The Consumer Data Industry Association (CDIA) and the Metro 2 Task Force announced that they have approved a new Special Comment Code, DS — Debt Settlement, in response to industry requests for clearer identification of consumer debt settlement activity in credit reporting. An implementation date has not yet been established, but CDIA anticipates that furnishers will be able to begin reporting the DS code in Q2 2027.
The New York City Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) recently published new compliance resources for its amended debt collection regulations, known as the SHIELD Rule, which are scheduled to take effect on September 1, 2026.
Virginia is implementing a new Business Screening Services (BSS) program that will significantly change how private background screening companies handle Virginia criminal and traffic history records.
In this episode of FCRA Focus, hosts Kim Phan and Dave Gettings are joined by colleague Tim St. George to unpack major legislative developments impacting employment background screening. They discuss New York’s new statewide ban on the use of consumer credit history in most hiring and employment decisions, Virginia’s upcoming requirements for background screening businesses, and emerging federal proposals that could reshape FCRA liability, reseller obligations, and the reporting of criminal and credit information. The conversation highlights notable litigation trends, preemption and First Amendment issues, and practical steps for employers, CRAs, and resellers navigating rapidly evolving state and federal requirements.
In this episode of The Consumer Finance Podcast, Chris Willis talks with Dan Smith, president and CEO of the Consumer Data Industry Association, about current challenges and changes in the U.S. consumer reporting system. They discuss how reliable credit information supports fair lending decisions and helps lenders understand a borrower’s ability to repay. The conversation touches on rising FCRA litigation, new state efforts affecting what can appear on credit reports — especially medical debt — and the growing issue of “credit washing,” where large volumes of questionable disputes can hide accurate information and slow resolution of real errors. The episode also highlights the importance of working with regulators and policymakers to preserve a nationwide credit reporting system that is complete, accurate, and consistent in supporting responsible lending and access to credit.
In this joint episode of Payments Pros and The Consumer Finance Podcast, guest host Taylor Gess is joined by Stefanie Jackman to discuss amended debt collection regulations and restrictions for creditors, including tight communication limits and enhanced validation requirements. The conversation dives into the rise of coerced debt statutes, shortcomings of traditional identity theft frameworks, and how creditors should adjust training, intake, and escalation protocols to avoid reputational and legal risk. The discussion also explores state medical debt reporting bans, the preemption challenges, and cautious furnishing in the FCRA landscape.
In this episode of The Consumer Finance Podcast, Chris Willis is joined by colleagues Joe DeFazio, Brad Knapp, and Punit Marwaha for a practical introduction to consumer bankruptcy from the creditor’s perspective. The panel walks through the core bankruptcy chapters that consumer financial services companies encounter most often and explains how the automatic stay, co-debtor stay, and discharge injunction operate in real-world servicing and collection environments. They discuss treatment of secured and unsecured debts, reaffirmation agreements, and hot-button issues like the dischargeability of qualified education loans. The conversation also highlights common traps for mortgage servicers, auto lenders, and unsecured creditors, including repossessions, garnishments, foreclosure timing, and plan objections, as well as preference actions and clawbacks.
New York has now enacted a statewide ban that, with limited exceptions, prohibits employers from using consumer credit history in hiring and other employment decisions. Effective April 18, 2026, the law amends the state’s General Business Law to make it an unlawful discriminatory practice for most employers to request or rely on an applicant’s or employee’s credit information when making employment decisions.
Troutman Pepper Locke partner David Anthony and associate Noah DiPasquale co‑authored a recent article for the American Bar Association’s Litigation Section, “Reasonable Reinvestigation, Not Legal Adjudication: CRAs and Furnishers under the FCRA,” together with Jennifer Sarvadi of Hudson Cook. The piece examines how courts nationwide are refining what counts as a “reasonable” investigation under the Fair Credit Reporting Act’s (FCRA) reasonable procedures and reinvestigation provisions, 15 U.S.C. §§ 1681e(b), 1681i, and 1681s‑2(b).
A new discussion draft from Representative Bill Huizenga (R-MI) would significantly update Title V of the Gramm‑Leach‑Bliley Act (GLBA) to reflect how financial data is collected, shared, and monetized in today’s market. Released in connection with the March 17, 2026 House Financial Services Committee (Committee) hearing, “Updating America’s Financial Privacy Framework for the 21st Century,” the draft purports to give consumers greater control over their financial data, impose new limits on financial institutions and data aggregators, and create a more uniform national privacy regime for consumer financial information.