Author Archives: Jeff Sovern

Fed Study of Fintech Lending and Consumers

Julapa Jagtiani and Catharine Lemieux of the Fed have written Fintech Lending: Financial Inclusion, Risk Pricing, and Alternative Information. Here's the abstract: Fintech has been playing an increasing role in shaping financial and banking landscapes. Banks have been concerned about the uneven playing field because fintech lenders are not subject to the same rigorous oversight. There have also […]

Report: Debt collectors flex muscle in people’s court, system not much help to people who owe

by Jeff Sovern Here, in The News-Press. Debt buyers use small claims courts to get judgments to enforce debts even though it is not clear how often those debt buyers can prove the facts pertaining to the debt. Excerpt: Of more than 1,800 small claims cases filed in Lee County over the first five months […]

Another Conservative Strongly Supports CFPB Arb Rule

Chuck Muth has written If Congress Won’t Protect Us from Wells Fargo, then at Least Get Out of the Way. Here's an excerpt: Now, as a conservative I fully support the right of private individuals to freely and voluntarily contract with each other * * * But to require someone to sign away a CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT […]

WSJ: GOP Effort to Overturn Arbitration Rule at Risk From Republican Defectors

Here.  Excerpt: [S]upport [to overturn the rule] in the Senate is uncertain. No Democrats are likely to back the effort, and Republicans, with their slim majority, can’t afford to lose more than two GOP votes. Several Republican senators have expressed reservations about voting to overturn the regulation, worried they may be portrayed as siding with […]

Jean Sternlight Article: Consumer Arbitration as a Poster Child for Regulation

Jean R. Sternlight of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas has written Hurrah for the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau: Consumer Arbitration As a Poster Child for Regulation, 48 St. Mary's Law Journal 343 (2016).  Here is the abstract: Drawing on economic, psychological and philosophical considerations, this Essay considers whether consumers should be "free" to "agree" […]

Some Think Draining the Swamp Means Reducing Consumer Protection

by Jeff Sovern According to Politico, President Trump first used the phrase "drain the swamp" in a speech on October 17, 2016, in which he announced an ethics plan to, in fact, drain the swamp. Here's the Washington Post's quote of what he said draining the swamp meant: First: I am going to re-institute a […]

The Hill: 3 big lies bank lobbyists peddle to protect corporate scoundrels

Here.  Excerpt: Big Lie No. 1: Bank lobbyists claim that people recover more in arbitration than in class actions: $32 per person in class actions versus $5,400 per person in arbitration, citing the CFPB’s study.  * * * The very few people who take the time and expense to pursue an individual arbitration — only […]

Morning Consult: Prospects Dim for Senate Vote on CFPB Arbitration Rule This Month

Here. Excerpt: A Senate GOP aide said that supporters of the resolution do not have the votes needed to proceed on the floor, given the absence of Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), who has returned to Arizona to receive medical treatment for brain cancer. A July 28 statement from McCain’s office said he does not plan […]

Poll: Consumers Overwhelmingly Think Their Bank, Credit Card Issuers Treat Them Better Than 10 Years Ago. What’s Changed? Hint: CFPB

by Jeff Sovern Results from WalletHub. Some other findings: More than half think banks and credit bureaus need more regulation while 71% think consumers need more financial protection 92% know CFPB stands for Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and 49% would turn to the CFPB if they had a serious complaint about a bank, compared to 9% […]