Author Archives: Allison Zieve

New 3d Circuit opinion on Fair Credit Reporting Act (standing)

On Friday, the Third Circuit issued a decision in In re Horizon Healthcare Services Inc. Data Breach Litigation.  In that case, the plaintiffs sued after two laptops, containing sensitive personal information about them and others, were stolen from health insurer Horizon Healthcare Services, Inc. The plaintiffs alleged willful and negligent violations of the Fair Credit […]

New 9th Circuit opinion on Fair Credit Reporting Act

On Friday, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, deciding an issue of first impression in the federal courts of appeals, held that a prospective employer violates the Fair Credit Reporting Act by providing a job applicant with a disclosure that “a consumer report may be obtained for employment purposes” that simultaneously serves as a liability […]

“Student debt now affects a staggering number of elderly Americans”

The Washington Post reports: The number of older Americans taking on student debt on behalf of their children and grandchildren has quadrupled in the past decade, with consumers over 60 now holding $66.7 billion in student loan debt, according to a new report by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. The skyrocketing cost of college has placed a […]

USDA set to release new “organic” standard

The Hill reports that the White House Office of Management and Budget completed its review of the organic livestock and poultry practices Wednesday, giving the Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Marketing Service the green light to release the final rules on treatment of animals whose meat will be sold as “certified organic.” Under the rules, proposed […]

Citigroup to return $22.5M to overcharged customers to end NY Attorney General’s investigation

Patch.com reports: [New York] Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman announced Thursday the resolution of a four-year investigation of a Citigroup subsidiary that had overcharged over 47,000 of its customers more than $22.5 million in fees. After the Attorney General’s Office launched its investigation, Citigroup Global Markets, Inc revised its policies and procedures to address the […]

FCC warns of debt-collection and other financial-service scam calls

"The Federal Communications Commission is alerting consumers to be aware of callers falsely offering lower credit card payments or interest rates, credit card debt relief, and improved credit scores. These scams can be more common during and after the holiday season when many consumers carry more debt than at other times of year. The FCC […]

FCC warns of risks to consumers of “zero-rating” cellphone programs

The Washington Post reports: If you've used or heard of programs such as T-Mobile's Binge On or Music Freedom, then you're familiar with an increasingly common business tactic known as zero rating: the decision by a cellphone carrier to let you stretch your data plan by exempting some services, such as Spotify or Netflix, from your […]

FTC: Mortgage Relief Defendant Banned from Debt Relief Business

The Federal Trade Commission announced today: Damian Kutzner, one of the operators of a mortgage relief scheme that bilked millions of dollars from financially distressed homeowners, has agreed to a court order banning him from the debt relief business. The stipulated order resolves the [FTC's] complaint and the contempt charges against Kutzner. It also bans […]

CFPB acts against two law firms for misrepresenting attorney involvement to collect on debts

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau this week took action against two medical debt collection law firms and their president for falsely representing that letters and calls were from attorneys attempting to collect on a debt when no attorney had yet reviewed the account. The law firms also did not ensure the accuracy of the consumer […]

“Dear Mr. Trump: Please Don’t Destroy the CFPB”

We have seen a lot of articles and columns lately about the future of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and its director Richard Cordray. Jeff posted one such piece below. The American Banker yesterday posted this defense of the CFPB  by Jeannette Quick, who has served as senior counsel to the Senate Banking Committee and […]