Category Archives: Credit Cards

Report describes problems with credit-card rewards programs

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau analyzed several hundred consumer complaints relating to the administration of credit card rewards programs and identified four recurring themes that resulted in consumers not receiving the rewards they were promised: (1) unexpected promotional conditions, (2) devaluation, (3) redemption problems, and (4) revocation. The report is here.

Federal district court in Texas enters preliminary injunction against CFPB’s $8 credit card late fee safe harbor.

Bloomberg’s Evan Weinberger has the story, as well as a link to the opinion, here. (Behind a paywall.) Addendum from Allison: The order granting an injunction is here. CNBC’s story is here.

What is the definition of junk fees?

Junk fees are likely to feature in the election this year, so for that reason alone, it would be useful to know what they are. Sometimes they seem to be defined by examples; you can find such a list of examples (as well as a definition that strikes me as underinclusive) here. Because the very […]

Chris Peterson to GOP congressional critics of the CFPB late fee rule: “Don’t you guys have something better to work on?”

At the House Financial Services Committee April 16, 2024 hearing titled Agency Audit: Reviewing CFPB Financial Reporting & Transparency, Professor Christopher Peterson of Utah, in response to Ranking Member Maxine Waters’ question about why some members of Congress would oppose the CFPB late fee regulation: “I don’t know why you are going to bat for these […]

Does the industry now support paternalism?

Policy battles over consumer protection often hinge on what’s better for consumers. That’s because consumer advocates often call for reforms that will aid consumers while the industry, which presumably doesn’t want to oppose proposals based simply on the position that they will cut into industry profits, instead attacks the claim that the reforms will actually […]

CFPB Bans Excessive Credit Card Late Fees

Today, the CFPB released a final rule to ban excessive credit card late fees, closing what it refers to as a loophole in a 2010 Rule. The agency predicts typical fees will be reduced from $32 to $8.   Update: The Chamber of Commerce has already committed to filing a challenge to the Rule.

Report finds large banks charge higher credit-card interest rates than small banks

A Consumer Financial Protection Bureau report on the first set of results from its newly updated Terms of Credit Card Plans survey reveals that large banks are offering worse credit card terms and interest rates than small banks and credit unions, regardless of credit risk. In fact, the 25 largest credit card issuers charged customers […]

Two CFPB reports find more fee surprises

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau this week published two reports that show fees on financial products continue to shock consumers. Overdraft and non-sufficient funds fees still trouble vulnerable households. Excess charges from some college-marketed financial products still don’t appear to be in the best interest of students. In building on its continued research on overdraft […]

BofA accused of opening fake accounts and charging illegal junk fees

CNN reports: “Federal regulators said Tuesday they found that Bank of America harmed customers by double-dipping on fees, withholding credit card rewards and opening fake accounts, all of which are violations of various consumer financial protection laws. As a result, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau ordered Bank of America to pay more than $100 million […]