by Jeff Sovern Last week, I posted the abstract for our article, Are Validation Notices Valid? An Empirical Evaluation of Consumer Understanding of Debt Collection Validation Notices. In this post, I wanted to write about something that didn’t appear in the abstract: the extent to which respondents thought a collection letter said the collector would […]
by Jeff Sovern I have now finished the audio version of David Dayen's book, Chain of Title. With two caveats, I think it's an excellent book. The caveats: first, I don't know enough about the events it describes to know how accurate it is, and second, I lose some comprehension with audiobooks, as opposed to […]
Here. The Bureau is likely to announce the Small Business Regulatory Fairness Enforcement Act (SBREFA) proceeding that day, which will entail giving some information about what its proposed debt collection rules are likely to look like.
The story is headlined Pence VP Pick Could Shape Trump's Banking Policy (free content). Here is what the article says about Pence's view of the CFPB: When the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau was just a legislative proposal, Pence objected to giving a new agency so much power; he would likely support efforts to reform the structure […]
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau announced yesterday that it has ordered Santander Bank, N.A. to pay a $10 million fine for illegal overdraft service practices. Santander’s telemarketing vendor deceptively marketed the overdraft service and signed certain bank customers up for the service without their consent. In addition to paying the civil money penalty to the […]
The Hill reports on the new federal GMO-labeling bill, which has drawn praise and criticism. A bill to create a federal labeling standard for foods with genetically modified ingredients and block states from issuing their own laws sailed through the House on Thursday. The bill, which passed by a 306 to 117 vote, directs the […]
The Washington Post reports: After months of debate over the Federal Aviation Administration reauthorization bill, and at an apparent impasse over privatizing air traffic control, Congress has settled on a compromise — with some unexpected benefits for the average air traveler. The House and Senate have agreed on an extension that would fund the agency […]
Of the dozens of vehicles — small S.U.V.s and midsize cars — whose headlights the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has tested this year, only one has been rated “good.” That was a 2016 Toyota Prius V. The best any others could muster was merely “acceptable,’’ and many fared much worse. There’s at least one […]
by Paul Alan Levy There is somebody on the other side of the Pacific Ocean who has a strongly negative perspective on Nicholas Assef, the head honcho at an Australian financial services firm called Lincoln Crowne – or at least, somebody held such views nine years ago. We know at least that much because, in […]
Data compiled by the Auto Insurance Center shows that in states with tougher driving laws, fewer motorists die in auto accidents. Comparing speed limits, teen driving restrictions, and seat belt laws in the states, the Auto Insurance Center found a direct relationship between tougher laws and fewer deaths. To explore whether states with stricter laws […]