On April 23, 2014, the parties reached a settlement in a putative class action pending in California federal court between a bank credit card issuer and consumers alleging misrepresentations and improper practices related to customer payments. The plaintiffs alleged that the bank misled consumers about how it applied credit card payments to promotional purchases by
FTC Closes Settlement with National Card Monitor, LLC
This week, nearly 5,000 consumers will receive refund checks of $25.13 pursuant to a settlement between the Federal Trade Commission and Arizona-based telemarketing company National Card Monitor, LLC (“NCM”). According to the Commission, NCM began cold-calling consumers in early 2011 and falsely claiming that it could offer low-rate credit cards to consumers, onto which they
FDIC Fines Credit-Card Bank $1 Million
On April 25, 2014, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) published an enforcement order showing that Lincoln, Nebraska-based World’s Foremost Bank had agreed to pay $1 million in restitution for deceptive and unfair acts, including the charging of improper fees. The bank is the credit card arm of Sidney, Nebraska-based Cabela’s, a nationwide outdoor retailer.
CFPB Outlines Expansion of Nonbank Supervision, In Particular Increasing Consumer Access to Credit Scoring Information and Education
In a speech at the Consumer Bankers Association, CFPB Deputy Director Steve Antonakes discussed the nonbank segments of the financial services industry where the CFPB recently has expanded its supervision, including debt collection, student loan servicing, and large nonbank auto lenders.
Antonakes cited the receipt of more than 20,000 consumer complaints in March 2014 as
TCPA Clarification: FCC and Eleventh Circuit Attempt to Clarify “Called Party” and “Prior Express Consent”
On March 27, 2014, the Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”) issued two declaratory rulings regarding the definition of “prior express consent” under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (“TCPA”). In the first ruling, Cargo Airline Association obtained an exemption under the TCPA’s “prior express consent” restriction on autodialed and prerecorded telephone calls and text messages to wireless
Proposed Legislation Would Require CFPB to Create Advisory Board of Small Financial Services Companies
Earlier today a bipartisan bill was introduced into the US House of Representatives which would require the CFPB to create an advisory panel of small financial services companies similar to other boards the Bureau has created. The Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection Small Business Advisory Board Act, introduced by Rep. Robert Pittenger, R-N.C., and
New Decision Provides Hope for Common-Sense Application of TCPA, but the High-Stakes Debate Over the Scope of the TCPA Will Continue
On Thursday, March 21, 2014, the Eastern District of Pennsylvania in Dominguez v. Yahoo!, Inc., held that Yahoo did not violate the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) because Yahoo’s SMS system could not “randomly or sequentially generate telephone numbers.” The Dominquez court is the most recent to weigh in on one of the most
Consero Financial Services and Insurance Litigation Forum – Miami, FL – May 18-20, 2014
Consero’s 2014 Financial Services and Insurance Litigation Forum will be held May 18-20, 2014 at the Trump National Doral Miami in Miami, FL. Join Troutman Sander’s lawyer, Ashley Taylor at the forum. Consero’s 2014 Financial Services and Insurance Litigation Forum will address current and looming legal and business challenges faced by today’s Chief Litigation Officers
Ninth Circuit Rejects Argument that Credit Card Fees Violate Substantive Due Process
On February 11, 2013, a panel of the Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit rejected the argument of a class of credit cardholders that certain fees imposed by their card issuers were unconstitutional. Their class complaint alleged violations of the National Bank Act (“NBA”) and Depository Institutions Deregulation and Monetary Control Act (“DIDMC”). The
CFPB Calls on Credit Card Issuers to Provide Credit Scores to Consumers
On Thursday, February 27, 2014, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) encouraged credit card companies to offer consumers their credit scores for free online and in monthly statements – a practice that several issuers have already begun in an effort to distinguish their products in the industry. The CFPB recently sent letters to the nation’s