Category Archives: Consumer Financial Protection Bureau

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 […]

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 […]

Are banks right that if banks charge less for late fees, consumers will pay more overall?

As Richard and Allison posted, the CFPB has proposed a new rule limiting the credit card late fee safe harbor to $8. And as is perfectly predictable, banks are angry about facing a restriction on late fee revenue. I want to comment on their arguments against the proposed rule. First some background: the Credit CARD […]

DC Circuit finds CFPB Prepaid Rule did not violate ban on model clauses

In 2016, the CFPB issued a rule requiring certain disclosures for digital wallets and other prepaid accounts. Paypal challenged the rule as contrary to statute, unconstitutional, and arbitrary and capricious. The district court agreed with Paypal that the disclosure rules violated the EFTA ban on mandatory model clauses, and thus did not reach the other […]

American Banker reports CFPB will cut credit card late fees to $8

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau plans to cut credit card late fees to $8, wiping out up to $9 billion a year in fees that have become highly profitable for banks and credit card companies. CFPB Director Rohit Chopra plans to propose a rule on Wednesday that would slash late fees from the current $30 […]

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 […]

White House’s Recent Announcements on Renters’ Rights

Following a year of dramatic rent increases, growing scrutiny of tenant screening practices, and a general rise in housing insecurity, the White House recently issued a new Blueprint for a Renters Bill of Rights and announced new actions to bring more fairness to the rental housing market. In its declaration to promote tenants’ rights, the […]

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 […]

CFPB, FTC Tackle “Dark Patterns,” Recurring Subscription Charges

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and the Federal Trade Commission are teaming up to fight “dark patterns” and “negative option” subscription charges. The regulators are concerned about deceptive practices that mislead people into subscriptions or other recurring payments for products and services they do not want.  In a “circular” released this week, the CFPB described […]