2023 CFPB News Updates Archive
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) and the Justice Department today sued Colony Ridge, a Texas-based developer and lender, for operating an illegal land sales scheme and targeting tens of thousands of Hispanic borrowers with false statements and predatory loans. The lawsuit filed in federal district court alleges Colony Ridge sells unsuspecting families flood-prone land without water, sewer, or electrical infrastructure, and that the company sets borrowers up to fail with loans they cannot afford. Roughly 1-in-4 Colony Ridge loans ends in foreclosure, after which the company repurchases the properties and sells them to new borrowers. The CFPB and Justice Department are seeking redress for borrowers harmed by Colony Ridge and an immediate end to its illegal practices. This is the CFPB’s first federal court lawsuit charging a defendant with violations of the Interstate Land Sales Full Disclosure Act.
CFPB Issues Report Showing Many Americans Are Surprised by Overdraft Fees
CFPB Orders U.S. Bank to Pay $21 Million for Illegal Conduct During COVID-19 Pandemic
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) today ordered U.S. Bank to pay nearly $21 million for keeping out-of-work consumers from accessing unemployment benefits at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. U.S. Bank froze tens of thousands of accounts. However, it failed to provide people a reliable and quick way to regain access. The bank also failed to provide provisional account credits, while investigating potentially unauthorized transfers. Today’s order requires U.S. Bank to pay $5.7 million to consumers harmed by its actions and to pay a $15 million penalty.
The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) separately find U.S. Bank $15 million. The CFPB and OCC coordinated during their investigations into U.S. Bank’s illegal conduct.
CFPB Report Finds Many College-Sponsored Financial Products Charge High and Unusual Fees
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The CFPB has issued two annual threshold adjustment final rules.
First, the CFPB has announced the asset-size exemption thresholds for depository institutions under Regulation C. Second, the CFPB has announced the asset-size exemption thresholds for certain creditors under the escrow requirements and small creditor portfolio and balloon-payment qualified mortgage requirements, and the small creditor exemption from the prohibition against balloon-payment high-cost mortgages under Regulation Z.
These adjustments are effective on January 1, 2024, consistent with relevant statutory or regulatory provisions.
You can access the Regulation C notice at: http://www.consumerfinance.gov/policy-compliance/rulemaking/final-rules/home-mortgage-disclosure-regulation-c-adjustment-asset-size-exemption-threshold/.
You can access the Regulation Z notice at: http://www.consumerfinance.gov/policy-compliance/rulemaking/final-rules/truth-lending-act-regulation-z-adjustment-asset-size-exemption-threshold/.
CFPB Shuts Down Commonwealth Financial Systems for Illegal Debt Collection Practices
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) today took action against a medical debt collector, Commonwealth Financial Systems, for illegally trying to collect unverified medical debts after consumers disputed the validity of the debts. Under the order issued today, the company will cease operations and pay a $95,000 penalty to the CFPB’s victims relief fund.
Commonwealth Financial Systems is a nonbank corporation with its principal place of business in Dickson City, Pennsylvania. Commonwealth is a third-party debt collector that specializes in the collection of past-due medical debts and furnishes information about consumer collection accounts to consumer reporting companies.
Commonwealth’s actions violated the Fair Credit Reporting Act because the company failed to conduct reasonable investigations of disputed debts and failed to inform consumer reporting companies that certain information was being disputed. Commonwealth also violated the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act because it continued to attempt to collect disputed debts without substantiating documentation.
CFPB Orders Atlantic Union Bank to Pay $6.2 Million for Illegal Overdraft Fee Harvesting
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) today took action against Atlantic Union Bank for illegally enrolling thousands of customers in checking account overdraft programs. The CFPB found that Atlantic Union misled consumers who enrolled in this overdraft service by phone and failed to provide proper disclosures. The CFPB is ordering Atlantic Union to refund at least $5 million in illegal overdraft fees and pay a $1.2 million penalty to the CFPB’s victims relief fund.
PUBLISHED DEC 01, 2023
State Regulatory Developments on “Income-Based Advances”
The CFPB has submitted input on a proposal by the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation explaining states’ critical role in oversight of providers of consumer financial products and services.
In our nation’s system of federalism, both federal and state governments play important roles in safeguarding the public’s interest. Consumer protection laws are a critical example of how that system works.
The CFPB carefully monitors developments in state law and regulation relating to consumer financial protection. The California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation (DFPI) recently proposed to undertake registration and examinations of companies that provide what the proposal refers to as “income-based advances.” Earlier this week, the CFPB submitted input on DFPI’s proposal.
The CFPB’s letter notes that income-based advances – products where repayment is related, at least in theory, to a worker’s next payday – have long been part of the U.S. consumer lending market. The letter explains that states have long provided critical oversight of companies that provide consumer financial products or services, like those typically offering income-based advances. This oversight is crucially important for ensuring that companies are meeting their legal obligations. The CFPB indicates that, by treating income-based advance products as loans and including a variety of charges that accompany the advance as “charges,” DFPI’s proposal takes a similar approach to federal law—the Truth in Lending Act and the regulation that implements it.
Given the many developments in this market, the CFPB plans to issue further guidance to provide greater clarity concerning the application of federal law to income-based advance products.
Read the letter.
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The Ombudsman’s Office annual report, which I delivered to the Director, is available today on our webpage.
The Ombudsman’s Office is an independent, impartial, and confidential resource that assists consumers, financial entities, consumer or trade groups, and others in informally resolving process issues with the CFPB. This year, as we expanded our focus on individual inquiries, we also welcomed the opportunity to expeditiously address an array of topics impacting many people or entities at one time.
Our Ombudsman in Brief section of our report, for example, provides a longer summary of our work on some systemic topics from this year, including: assisting inquirers with recognizing imposter scams; distinguishing between new and duplicate consumer complaints; assisting consumers with diminished capacity or illness in addressing consumer finance concerns; and connecting with the CFPB through publicly provided contact points.
In our report, we also discuss some broader, impactful topics in the Demonstrating the Ombudsman in Practice section, which provides short examples of how we can assist on topics, such as assisting state agencies with navigating CFPB resources, highlighting the need for additional consumer information after an enforcement action, and proposing updates to the CFPB’s Spanish language website.
We have a new FAQ format for our discussion of individual inquiries to our office to answer questions we often receive. This section of the report also includes an updated automated response that is filled with resources for all inquirers who first contact us by email. In addition, there is a new figure that demonstrates the lifecycle of an inquiry to our office with an example from this year…
CFPB Orders Bank of America to Pay $12 Million for Reporting False Mortgage Data
PUBLISHED Piloting Disclosures for Construction Loans
Today, the CFPB announced that it has approved an application that marks the first step for piloting disclosures for construction loans. Under this program, the CFPB authorizes parameters for in-market testing of alternatives to required disclosures. Real-world disclosure testing is often more accurate than lab testing, and this effort can help the CFPB by informing the need for possible regulatory changes.
The Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) applied under the program for a template covering the CFPB’s Know Before You Owe Disclosures. In particular, the ICBA asked to test certain adjustments to the existing mortgage disclosures in the unique context of construction loans, for which the CFPB’s disclosures were not primarily designed. The application noted that, in particular, many first-time homebuyers in rural areas build their homes instead of buying existing homes, and consequently, the challenges of using the current disclosures in the construction loan context may impact rural areas more acutely. The CFPB solicited comments on the ICBA’s application in February and made a decision to approve the template after reviewing the public feedback.
Individual lenders can apply for approval to test the alternative disclosures for construction loans. In deciding whether to approve individual lender applications, the CFPB will carefully evaluate a lender’s plan to test the effectiveness of these disclosures. The CFPB looks forward to reviewing any lender applications.
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) today ordered Toyota Motor Credit Corporation to pay $60 million in consumer redress and penalties for operating an illegal scheme to prevent borrowers from cancelling product bundles that increased their monthly car loan payments. The company withheld refunds or refunded incorrect amounts on the bundled products and knowingly tarnished consumers’ credit reports with false information. The CFPB is ordering Toyota Motor Credit to stop its unlawful practices, pay $48 million to harmed consumers, and pay a $12 million penalty into the CFPB’s victims relief fund.
CFPB Report Highlighting Consumer Protection Issues in Medical Debt Collection
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) issued a report highlighting the challenges American families face when debt collectors pursue allegedly unpaid medical bills. Discussing the 8,500 complaints submitted in 2022 by servicemembers, older adults, and other consumers relating to medical debt collections, the CFPB’s annual report to Congress on the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act describes how the CFPB and states have worked to stop the collections of medical bills that are inaccurate or not even owed at all. The report also provides updates on the debt collection market more broadly and summarizes activities by the CFPB and other federal agencies relating to debt collection, including the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and its actions under the FTC Act to protect small businesses from unfair and deceptive debt collection practices.
Tens of millions of people are pursued by debt collectors for medical bills, and today’s report highlights the problem of the collection of medical bills that are inaccurate or not owed. The CFPB has previously described the significant evidence, including reports from consumers themselves, that the collection, furnishing, and reporting of medical bills is plagued by inaccuracies.
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CFPB financial report fiscal year 2023
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau released the financial report for fiscal year 2023. As required by the Dodd-Frank Act, the CFPB prepared comparative financial statements for fiscal years 2023 and 2022. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) rendered an unmodified audit opinion on our financial statements. GAO found that CFPB maintained in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of September 30, 2023. Also, GAO reported that its test for compliance with provisions of applicable laws, regulations, contracts and grant agreements disclosed no instances of noncompliance for fiscal year 2023…
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Recently, the CFPB announced several annual threshold adjustment final rules.
The first rule is a joint rulemaking between the CFPB, the Federal Reserve Board, and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency to adjust the threshold for exempting loans from special appraisal requirements under the TILA Higher Priced Mortgage Loan Appraisal rule.
The second and third rules are joint rulemakings between the CFPB and the Federal Reserve Board to adjust the thresholds in Regulation Z and Regulation M for determining the exempt consumer credit transactions under TILA and the exempt consumer lease transactions under the Consumer Leasing Act.
The fourth rule is a CFPB rulemaking to adjust the maximum amount consumer reporting agencies may charge consumers for making a file disclosure to a consumer under the FCRA.
These adjustments are effective January 1, 2024.
- You can access the HPML threshold adjustment here: https://www.consumerfinance.gov/policy-compliance/rulemaking/final-rules/appraisals-higher-priced-mortgage-loans-exemption-threshold-adjustments/.
- You can access the Regulation Z threshold adjustments here: https://www.consumerfinance.gov/policy-compliance/rulemaking/final-rules/truth-lending-regulation-z-threshold-adjustments/.
- You can access the Regulation M threshold adjustments here: https://www.consumerfinance.gov/policy-compliance/rulemaking/final-rules/consumer-leasing-regulation-m-adjustments/.
- You can access the FCRA threshold adjustment here: https://www.consumerfinance.gov/policy-compliance/rulemaking/final-rules/fair-credit-reporting-act-disclosures/.
The Federal Reserve Board and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau today announced the dollar thresholds used to determine whether certain consumer credit and lease transactions in 2024 are subject to certain Regulation Z (Truth in Lending) and Regulation M (Consumer Leasing) requirements.
By law, the agencies are required to adjust the thresholds annually based on the annual percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers, known as CPI-W. Transactions at or below the thresholds are subject to the protections of the regulations.
Specifically, based on the annual percentage increase in the CPI-W as of June 1, 2023, Regulation Z (Truth in Lending) and Regulation M (Consumer Leasing) generally will apply to consumer credit transactions and consumer leases of $69,500 or less in 2024. However, private education loans and loans secured by real property, such as mortgages, are subject to Regulation Z (Truth in Lending) regardless of the amount of the loan.
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, the Federal Reserve Board, and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency today announced that the 2024 threshold for whether higher-priced mortgage loans are subject to special appraisal requirements will increase from $31,000 to $32,400.
The threshold amount will be effective January 1, 2024, and is based on the annual percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers, known as CPI-W, as of June 1, 2023.
The Dodd-Frank Act added special appraisal requirements for higher-priced mortgage loans, including that creditors obtain a written appraisal based on a physical visit to the interior of the home before making a higher-priced mortgage loan. The rules implementing these requirements contain an exemption for loans of $25,000 or less, adjusted annually to reflect CPI-W increases.
CFPB Issues New Report on State Community Reinvestment Laws
Servicemembers continue to face major financial challenges
Financial readiness is critical to military readiness. That is why the CFPB is working hard to ensure that servicemembers get the protections they are entitled to under the law. Despite our progress, there is still work to be done. Below, we discuss three major protections that the CFPB is working to secure for all servicemembers.
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is proposing to establish 12 CFR part 1033, to implement section 1033 of the Consumer Financial Protection Act of 2010 (CFPA). The proposed rule would require depository and nondepository entities to make available to consumers and authorized third parties certain data relating to consumers’ transactions and accounts; establish obligations for third parties accessing a consumer’s data, including important privacy protections for that data; provide basic standards for data access; and promote fair, open, and inclusive industry standards.
PROPOSED RULE WITH REQUEST FOR PUBLIC COMMENT
SUBMIT A FORMAL COMMENT
RELATED DOCUMENTS
PUBLISHED OCT 19, 2023
CFPB Proposes Rule to Jumpstart Competition and Accelerate Shift to Open Banking
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) and Federal Trade Commission (FTC) took action against a rental screening subsidiary of the TransUnion conglomerate for violations of the Fair Credit Reporting Act. The TransUnion company failed to take steps to ensure the rental background checks that landlords use to decide who gets housing were accurate. The company also withheld, from renters, the names of third parties that were providing the inaccurate information. The CFPB and FTC requested a federal court to order the TransUnion company to pay $15 million for its lawbreaking behavior and to make significant improvements to how it reports evictions.
Some financial institutions are behind the trend, continuing to charge these fees
CFPB recently analyzed the non-sufficient fund (NSF) fee practices of a number of banks and credit unions.1 NSF fees are charges that some financial institutions impose when they decline to make a payment from a consumer’s account, like a check or electronic authorization, after determining the account lacks sufficient funds. NSF fees are distinct from overdraft fees, which financial institutions charge when they pay, rather than decline, a payment when the account lacks sufficient funds.
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) filed a lawsuit in federal court today, alleging that Freedom Mortgage Corporation submitted legally-required mortgage loan data that was riddled with errors. The CFPB alleges that Freedom’s practices violate both the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA) and a 2019 consent order. In a recent separate matter, in August 2023 the CFPB fined Freedom $1.75 million for paying illegal kickbacks for mortgage loan referrals.
CFPB Announces Advisory Committee Appointments
Today, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) announced the appointment of new members to the Consumer Advisory Board, Community Bank Advisory Council, Credit Union Advisory Council, and Academic Research Council.
The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act charges the CFPB with establishing a Consumer Advisory Board to provide advice on a variety of consumer finance issues. Members of the Consumer Advisory Board represent the various districts of the Federal Reserve System. Each member appointed to the Consumer Advisory Board was recommended by a president of a Federal Reserve Bank.
Related Data Spotlight: Data Point: 2022 Mortgage Market Activity and TrendsThis Data Point article provides an overview of residential mortgage lending in 2022 based on the data collected under the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA). HMDA is a data collection, reporting, and disclosure statute enacted in 1975. HMDA data are used to assist in determining whether financial institutions are serving the housing credit needs of their local communities; facilitate public entities’ distribution of funds to local communities to attract private investment; and help identify possible discriminatory lending patterns and enforce antidiscrimination statutes. Institutions covered by HMDA are required to collect and report specified information about each mortgage application acted upon and mortgage purchased. The data include the disposition of each application for mortgage credit; the type, purpose, and characteristics of each home mortgage application or purchased loan; the census-tract designations of the properties; loan pricing information; demographic and other information about loan applicants, such as their race, ethnicity, sex, age, and income; and information about loan sales.
Consumer advisory: People have the right to cancel credit repair services
Under a recent CFPB enforcement action, customers who signed up for credit repair services that were marketed to them through telemarketing can cancel their credit repair services anytime.People working to improve their credit situations can feel trapped. Some companies use this stressful situation to take advantage of consumers by selling a promise of credit repair services. However, these services often charge fees without delivering on their promises.
The CFPB filed a lawsuit against companies doing business using the names Lexington Law and CreditRepair.com. These are two of the country’s largest credit repair companies—companies that promise to fix or to improve people’s credit. The court concluded that the companies broke the law. As part of a legal settlement in the case, the companies are banned from using telemarketing to sell their credit repair services for ten years.
CFPB Issues Guidance on Credit Denials by Lenders Using Artificial Intelligence
CFPB Report Finds College Tuition Payment Plans Can Put Student Borrowers at Risk
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) issued a new report finding that students face risk when entering into agreements with colleges to spread the upfront cost of tuition into several, interest-free loan payments. The report, which looks at tuition payment plans offered by nearly 450 institutions, finds that many plans have inconsistent disclosures and confusing repayment terms, putting students at risk of missing payments, incurring late fees, and accumulating debt. The report also finds that many institutions withhold transcripts from students as a debt collection tool, a potentially illegal practice that can have severe consequences for students trying to begin their careers or finish their education.
Prepared Remarks of CFPB Director Rohit Chopra at the Better Markets Conference on the 15th Anniversary of the Collapse of Lehman Brothers and the Onset of the Global Financial Crisis
Director Chopra delivered remarks discussing the implosion of Lehman Brothers and the regulatory framework implemented by the CFPB.
“Fifteen years ago, in mid-September, Lehman Brothers collapsed, and the financial system crashed. Troubles in the United States mortgage market infected the entire globe, and American families and businesses lost trillions of dollars and experienced an incalculable level of pain. The story is not just one of an out-of-control financial industry, but it is also a story about a series of the worst failures by regulators in modern history…”
CFPB Report Highlights Role of Big Tech Firms in Mobile Payments
CFPB Reaches Multibillion Dollar Settlement with Credit Repair Conglomerate
Agencies to Host Roundtable on Special Purpose Credit Programs
Four federal agencies will host a roundtable discussion September 12, 2023, at 3:00 p.m. EDT regarding the availability of special purpose credit programs to help meet the credit needs of eligible individuals. The event will be open to the public via livestream.
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Marcia L. Fudge, Acting Comptroller of the Currency Michael J. Hsu, Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Sandra L. Thompson, and Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Director Rohit Chopra are scheduled to offer remarks at the event. The event will also include a roundtable discussion with representatives from community groups and industry trade organizations that is focused on the opportunities and benefits of special purpose credit programs.
Special purpose credit programs are a long-established tool permitted under the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA) and Regulation B. Special purpose credit programs can help creditors expand responsible credit access to economically or socially disadvantaged consumers and commercial enterprises. With proper planning, development, and implementation, lenders can use special purpose credit programs as permitted under ECOA and Regulation B to help address the critical credit needs of underserved communities.
Information about how to participate via livestream is available here .
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) sued Heights Finance Holding Company, formerly known as Southern Management Corporation, a high-cost installment lender, as well as several of Heights’s subsidiaries (collectively, Southern), for illegal loan-churning practices that harvested hundreds of millions in loan costs and fees. The CFPB alleges that the company – which operates under a variety of trade names, including Covington Credit, Southern Finance, and Quick Credit – identifies borrowers who are struggling to repay their existing loans, and then aggressively pushes them to refinance. Borrowers become trapped in the loan churning scheme and often are forced to refinance multiple times. The CFPB is seeking to end Southern’s unlawful loan-churning practices, to gain redress for harmed consumers, and to require Southern to pay a civil money penalty.
PUBLISHED The CFPB released an update to the Filing Instructions Guide for Small Business Lending Data. The updates include:
- Reordering certain demographic information codes to better correlate with Home Mortgage Disclosure Act data, per request from industry,
- Minor wording clarifications to the pricing information data point, and
- Minor administrative updates to the validation IDs.
The changes were also incorporated into the Small Business Lending Rule Data Points Chart.
Details about these changes to the Filing Instructions Guide can be found in the Small Business Lending Data Updates page, available at: www.consumerfinance.gov/data-research/small-business-lending/small-business-lending-data-updates/.
You can access the updated Small Business Lending Rule Data Points Chart here: www.consumerfinance.gov/compliance/compliance-resources/small-business-lending-resources/small-business-lending-collection-and-reporting-requirements/.
The
the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) took action against Freedom Mortgage Corporation (Freedom) for providing illegal incentives to real estate brokers and agents in exchange for mortgage loan referrals. Freedom provided real estate agents and brokers with numerous incentives — including cash payments, paid subscription services, and catered parties — with the understanding they would refer prospective homebuyers to Freedom for mortgage loans. This conduct violated the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act and its implementing regulation. The CFPB is ordering Freedom to cease its illegal activities and pay $1.75 million into the CFPB’s victim relief fund. The CFPB separately issued an order against a real estate brokerage firm, Realty Connect USA Long Island (Realty Connect), for accepting numerous illegal kickbacks from Freedom. Realty Connect will pay a $200,000 penalty and cease its unlawful conduct.
The United States has a long history of recognizing the sanctity of protecting against unwanted intrusions into our homes and our lives. During a White House Roundtable today, Director Chopra announced that the CFPB will be developing rules to prevent misuse and abuse by data brokers that track, collect, and monetize information about people. Many of these firms assemble data to feed “artificial intelligence” (AI) that makes decisions about our daily lives.
After conducting a public inquiry into data brokers and assessing today’s uses of AI that are often powered by data from the surveillance industry, the CFPB will be issuing proposed rules under the Fair Credit Reporting Act to address business practices used by companies that assemble and monetize our data.
Small businesses interested in participating as a panelist should contact the CFPB within the next week: CFPB_consumerreporting_rulemaking@cfpb.gov.
What we’re hearing from consumers in New Mexico
New Mexicans submitted complaints about credit reporting, debt collection, and other products. This week, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Director Rohit Chopra will visit Gallup and Albuquerque, New Mexico, to meet with elected officials, tribal leaders, community leaders, and consumer advocates to discuss issues New Mexicans are facing—particularly issues related to medical debt and junk fees.
The CFPB’s public Consumer Complaint Database lends valuable insights into these subjects. Since 2011, the CFPB has published more than 11,600 complaints from New Mexicans. Mirroring nationwide trends, complaints about credit reporting make up most of these complaints (42%), followed by debt collection (17%) and mortgage (13%) (Figure 1). New Mexicans also submit complaints about debt collection, mortgage, credit cards and checking or savings at greater rates than all consumers.
CFPB Sues USASF Servicing for Illegally Disabling Vehicles and for Improper Double-Billing Practices
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) filed a lawsuit in federal court against auto-loan servicer USASF Servicing (USASF) for a host of illegal practices that harmed individuals with auto loans. These practices include wrongfully disabling borrowers’ vehicles, improperly repossessing vehicles, double-billing borrowers for insurance premiums, and failing to return millions of dollars in refunds to consumers. The CFPB is seeking to obtain redress for consumers and civil money penalties and stop any future violations.
Financial struggles in Puerto Rico bite deeper than the rest of the United States
Our research shows that people in Puerto Rico have lower financial well-being compared to people in the rest of the United States, and they struggle more to make ends meet and participate in mainstream financial services. The CFPB works to ensure fair and equal access to financial products and services, especially among those who have been historically left out of full participation in the marketplace. This includes making a concerted effort to ensure that Puerto Rico and the territories are being analyzed and served just as other regions of the United States. In a recent study, we looked at how people living in Puerto Rico use financial products and services, as well as their financial well-being.
When landlords use information from a rental background check that qualifies as a “consumer report” against a tenant, they are required to tell the tenant of their decision and how to contact the company that created the background check. The federal housing agencies encourage landlords to provide this information to renters in writing. The United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Federal Housing Finance Agency, and the United States Department of Agriculture are reminding landlords of their obligation to inform tenants and prospective tenants of their rights. When landlords use information from a consumer report, like a rental background check, against a tenant, the Fair Credit Reporting Act requires landlords to tell the tenant of their decision and how the tenant can contact the company that created the background check. This obligation, known as the adverse action notice requirement, applies to any action against a tenant based on information from the background check, including denying a rental application, increasing the rent charged or security deposit, or requiring a co-signer. As the agencies state, providing this information in writing is the best way to ensure that tenants get the information they need, and for landlords to demonstrate they are meeting their legal obligations.
Looking at credit scores only tells part of the story – cashflow data may tell another part
Cashflow data (regular savings, accumulated savings, paying bills on time) helps predict ability to repay and repayment risk, even when accounting for credit scores. Most loan underwriting in the United States makes use of credit reporting data to evaluate repayment risk. Lenders frequently use third party credit scores, and many also develop their own proprietary models. Credit reporting data include individuals’ performance on a variety of credit products, such as mortgages, credit cards, auto loans, and student loans, as well as certain public records and some other forms of lending.1
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) released a new Supervisory Highlights report which found unfair, deceptive, and abusive acts or practices across many consumer financial products. For example, auto lenders have originated loan balances above the real value of the car being purchased and engaged in illegal collection practices while servicing these loans. The latest edition of the Supervisory Highlights report covers findings from CFPB supervisory examinations completed from July 2022 to March 2023.
Director Chopra provided prepared remarks at an event hosted by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development on tenant rights.
CFPB Report Shows Workers Face Risks from Employer-Driven Debt
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) published a report highlighting the risks employer-driven debt poses to workers. After a review of responses to the CFPB’s public inquiry, the analysis describes the growing prevalence of employer-driven debt and challenges workers and consumers face when they become indebted to an employer or an employer’s affiliate as a condition of employment. The issue spotlight delves into the use of training repayment agreement provisions (TRAPs), which can impede worker mobility, particularly when it comes to obtaining higher wages.
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) today sued lease-to-own finance company Snap Finance for deceiving consumers, obscuring the terms of its financing agreements, and making false threats. In a lawsuit filed in federal district court, the CFPB alleges that Snap Finance has offered and provided millions of “lease-purchase” and “rental-purchase” financing agreements in ways that have harmed consumers, including through misleading advertisements, insufficient disclosures, and interfering with consumers’ ability to understand the terms and conditions of its financing agreements. The CFPB further alleges Snap Finance’s illegal conduct continued in its servicing of those agreements, including misrepresenting consumers’ payment obligations and making false threats in collections.
Today, Rohit Chopra, Director of the United States Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, and Didier Reynders, Commissioner for Justice and Consumer Protection of the European Commission, announced the start of an informal dialogue between the CFPB and the European Commission on a range of critical financial consumer protection issues.
State Partners and CFPB Sue Prehired For Illegal Student Lending Practices
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) joined with several state attorneys general and a state regulator to take action against Prehired for deceptive marketing and debt collection practices. Prehired operated a 12-week online training program claiming to prepare consumers for entry-level positions as software sales development representatives with “six-figure salaries” and a “job guarantee.” Prehired drove interested applicants to sign an “income share” loan to finance the costs of the program and represented that consumers would pay nothing until they got a high-income job through Prehired. In reality, Prehired deceptively buried terms that required consumers to pay even if they never got a job and, in many cases, unilaterally increased consumers’ required minimum monthly payments without any evidence that they had secured employment or experienced an increase in income. The CFPB is seeking to void the loans and obtain redress for affected consumers and a penalty, which would be deposited into the CFPB’s victims relief fund. The attorneys general from Washington, Oregon, Delaware, Minnesota, Illinois, Wisconsin, Massachusetts, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia joined the action, along with California’s Department of Financial Protection and Innovation.
Prepared Remarks of Director Rohit Chopra for the CFPB Hearing on Medical Billing and Collections
Public input will bolster agencies’ broad efforts to safeguard consumers against predatory medical debt and collections practices
Today, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and U.S. Department of Treasury (Treasury) launched an inquiry into high-cost specialty financial products, such as medical credit cards and installment loans, that are pushed on patients as a way to pay for routine medical care and which drive up health care costs and medical debt. Today’s request for information builds on CFPB research on medical payment products and medical billing and collections, in addition to other actions by the CFPB and Federal agencies to relieve the burden of medical debt and collections practices. The three agencies seek information about the prevalence of these products, patients’ experiences with them, and health care providers’ incentives to offer these high-cost products to patients, which may include avoiding the insurance claims process and financial assistance programs. The CFPB will use the public input as it considers ways to address the patient harms caused by these specialty financial products.
Timemark, Inc. collected illegal advance fees from more than 7,100 consumers seeking to renegotiate, settle, reduce, or alter the terms of their loans. This month, more than 7,100 people who were charged illegal advance fees by Timemark, Inc. to renegotiate, settle, reduce, or alter the terms of their federal student loans will receive a check in the mail.
The CFPB releases its Fair Lending Annual Report to Congress, describing its fair lending activities in enforcement and supervision; guidance and rulemaking; interagency coordination; and outreach and education for calendar year 2022.
The CFPB issues order against payment processor ACI Worldwide Corp. and its subsidiary ACI Payments Inc. (ACI) improperly initiating the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) issued an order against ACI Worldwide and one of its subsidiaries, ACI Payments, for improperly initiating approximately $2.3 billion in unlawful mortgage payment transactions. ACI’s data handling practices negatively impacted nearly 500,000 homeowners with mortgages serviced by Mr. Cooper (formerly known as Nationstar). By unlawfully processing erroneous and unauthorized transactions, ACI opened homeowners to overdraft and insufficient funds fees from their financial institutions. Today’s order requires ACI, among other things, to pay a $25 million civil money penalty.
PUBLISHED Protecting consumers’ right to challenge discrimination
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is committed to ensuring fair, equitable, and nondiscriminatory access to credit for individuals and communities. The CFPB administers and enforces federal laws such as the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, a landmark civil rights law that protects people against discrimination in all aspects of credit transactions. Under the law, consumers targeted by race, religion, age, or any other prohibited basis with predatory lending products or practices also have the right to challenge that discrimination by bringing a lawsuit. Yet lenders engaged in discriminatory acts or practices sometimes unfairly try to make consumers sign away that right. Fortunately, many courts have rejected attempts to make people sign away crucial legal rights.
CFPB Report Identifies Issues with Increased Servicemember Use of Digital Payment Apps
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) released its annual report on the top financial concerns facing military families. The report highlights the growth of digital payment app usage in the servicemember community, the unique risks to servicemembers from these services, and the potential abuse from bad actors. Some servicemembers have also indicated in their complaints about incurring serious financial harm from scams and fraud when using these services, and their complaints suggest digital payment app providers often fail to provide timely and substantive resolutions.
The CFPB intends to identify ways to simplify and streamline the existing mortgage servicing rules
PUBLISHED JUN 14, 2023 | Director Rohit Chopra’s statement before the House Committee on Financial Services
Borrowing to buy a home is one of the biggest financial decisions a family will make. Mortgage servicers are the companies responsible for processing payments and managing mortgage accounts, and they play a critical role in assisting homeowners with repayment. Borrowers don’t choose these companies – servicers are chosen by the lender or investor that owns the mortgage.
Laying the foundation for open banking in the United States
PUBLISHED JUN 14, 2023 | Director Rohit Chopra’s statement before the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs
New digital banking technologies have the power to expand and open market access for American consumers and emerging businesses. In a more competitive market, Americans will be able to earn higher rates on their savings, pay lower rates on their loans, and more efficiently manage their finances. But the new technologies, and the competition they can fuel, have not yet reached their full potential. Consumers continue to encounter all too familiar obstacles when trying to switch banks or apply for loans.
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) today released a new issue spotlight on the expansive adoption and use of chatbots by financial institutions. Chatbots are intended to simulate human-like responses using computer programming and help institutions reduce the costs of customer service agents. These chatbots sometimes have human names and use popup features to encourage engagement. Some chatbots use more complex technologies marketed as “artificial intelligence,” to generate responses to customers.
Communities across the nation are working to prevent and respond to elder financial exploitation, which threatens the financial security of millions of older adults each year.
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) helps state and local organizations create and develop Elder Fraud Prevention and Response Networks, often working with partners to host in-person convenings of local or regional stakeholders.
But what happened during the COVID-19 pandemic, when people were no longer able to convene in person? When reported fraud and scams hit an all-time high? And what happens when scammers target traditionally underserved populations? Here is how the CFPB and elder justice advocates adapted to meet the moment.
CFPB Finds that Billions of Dollars Stored on Popular Payment Apps May Lack Federal Insurance
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) published an issue spotlight on digital payment apps heavily used by consumers and businesses. The analysis finds that funds stored on these apps may not be safe in the event of financial distress, since the funds may not be held in accounts with federal deposit insurance coverage. The CFPB also issued a consumer advisory for customers holding funds in these apps and how they can make sure their funds remain safe.
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has ordered installment lender OneMain Financial to pay $20 million in redress and penalties for failing to refund interest charged to 25,000 customers who cancelled purchases within a purported “full refund period,” and for deceiving borrowers about needing to purchase add-on products to receive a loan.
CFPB Proposes New Consumer Protections for Homeowners Seeking Clean Energy Financing
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) proposed a rule to implement a Congressional mandate to establish consumer protections for residential Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) loans.
Related reading: The CFPB issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking related to residential Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) financing. The CFPB also issued a Fast Facts Summary that provides a high-level overview of the proposed rule and an Unofficial Redline.
Additionally, the CFPB has published a report on PACE financing, which found that the loans cause an increase in mortgage delinquency and other negative credit outcomes for some borrowers.
Comments on the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking are due July 26, 2023, or 30 days after publication in the Federal Register, whichever is later.
You can access the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, Fast Facts Summary, Unofficial Redline, and Report here: www.consumerfinance.gov/rules-policy/rules-under-development/residential-property-assessed-clean-energy-financing-regulation-z/.
CFPB Issues Rule to Facilitate Orderly Wind Down of LIBOR
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) issued an interim final rule amending the agency’s 2021 LIBOR transition rule. The interim final rule contains updates to reflect the subsequent enactment of the Adjustable Interest Rate (LIBOR) Act and issuance of an implementing regulation by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve Board System. This interim final rule will further facilitate the orderly transition of those consumer loans that currently use the LIBOR index to other indices in anticipation of the planned cessation U.S. Dollar (USD) LIBOR after June 30, 2023.
Today, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) joined four other federal financial regulatory agencies, along with state bank and state credit union regulators, in issuing a statement that the use of United States Dollar LIBOR (USD LIBOR) panels will end on June 30, 2023.
PUBLISHED CFPB issued an Advisory Opinion related to time-barred debts.
The Advisory Opinion affirms that the FDCPA and the Debt Collection Rule prohibit FDCPA-covered debt collectors from suing or threatening to sue to collect a time-barred debt. The Advisory Opinion also affirms that this prohibition may apply to debt collectors that bring state-court mortgage foreclosure actions to collect on time-barred mortgage debt.
You can access the Advisory Opinion here: www.consumerfinance.gov/compliance/advisory-opinion-program/.
CFPB Issues Guidance to Protect Homeowners from Illegal Collection Tactics on Zombie Mortgages
Today, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) issued guidance on debt collectors, covered by the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, threatening to foreclose on homes with mortgages past the statute of limitations.
Related Reading: Prepared Remarks of Director Rohit Chopra on Zombie Mortgage Debt
Director Chopra hosted a discussion with local community organizations, advocates, leaders, and members of the public about “zombie” second mortgages and other debt collection issues.
Director Chopra provided remarks on an interagency press conference to announce the Joint Statement on Enforcement Efforts Against Discrimination and Bias in Automated Systems
Four federal agencies jointly pledged today to uphold America’s commitment to the core principles of fairness, equality, and justice as emerging automated systems, including those sometimes marketed as “artificial intelligence” or “AI,” have become increasingly common in our daily lives.
Credit cards are one of the most common financial products in our country, providing the bulk of short-term credit for families. Interest rates on credit cards have risen substantially, with average interest rates going over 20%. Given the trends for the 175 million Americans with credit cards, the CFPB estimates that outstanding credit card debt may continue to set records and could even hit $1 trillion.
Testimony of CFPB Senior Advisor Brian Shearer on Junk Fees Before the Pennsylvania House of Representatives Consumer Protection, Technology, and Utilities Committee
PUBLISHED CFPB launches Small Business Lending (SBL) Help
The CFPB issued the small business lending rule. You can read the rule on the CFPB website. To help financial institutions implement and comply with the small business lending rule, the CFPB is launching a dedicated regulatory and technical support program called SBL Help. SBL Help can provide oral and written assistance to financial institutions about their data collection and reporting obligations under the final rule.
You can submit your questions to SBL Help here: https://sblhelp.consumerfinance.gov/.
SBL Help is the latest resource from the CFPB to help financial institutions implement and comply with the small business lending final rule. As announced last week, the CFPB published a small business lending implementation and guidance webpage, which contains several regulatory implementation resources about the final rule, and a small business lending data webpage, which contains several technical resources about submitting small business lending data to the CFPB.
The CFPB plans to publish additional resources to help financial institutions implement and comply with the small business lending final rule. The CFPB has published a video that introduces the types of implementation and compliance support it provides and the timeline these materials are typically released.
You can watch the Introduction to Regulatory Implementation and Guidance video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cKc_BBxqOwM.
Today, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) took action against James R. Carnes and Melissa C. Carnes, both individually and as co-trustees of the James R. Carnes Revocable Trust and the Melissa C. Carnes Revocable Trust for hiding money through a series of fraudulent transfers in order to avoid paying more than $40 million in restitution and penalties for illegal payday lending activities.
PUBLISHED CFPB Issues Guidance to Address Abusive Conduct in Consumer Financial Markets
Policy statement details post-financial crisis prohibition on illegal abusive conduct
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) issued a policy statement that explains the legal prohibition on abusive conduct in consumer financial markets and summarizes over a decade of precedent. The CFPB leads enforcement and supervision efforts to identify and end abusive conduct against consumers. In 2010, in response to the financial crisis, Congress passed the Consumer Financial Protection Act, and created the prohibition on abusive conduct. The Act tasks the CFPB, federal banking regulators, and states with the responsibility to enforce the prohibition, and puts the CFPB in charge of administering it. The policy statement will assist consumer financial protection enforcers in identifying wrongdoing, and will help firms avoid committing abusive acts or practices.
Today, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) announced it has determined that state disclosure laws covering lending to businesses in California, New York, Utah, and Virginia are not preempted by the federal Truth in Lending Act.
CFPB Heightens Scrutiny of Unlawful Collection of Payments on Discharged Student Loans
Today, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) released a bulletin warning servicers of their obligation to halt unlawful conduct with respect to private student loans that have been discharged by bankruptcy courts.
PUBLISHED MAR 15, 2023
CFPB Releases 2023 HMDA Transactional and Institutional Coverage Charts
The CFPB released the 2023 HMDA Transactional and Institutional Coverage Charts. These charts update the closed-end threshold pursuant to the United States District Court for the District of Columbia September 23, 2022, order in NCRC et al. v. CFPB.
You can access the 2023 HMDA Transactional and Institutional Coverage Charts here: www.consumerfinance.gov/compliance/compliance-resources/mortgage-resources/hmda-reporting-requirements/.
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) and the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) today signed an information sharing agreement, creating a formal partnership between the two agencies to better protect American families and to address practices that harm workers in the “gig economy” and other labor markets.
CFPB Publishes New Findings on Financial Profiles of Buy Now, Pay Later Borrowers
The CFPBhas published a new report analyzing the financial profiles of Buy Now, Pay Later borrowers. While many Buy Now, Pay Later borrowers use the product without noticeable indications of financial stress, the report finds that Buy Now, Pay Later borrowers are more likely to be active users of other types of credit products like credit cards, personal loans, and student loans. They are also more likely to exhibit measures of financial distress than non-users. For example, Buy Now, Pay Later borrowers are more likely to be highly indebted or have revolving balances or delinquencies on their credit cards compared to consumers who do not use Buy Now, Pay Later products. Buy Now, Pay Later borrowers are also more likely to use high-interest financial services such as payday loans, pawn loans, and bank account overdrafts. The report follows previous CFPB research on the Buy Now, Pay Later market.
CFPB Announces Appointments of New Advisory Committee Members
The CFPB announced the appointment of new members to the Consumer Advisory Board, Community Bank Advisory Council, Credit Union Advisory Council, and Academic Research Council.
The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act charges the CFPB with establishing a Consumer Advisory Board to provide advice on a variety of consumer finance issues. Members of the Consumer Advisory Board represent the various districts of the Federal Reserve System. Each member appointed to the Consumer Advisory Board was recommended by a president of a Federal Reserve Bank.
In addition, the Community Bank Advisory Council and Credit Union Advisory Council advise and consult the CFPB on financial issues related to community banks and credit unions. The Academic Research Council engages on the strategic research planning process and research agenda, and provides feedback on research methodologies and collection strategies.
New CFPB Issue Spotlight Examines High Fees that Chip Away at Public Benefits
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) released a new issue spotlight examining how the financial products used to deliver public benefits, like Social Security and unemployment compensation, affect individuals’ ability to fully access the assistance provided through those programs.
Appraisal standards must include federal prohibitions against discrimination
Homeownership is one of the best paths for building intergenerational wealth. For some homebuyers and owners, however, a home’s valuation may be skewed by skin color or community demographics. Biased home appraisals can worsen racial inequities and distort the housing market.
CFPB Finds One-Third Decline in Collections Items on Consumer Credit Reports
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) released a report examining trends in credit reporting of debt in collections from 2018 to 2022. The report found the total number of collections tradelines on credit reports declined by 33%, from 261 million tradelines in 2018 to 175 million tradelines in 2022. The share of consumers with a collection tradeline on their credit report decreased by 20% in the same timeframe. The CFPB also released today additional analysis examining factors that increase the likelihood of inaccurate medical collections reporting and may contribute to the decline in medical collections tradelines.
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) issued an advisory opinion to protect Americans from double dealing on digital mortgage comparison-shopping platforms. Companies operating these digital platforms appear to shoppers as if they provide objective lender comparisons, but may illegally refer people to only those lenders paying referral fees. When shoppers use a lender that is not the best option for their needs, they may end up with a lower quality lender or paying thousands more in closing costs or interest. The advisory opinion outlines how companies violate the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA) when they steer shoppers to lenders by using pay-to-play tactics rather than providing shoppers with comprehensive and objective information.
- Read the advisory opinion, Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (Regulation X); Digital Mortgage Comparison-Shopping Platforms and Related Payments to Operators.
- Read Director Chopra’s Statement on Mortgage Comparison Shopping in a Time of Higher Interest Rates.
- Learn about the CFPB’s tools and resources for homebuyers.
CFPB Proposes Rule to Rein in Excessive Credit Card Late Fees
Today, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) proposed a rule to curb excessive credit card late fees that cost American families about $12 billion each year. Major credit card issuers continue to profit off late fees that are protected by an expansive immunity provision. Credit card companies have also relied on this provision to hike fees with inflation, even if they face no additional collection costs. The proposed rule would help ensure that over-the-top late fee amounts are illegal. Based on the CFPB’s estimates, the proposal could reduce late fees by as much as $9 billion per year.
Office of Research blog: Credit score transitions during the COVID-19 pandemic
The distribution of credit score tiers shifted upward during the pandemic. Individuals in all credit score tiers were more likely to move up at least one tier or remain in their own tier during the pandemic, but upward mobility was especially improved for consumers with subprime credit scores.
Mortgage servicers have direct communication with homeowners. Servicers may remind homeowners that one option to avoid foreclosure is selling the home. Servicers may recommend homeowners speak with a real estate agent for a free estimate of the home’s current value. Servicers can also direct struggling homeowners to HUD-approved housing counseling agencies.
CFPB Issues Guidance to Root Out Tactics Which Charge People Fees for Subscriptions They Don’t Want
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) issued a new circular affirming that companies offering “negative option” subscription services must comply with federal consumer financial protection law. Negative option programs include subscription services that automatically renew unless the consumer affirmatively cancels, and trial marketing programs that charge a reduced fee for an initial period and then automatically begin charging a higher fee.
CFPB releases updates to mortgage servicing exam procedures
Today, the CFPB is releasing our updated Mortgage Servicing Examination Procedures, providing transparency to stakeholders about how we do our work.
Deputy Director Martinez delivered prepared remarks at an event hosted by the National Fair Housing Alliance and the Brookings Institution in Washington, DC. Click here for a link to the video.
PUBLISHED
Today, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) proposed a rule to establish a public registry of supervised nonbanks’ terms and conditions in “take it or leave it” form contracts that claim to waive or limit consumer rights and protections, like bankruptcy rights, liability amounts, or complaint rights.
CFPB Takes Action to Halt Debt Collection Mill From Bombarding Consumers with Junk Lawsuits
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has reached a settlement in its lawsuit against law firm Forster & Garbus, LLP, for illegal debt-collection practices.
Protecting people’s access to their money
This week, the CFPB filed a friend-of-the-court brief to ensure people have access to legal protections for their government-benefit prepaid cards.
What new supervised institutions need to know about working with the CFPB
The CFPB’s supervisory activities may help entities identify issues before they become systemic or cause significant harm. Here’s what newly supervised institutions can expect from a supervisory relationship with the CFPB.
PUBLISHED Appraisal Subcommittee Hearing on Appraisal Bias
Join the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council’s Appraisal Subcommittee (ASC) for a hearing about appraisal bias. Invited witnesses representing key stakeholder groups will share their views with the ASC during the hearing.
The hearing will take place on Tuesday, January 24, 2023 from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. EST. Members of the public are invited to listen to the hearing and provide written comments. Comments can be submitted to AppraisalBiasHearing@asc.gov until February 8, 2023.
The hearing will be held in-person at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) Headquarters at 1700 G Street NW, Washington, DC 20552. For those that can’t attend in-person, the hearing will also be livestreamed.
This event is open to the public and requires an RSVP. Please register if you plan to attend or view the hearing. RSVP here.
If you require a reasonable accommodation in order to attend this event, please contact CFPB_ReasonableAccommodations@cfpb.gov 72 hours prior to the start of this event.
This announcement will be updated with more details as they become available.
More information about the Appraisal Subcommittee can be found here .
Today, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) and the New York State Office of the Attorney General sued a predatory auto lender, Credit Acceptance Corporation, for misrepresenting the cost of credit and tricking its customers into high-cost loans on used cars.
CFPB Issues Report on TransUnion, Experian, and Equifax
Today, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) released an annual report that details improvements and deficiencies in the nationwide consumer reporting companies’ responses to consumer complaints transmitted by the CFPB.