The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s (CFPB) new Prepaid Rule went into effect on April 1, 2019. At a high level, the Prepaid Rule amends portions of the Truth in Lending Act and the Electronic Funds Transfer Act by extending a number of credit card-like protections to “prepaid accounts”: pre-acquisition and initial disclosures, change in terms
CFPB’s Upcoming Debt Collection Proposed Rule: What to Expect on Timing
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) previously indicated in its Fall 2018 Rulemaking Agenda that it intends to issue a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) in the Spring of 2019 regarding debt-collection practices and the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA). The regulatory agenda also suggests that the proposed rule may be released as soon
5 Tips to Consider When Performing Your Social Media Risk Assessment – Attend Our Upcoming Webinar to Learn More
According to the Pew Research Center’s Social Media Use in 2018, 73 percent of adults in the United States use at least one type of social media, and the typical American uses three. For 18 to 29 year olds, 80 percent use some form of social media. Given its prevalence, social media affords financial
Cryptocurrencies: Currency, Commodity, Security or Something Else?
Courts and regulators continue to struggle with how to define cryptocurrencies. The latest installment of this ongoing debate came from an unlikely source: a state appellate court’s opinion on a criminal matter. Specifically, on January 30, 2019, the Third District Court of Appeal for the State of Florida entered an order reversing a trial court’s
CFPB and New York Enter Into Consent Order over Credit Card Practices
On January 16, 2019, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (“CFPB”) and the Attorney General for the State of New York announced a consent order with Sterling Jewelers, Inc. (“Sterling”) related to Sterling’s credit card practices.
The consent order alleges that Sterling employees indicated they were either checking to see how much credit the consumer would
First Party Creditors Should Carefully Consider the Upcoming Debt Collection Rules
On October 17, 2018, the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection (BCFP), formerly known as the CFPB, announced that it plans to issue a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) for the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) by March 2019. The NPRM will likely have a dramatic impact on collection practices for debt collectors. But,
BCFP 50-State Complaint Snapshot Contains Lesson for Debt Collection Industry
Earlier this week, the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection (BCFP) released a 50-State Complaint Snapshot. Credit reporting, debt collection, and mortgage continued to be the top three categories of complaints both nationwide and in most states. The percentage of consumer reporting complaints did increase by 11 percent from 2016 to 2017 and surpassed debt
BCFP Enters into Consent Order with Small Dollar Lender
On October 24, 2018, the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection (BCFP), formerly known as the CFPB, entered into a Consent Order with Cash Express, LLC. Cash Express is a small dollar lender based in Cookeville, Tennessee, that operates 328 retail lending outlets in Alabama, Kentucky, Mississippi, and Tennessee, and offers short-term loans and check cashing
BCFP Revitalizes Efforts to Enact FDCPA Regulation
On October 17, 2018, the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection (BCFP), formerly known as the CFPB, announced that it plans to issue a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) for the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) by March 2019. The NPRM will address “how to apply the 40-year old [FDCPA] to modern collection processes,” including
BCFP Enters Consent Order with Small Dollar Lender
Triton Management Group, Inc. (Triton) and several related companies entered into a consent order with the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection (Bureau) in which Triton agreed to a $1 civil money penalty, $500,000 in consumer redress, and injunctive relief. Triton is a financial services company that originates, purchases, services, and collects on short-term secured and