CFPB enforcement activity has already ramped up and the pace is expected to increase with Director Chopra now at the helm. We look at the areas expected to be the focus of intensified enforcement activity, such as military lending, fair lending, and treatment of LEP consumers, and new areas under consideration by CFPB enforcement staff, such as machine learning models, use of alternative data, and fair lending related to servicing and loss mitigation (particularly in light of the end of pandemic-related forbearances). … Continue Reading
enforcement
CFPB announces proposed settlement of lawsuit alleging provider of short-term loans violated CFPA’S UDAAP prohibition in connection with deposit account program
The CFPB announced last week that it has entered into a proposed settlement with Driver Loan, LLC (“Driver Loan”) and its Chief Executive Officer to settle the November 2020 lawsuit it filed against Driver Loan and its CEO alleging the defendants engaged in deceptive acts and practices in violation of the Dodd-Frank Act’s UDAAP prohibition in connection with taking deposits from and making loans to consumers.… Continue Reading
This week’s podcast: The CFPB’s plan to reorganize its Supervision, Enforcement, and Fair Lending (SEFL) Division: what it means for industry
We take a close look at the role of the new Office of SEFL Policy and Strategy to be created by the plan and how the plan would change the CFPB’s current enforcement decision-making process. We also look at how the plan aligns with the approach of federal banking regulators, share our reactions to criticism of the plan by Democratic lawmakers and thoughts on the new Office’s expected leadership, and discuss the Presidential election’s potential impact.… Continue Reading
Congresswoman Waters raises questions about CFPB Enforcement Director candidate
House Financial Services Committee Chairwoman Maxine Waters has sent a letter to CFPB Director Kraninger raising questions about the potential appointment of Thomas G. Ward as CFPB’s Assistant Director for Enforcement.
In her letter, Ms. Waters stated that, according to media reports, Mr. Ward is the leading candidate for the Enforcement Director position and that he currently serves as the Deputy Assistant Attorney General overseeing the torts branch in the Civil Division of the Department of Justice. … Continue Reading
Director Kraninger enforces another CID
A new decision and order from Director Kraninger that, with minor changes, strictly enforces another CFPB civil investigative demand is a further indication that the CFPB’s enforcement activities remain robust under her leadership. The new order and decision follows five decisions and orders issued by Director Kraninger on April 25 in which she also, with minor changes, strictly enforced five CIDs.… Continue Reading
CFPB’s top enforcement official reported to have resigned
According to American Banker, Kristen Donoghue, who has served as the CFPB’s Assistant Director of Enforcement since November 2017, has resigned.
American Banker also reports that Cara Petersen, the CFPB’s Principal Deputy Enforcement Director, has been named Acting Director of Enforcement, and that Jeffrey Ehrlich, the CFPB’s Deputy Enforcement Director, will become Principal Deputy Enforcement Director. … Continue Reading
NYDFS Creates New “Powerhouse” Consumer Protection and Financial Enforcement Division
The New York Department of Financial Services has announced the creation of a new “powerhouse” Consumer Protection and Financial Enforcement Division. The Division has been created by consolidating the Enforcement and Financial Frauds Division and Consumer Protection Division and will place supervision, enforcement, and consumer education under the same roof.… Continue Reading
FTC Cites Need for Improvement in Compliance Reports
Less than a week after warning subpoena and CID recipients to take their obligation to respond “seriously,” the FTC took aim at perceived inadequacies in compliance reports submitted pursuant to FTC consent orders and litigated judgments. In its March 11, 2019 blog post, the FTC’s Bureau of Competition alleges that “some Respondents are not taking seriously their responsibility to provide detailed and timely” compliance reports that demonstrate compliance with the obligations imposed in FTC Orders.… Continue Reading
CFPB Seeks to Enforce CID against Debt Collection Law Firm
The CFPB has filed a request in the District Court for the Southern District of New York to enforce a civil investigative demand (“CID”) against the Law Offices of Crystal Moroney, P.C. (“LOCM”), a debt collection law firm located in New City, New York, continuing under Director Kraninger the CFPB’s pursuit of law firms despite the fact that such entities are generally exempt from the CFPB’s enforcement authority under section 1027(e) of Dodd-Frank.… Continue Reading
Judge Preska dismisses with prejudice the New York Attorney General’s Dodd-Frank claim in the RD Legal Funding Case
We have been following very closely the lawsuit filed by the CFPB and the New York Attorney General against RD Legal Funding. We earlier reported that on June 21 Judge Preska dismissed the CFPB’s claims based on the unconstitutionality of the CFPA. We subsequently reported that on September 12 Judge Preska dismissed the claims brought by the New York Attorney General under Section 1042 of Dodd -Frank (i.… Continue Reading