisting and facilitating the making of hundreds of thousands of unwanted telemarketing calls to Pennsylvania consumers. … Continue Reading

Three Republican House members sent a letter last week to CFPB Director Chopra raising questions about the Bureau’s relationship with state attorneys general and its interpretive rule issued in May 2022 regarding the authority of state attorneys general and state regulators (State Officials) to enforce the Consumer Financial Protection Act (CFPA).… Continue Reading

AG Weiser discusses the areas of consumer financial services that are a current focus of his office’s efforts.  After discussing the role of the newly-created Office of Financial Empowerment in addressing the needs of unbanked consumers, AG Weiser discusses his office’s activities concerning deceptive fees (including the types of fees of primary concern and the requirements of Colorado’s new automatic renewal law), robocalls, and student loans.  … Continue Reading

The CFPB has issued a new interpretive rule regarding the authority of state attorneys general and state regulators (State Officials) to enforce the Consumer Financial Protection Act (CFPA). 

CFPA Section 1042(a) (12 U.S.C. Section 5552) authorizes “the attorney general (or the equivalent thereof) of any State” to bring “a civil action…to enforce the provisions of [the CFPA] or regulations issued under [the CFPA] and to secure remedies under provisions of [the CFPA] or remedies otherwise provided under other law.” … Continue Reading

Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser recently announced that three Colorado-chartered credit unions had entered into Assurances of Discontinuance (AODs) with the Colorado Administrator of the Uniform Consumer Credit Code (UCCC) to resolve the issues between the Administrator and credit unions concerning whether the credit unions had failed to make refunds of unearned fees for Guaranteed Automobile Protection (GAP) as required by the Colorado UCCC. … Continue Reading

In remarks given on Tuesday to the National Association of State Attorneys General (NAAG), CFPB Director Chopra promoted an aggressive approach to enforcement by both the CFPB and state attorneys general (AGs).

In his most noteworthy remarks, Director Chopra:

  • Identified federal preemption as having played a major role in the 2007-2009 sub-prime mortgage crisis and suggested that the OCC had used preemption “to attack state consumer protection enforcement.” 
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In the latest demonstration that there’s a “new CFPB” as well as other new regulatory sheriffs in town, the CFPB, the federal banking agencies (OCC, FDIC, Federal Reserve Board, and NCUA), and state financial regulators issued a joint statement yesterday to announce that they will no longer provide “supervisory and enforcement flexibility” to mortgage servicers in meeting compliance requirements. … Continue Reading

We discuss recent and ongoing enforcement activity of the PA AG involving consumer financial services.  Our conversation focuses on activity directed at: auto title lenders for alleged violations of PA usury law; national banks for alleged CARD Act violations; furniture retailers for alleged “hang tag” law violations; home sellers for alleged violations of mortgage laws arising from the use of contracts for deed; and phone scams.… Continue Reading

The Pennsylvania Attorney General recently entered into an Assurance of Voluntary Compliance with Elevation Capital Partners, LLC, a buyer of private student loans, that prohibits Elevation from engaging in any collection efforts, directly or through servicers, related to loans made to Pennsylvania borrowers who attended schools operated by Education Corporation of America (ECA) (ECA Loans). … Continue Reading