Saying it wants to protect consumers from unfair, deceptive or anticompetitive practices, the Transportation Department on Sept. 5 launched an investigation into the rewards programs operated by the nation’s four largest...more
On August 7, 2024, the CFPB published an Issue Spotlight on the solar lending industry. In conjunction with the CFPB’s Issue Spotlight, the CFPB, U.S. Department of Treasury, and the Federal Trade Commission also issued a...more
The Federal Trade Commission on August 14 announced a final trade regulation rule intended to fight fake reviews and testimonials by prohibiting their purchase or sale and by allowing the agency to seek civil penalties...more
8/21/2024
/ Celebrity Endorsements ,
Consumer Financial Products ,
Fake Reviews ,
Federal Trade Commission (FTC) ,
Final Rules ,
Financial Services Industry ,
Marketing ,
Online Reviews ,
Proposed Rules ,
Regulatory Reform ,
Social Media ,
Testimonial Statements ,
Unfair or Deceptive Trade Practices
CarShield, a company that sells vehicle service contracts (VSCs), will pay $10 million to settle FTC allegations that its advertisements and telemarketing pitches deceived consumers, the agency announced on July 31....more
8/13/2024
/ Administrative Procedure Act ,
Advertising ,
Automotive Industry ,
CARS Rule ,
False Advertising ,
Federal Trade Commission (FTC) ,
FTC Act ,
Marketing ,
Motor Vehicles ,
Section 5 ,
Service Contracts ,
Telemarketing ,
Unfair or Deceptive Trade Practices
Rewards programs drive consumer choice and activity in connection with credit cards and other financial services. The CFPB has reported the most important element by far that influences a consumer’s decision to apply for a...more
A Florida law that prohibits federal and state depository institutions conducting business in the state from denying services based on religion or political beliefs and activities went into effect on July 1....more
7/18/2024
/ Banks ,
Consumer Financial Products ,
Discriminatory Lending Practices ,
Financial Institutions ,
Financial Regulatory Agencies ,
Financial Regulatory Reform ,
Financial Services Industry ,
Florida ,
New Legislation ,
Religious Beliefs ,
Religious Discrimination ,
Unfair or Deceptive Trade Practices
Vroom, the former used car sales website which halted vehicle sales in January 2024, has agreed to a proposed settlement with the FTC over allegations the company misrepresented that it had examined all vehicles before...more
7/17/2024
/ Automotive Industry ,
Car Dealerships ,
CARS Rule ,
Enforcement Actions ,
Federal Trade Commission (FTC) ,
Financial Services Industry ,
FTC Act ,
Motor Vehicles ,
Settlement ,
Statutory Violations ,
Unfair or Deceptive Trade Practices
On May 20, 2004, the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) sent its annual report to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (“CFPB”) highlighting its enforcement actions and initiatives in 2023 under the Truth in Lending Act...more
5/30/2024
/ Annual Reports ,
CARS Rule ,
Consumer Financial Products ,
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) ,
Consumer Leasing Act (CLA) ,
Consumer Lenders ,
Dodd-Frank ,
Electronic Fund Transfer Act ,
Federal Trade Commission (FTC) ,
Financial Institutions ,
Financial Regulatory Reform ,
Financial Services Industry ,
FTC Act ,
Late Fees ,
Proposed Amendments ,
Proposed Rules ,
Regulation Z ,
Truth in Lending Act (TILA) ,
Unfair or Deceptive Trade Practices
On May 17, 2024, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (“CFPB”) filed suit against an online lending platform, alleging, among other things, the use of dark patterns to induce consumers to pay tips and donations,...more
5/30/2024
/ Borrowers ,
Consumer Financial Products ,
Consumer Financial Protection Act (CFPA) ,
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) ,
Credit Reporting Agencies ,
Credit Reports ,
Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) ,
Financial Services Industry ,
FinTech ,
Internet Lenders ,
Lenders ,
Peer-to-Peer ,
Unfair or Deceptive Trade Practices ,
Usury
On April 17th, the CFPB issued a consent order to a for-profit training school alleging numerous violations of law related to its use if income share agreements (“ISAs”). According to the Bureau, BloomTech, Inc. (“BloomTech”)...more
4/29/2024
/ Consent Order ,
Consumer Financial Products ,
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) ,
Department of Financial Protection and Innovation (DFPI) ,
Educational Institutions ,
Enforcement Actions ,
Federal Trade Commission (FTC) ,
Financial Services Industry ,
Holder Rule ,
Income Share Agreements ,
Regulation Z ,
Regulatory Violations ,
Truth in Lending Act (TILA) ,
UDAAP ,
Unfair or Deceptive Trade Practices
On January 22, 2024, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) entered into a Stipulated Order for Permanent Injunction, Monetary Judgment, and Other Relief (the “Order”) with FloatMe Corp. (“FloatMe”), a fintech that offers...more
2/9/2024
/ Automatic Renewals ,
Consumer Financial Products ,
ECOA ,
Fair Lending ,
Federal Trade Commission (FTC) ,
FinTech ,
FTC Act ,
Hidden Fees ,
Permanent Injunctions ,
Proposed Regulation ,
ROSCA ,
Stipulated Judgment ,
Unfair or Deceptive Trade Practices
The Federal Trade Commission recently announced that it has entered into a settlement with Bridge It, Inc. (“Brigit”), the operator of a personal finance mobile application, to resolve the FTC’s allegations that Brigit...more
11/10/2023
/ Consumer Financial Products ,
Consumer Financial Protection Act (CFPA) ,
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) ,
Consumer Reporting Agencies ,
Federal Trade Commission (FTC) ,
Financial Services Industry ,
FTC Act ,
Mobile Apps ,
ROSCA ,
Section 5 ,
Settlement ,
Unfair or Deceptive Trade Practices
The CFPB recently issued a policy statement in which it provided a framework for determining what constitutes abusive conduct under the CFPA. After reviewing the definition of abusive in the CFPA and the historical background...more
As part of the White House’s latest round of efforts targeting so-called “junk fees,” the Federal Trade Commission has issued a proposed rule, “Rule on Unfair or Deceptive Fees.” The proposal follows the FTC’s issuance in...more
10/12/2023
/ Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM) ,
Consumer Financial Products ,
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) ,
Federal Trade Commission (FTC) ,
Financial Services Industry ,
FTC Act ,
Goods or Services ,
Hidden Fees ,
Proposed Rules ,
Regulatory Agenda ,
Section 5 ,
Unfair or Deceptive Trade Practices
The CFPB has issued a new circular (2023-01) that addresses the circumstances under which “negative option marketing practices” can violate the CFPA prohibition of unfair, deceptive, or abusive acts or practices....more
In a new blog post, “Buy now, pay later – and comply with the FTC Act immediately,” the FTC reminds nonbank participants in the buy-now-pay-later (BNPL) market, such as retailers, BNPL providers, marketers, and debt...more
California Governor Newsom submitted his updated 2020-2021 budget proposal to the state legislature on May 14, 2020. The proposed budget amendments include substantial cuts to compensate for the anticipated impact to state...more