Author Archives: Allison Zieve

CFPB reports 1/3 decline in collections items on consumer credit reports

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has released a report examining trends in credit reporting of debt in collections from 2018 to 2022. The report finds that 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 […]

NCLC announces new litigation director

The National Consumer Law center has announced that Shennan Kavanagh, currently the Chief of the Consumer Protection Division of the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office, will be joining NCLC as its next Director of Litigation. Shennan will start next week and will work throughout 2023 alongside Stuart Rossman, NCLC’s longtime Director of Litigation, whom she will […]

CFPB addresses double dealing on digital mortgage comparison-shopping platforms

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has 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 […]

First FTC enforcement action under Health Breach Notification Rule

The Federal Trade Commission has taken its first enforcement action under its Health Breach Notification Rule, The action, filed against the telehealth and prescription drug discount provider GoodRx Holdings Inc., alleges that the company failed to notify consumers and others of its unauthorized disclosures of consumers’ personal health information to Facebook, Google, and other companies. […]

CFPB proposes to rein in credit card late fees

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau proposed today “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 […]

“Rent-a-Tribe” lender not immune from lawsuit over unlawful interest rates

The Fourth Circuit this week ruled in favor of Virginia residents in a RICO action challenging illegally high interest rates. The court explained: “The Lac Vieux Desert Band of Chippewa Indians purportedly created businesses under tribal law to make small-dollar, high-interest-rate loans to consumers via the internet. The Borrowers allege that the Tribe did so […]

CFPB seeks information on consumer credit card market

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau issued a request for information seeking public feedback on how the consumer credit market is functioning as part of a biennial review of the industry. The CFPB is seeking more and current information on various aspects of the consumer experience with credit cards. Congress enacted the Credit Card Accountability Responsibility […]

Justice Department sues Google over digital advertising

The Justice Department and eight states sued Google today, alleging that the company has a monopoly over the online advertising market that violates the antitrust laws. The lawsuit, filed in the Eastern District of Virginia, aims to have Google’s dominance in the online ad marketplace broken up by having a court compel the company to […]