The CFPB’s Office of Servicemember Affairs has released its annual report on complaints submitted to the Bureau by servicemembers. The report covers the period April 1, 2017 through August 31, 2018.  During that period, the Bureau received approximately 48,800 complaints from servicemembers, with credit reporting, debt collection, and mortgages, respectively, the first, second, and third most-complained-about financial products or services.  The majority of credit reporting complaints involved perceived inaccuracies on servicemembers’ credit reports.  The most…

The Federal Reserve Board announced last week that it was launching a new article series, Consumer & Community Context, that features original analysis about the financial conditions and experiences of consumers and communities, including traditionally underserved and economically vulnerable households and neighborhoods. According to the Fed, the series is intended “to increase public understanding of the financial conditions and concerns of consumers and communities” and will be published periodically.  Through the series, the Fed seeks…

The CFPB announced yesterday that it has transmitted a proposal to Congress that would give it clear authority to conduct supervisory examinations for compliance with the Military Lending Act (MLA). Last summer, former CFPB Acting Director Mulvaney reportedly announced that he planned to end routine examinations for MLA compliance because the Dodd-Frank Act did not give the CFPB the authority to conduct such examinations.  For the reasons we detailed, we agreed with Acting Director…

The CFPB has released its seventh annual report to Congress on college credit card agreements.  The annual report is mandated by the CARD Act. The CARD Act requires mandatory reporting to the CFPB by card issuers on agreements with institutions of higher learning or certain affiliated organizations (such as alumni associations).  The information in the report is current as of the end of 2017. In its report on 2016 data, the Bureau abandoned its prior…

As we reported, the Department of Education announced earlier this month that it would begin implementing its “borrower defense” final rule which was issued in November 2016 by providing discharges of federal student loans made to any borrowers who, in addition to other conditions, could not complete his or her program of study because the borrower’s school closed.  The final rule was the subject of litigation that resulted in an October 2018 ruling requiring…

In a December 13 posting, the Department of Education announced that on December 14, it would begin sending emails to borrowers “to inform them that the company that handles billing and other services related to their federal student loans will discharge some or all of the borrower’s loans within the next 30-90 days.” The discharges are required by Department’s “borrower defense” final rule which was issued in November 2016 and the subject of litigation…

At the end of last week, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced that they have entered into a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) “to provide mutual assistance in the oversight and enforcement of laws pertaining to the advertising, sales, and enrollment practices of institutions of higher learning and other establishments that offer training for military education benefits recipients.” Pursuant to 38 U.S.C. section 3696, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs…