Earlier today, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and thirteen state attorneys general released a Consent Order with Colfax Capital Corporation and Culver Capital, LLC, collectively known as “Rome Finance”, for approximately 17,000 military servicemembers and others harmed by predatory lending. This is the latest in an increasingly joint effort by state attorneys general and the
CFPB to Issue White Paper Regarding Identification of Discrimination in Indirect Auto Lending
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s 2013 bulletin cautioning lenders offering auto loans through dealerships that they remain accountable for complying with fair lending laws has sparked questions regarding how the CFPB identifies problematic discriminatory practices. In an effort to address these concerns, CFPB Director Cordray reported during the House Financial Services Committee’s hearing on the
Look Out Foreclosure Relief “Scammers”!
Lenders and servicers are not the only targets in the crosshairs of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau when it comes to foreclosures. The CFPB, the Federal Trade Commission, and fifteen states announced a sweep against foreclosure relief companies that allegedly used deceptive marketing tactics to rip off distressed homeowners. The CFPB and the FTC have
CFPB Director Discusses Perceived Benefits of Public Complaint Database
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has announced an initiative to allow consumers to contribute a public “narrative of their own experiences” when posting to the CFPB’s Consumer Complaint Database. We discussed the creation of this narrative section in our July 18 blog titled “CFPB Adds Narrative to Complaint Database.” Recently, Richard Cordray, Director
Prepaid Cards – CFPB’s Latest Target
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau will begin looking into complaints about prepaid cards – including gift cards, benefit cards, and general purpose reloadable cards – the Bureau announced Monday. Consumers can also now submit complaints about additional nonbank products, including debt settlement services, credit repair services, and pawn and title loans.
The CFPB already
ACA International’s 75th Annual Convention & Expo
Celebrate the industry’s past, present and future while enjoying dazzling Chicago. Featuring a dynamic line-up of engaging speakers including Karl Rove and Ken Schmidt, exciting musical guests KC and The Sunshine Band, 40+ innovative educational sessions and a jam-packed Expo Hall, this is a must-attend event. There’s still time to register, so make plans to
CFPB Adds Narrative to Complaint Database
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has announced a new proposal that will allow consumers the option to share a narrative of “what happened” in the CFPB’s public-facing Consumer Complaint Database. According to the CFPB, this new feature would “empower consumers to publicly voice their complaints about consumer financial products and services” and “provide important context
Heirs Acquiring Property Receive Assistance from CFPB
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has announced an interpretive rule to assist heirs who, due to the death of a mortgagor, acquire title to a property and take over the mortgage. Specifically, the interpretative rule clarifies that heirs may be added to a mortgage without prompting the Ability-to-Repay rule, which took effect in January 2014.
CFPB Sues Credit-Card Collection Lawsuit Mill
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau filed a lawsuit on July 14, 2014, in Atlanta federal court against a Georgia-based firm, Frederick J. Hanna & Associates, and its three principal partners for operating an alleged “debt collection lawsuit mill that uses illegal tactics to intimidate consumers into paying debts they may not owe.” The CFPB claimed
Texas Federal Court: No Summary Judgment for Plaintiff in FDCPA Settlement Letter Dispute over Time-Barred Debt
On June 27, 2014, Magistrate Judge Orlando L. Garcia of the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas recommended denial of a plaintiff’s motion for summary judgment in an FDCPA action implicating settlement letter language for time-barred debt. The case, Schreve v. First National Collection Bureau, Inc., involved time-barred debt that