Author Archives: Jeff Sovern

Danielle Beavers on Charges of Discrimination at CFPB: Consumer financial protection is under attack by phony claims

Here, in The Hill. Beavers is director of diversity and inclusion at The Greenlining Institute.  Excerpt: Some critics—not previously known as leaders on diversity or civil rights—claim that the CFPB has become “a breeding ground” for discrimination that devalues employees of color and women. As an advocate for diversity—and specifically as an advocate for communities of color—I have […]

NY Times: How to Buy a Used Car in an Age of Widespread Recalls

Here. Excerpt: [L]ast month the Federal Trade Commission made it easier for cars to be billed as “certified,” even if they were under recall and hadn’t been fixed yet. * * * Buyers who wonder how safe it is to drive with a recalled Takata airbag and check the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration website […]

Dean Baker: The Economic Efficiency Argument for the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau

Here.  Excerpt: The basic story is that if it's possible to make lots of money by using deceptive contracts to ripoff consumers, then many very talented and hard-working people will spend their time developing schemes to ripoff consumers. Instead of doing things that contribute to consumers' well-being (e.g. developing better products), these people will be […]

Dee Pridgen, Christopher L. Willis, & I to Speak at Ballard Spahr Webinar on the Trump Administration and Consumer Protection

by Jeff Sovern It's scheduled for February 8, 2017, from 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm ET. More information here. Alan Kaplinsky will moderate. Some of the questions we hope to address:    *   What might prevent Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) Director Richard Cordray from serving out his full term which expires in July 2018 […]

The Atlantic on How the GOP Plans to Block Regulations, Including Consumer Protection Regs

by Jeff Sovern The article is called The Quiet GOP Campaign Against Government Regulation.  The whole piece is worth reading, but here's an excerpt: The shorter and easier-to-read of the two bills is called the “Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny Act of 2017,” or REINS Act, which passed the House in early […]

Politico: ” Rumors continue to burn through the financial lobbyist community that the new Trump administration is ready to fire CFPB Director Richard Cordray”

by Jeff Sovern Here, in Morning Money.  Excerpt: THE POLITICS of firing Cordray would be tough for Trump. He could argue that the CFPB is an unaccountable agency lead by a too-powerful single director. Banking groups, especially those representing smaller and midsize institutions, would be would be thrilled. But the CFPB polls pretty highly and […]

David Dayen: Mnuchin Lied About His Bank’s History of Robo-Signing Foreclosure Documents

Here, in The Intercept.  Excerpt: “Did OneWest ‘robo-sign’ documents relating to foreclosures and evictions?” Sen. Bob Casey, D-Penn., asked [Treasury Secretary Nominee Steven] Mnuchin as a “question for the record”. Mnuchin replied that “OneWest Bank did not ‘robo-sign’ documents * * * [Dayan reports on] a 2011 consent order issued by the federal Office of […]

The Hill: Cordray: No change for consumer bureau under Trump

Here. Excerpt: Cordray, who has helmed the CFPB as its first and only director, said Tuesday that he has no intention of stepping down early, despite pressure from Republicans eager to overhaul the 5-year-old agency. “It really shouldn’t change the job at all,” said Cordray of Trump assuming power. “We have an independent mandate to […]

NJ Assembly Passes Bill to Bar Out-of State Consumer Arbitration

Here is a report from the N.J.L.J. Excerpt: The New Jersey Assembly has passed legislation that prohibits companies from inserting language in consumer contracts that requires arbitration of disputes in forums outside of the state. The Assembly, on Monday, approved the bill, A1515, in a 49-20 vote. The vote was split along party lines, with […]