CFPB sues auto loan company for illegal debt collection tactics against servicemembers

Alleging that auto loan company Security National Automotive Acceptance Company misled servicemembers about the consequences of nonpayment, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau yesterday filed suit against the company in federal court in Ohio. The CFPB alleges that the company used a combination of illegal threats and deceptive claims to collect debts. The suit seeks compensation […]

FCC to fine AT&T Mobility $100M for misleading consumers about data plans

The Federal Communications Commission plans to fine AT&T Mobility $100,000,000 for misleading its customers about unlimited mobile data plans. The FCC’s investigation alleges that AT&T severely slowed down the data speeds for customers with unlimited data plans and that the company failed to adequately notify its customers that they could receive speeds slower than the […]

Approval for Obamacare backup plans in Delaware and Pennsylvania

States are preparing for the worst if the Supreme Court rules this month in King v. Burwell that some health care subsidiaries are unlawful under the Affordable Care Act. The Hill reports that two states' backup plans have been approved. The article notes, "Delaware and Pennsylvania are among the estimated 34 states that stand to lose healthcare […]

The CFPB and regulation of the “fringe” economy

Christopher Odinet has written Payday Lenders, Vehicle Title Loans, and Small-Value Financing: The CFPB's Proposal to Regulate the Fringe Economy. Here is the abstract: The market for payday lenders, businesses that provide vehicle title loans, and other small-value financing players is rife with controversy. Some see them as predatory lenders that weave a web of […]

FDA to use patient-generated reports to evaluate drug safety

The Washington Post reports today: [I]n an effort to get a fuller understanding of side effects of certain medicines, the FDA is partnering with a networking forum called PatientsLikeMe, which allows people with the same disease or condition to connect with others and share their experiences. The site, among the largest of its kind, has more than 350,000 […]

NYT editorial on abusive car loans

A New York Times editorial yesterday encouraged that the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau use its enforcement powers to put an end to abusive car loans. The editorial begins: Auto loans have long been a bastion of predatory lending and racial discrimination. Until the federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau was established, auto lending by banks was […]