State laws are becoming more restrictive, adding an extra layer of protection for consumers

Several Credit Cards

Criminal background checks are commonplace Applications for certain employment positions. But what about credit checks? Is a job applicant’s credit history relevant for employment? May an employer lawfully check a job applicant’s credit?   State and local laws are becoming more restrictive, adding an extra layer of protection for consumers over and above the federal […]

Trump and Cordray: Five Scenarios for the CFPB

cfpb logo

Here are five potential scenarios on what might happen to CFPB director Richard Cordray once the new president arrives. One: Bigger Fish Prevail Competing priorities may push back any big decisions about the CFPB or its director, even if the new administration ultimately plans an all-out assault on the agency, several sources predict. Two: Congress […]

Federal Court Certifies FCRA Class in Dispute Over Content of Disclosures

Gavel and Scale

In Graham v. Pyramid Healthcare Solutions, Inc., 2017 WL 2799928 (M.D. Fl. June 28, 2017), the plaintiff alleged that the employer utilized an FCRA disclosure that contained extraneous information in violation of the law’s standalone disclosure requirement. The employer’s disclosure improperly included: (i) the logo of the consumer reporting agency; (ii) blank lines for “Organization […]

Wells Fargo customers who had fake accounts created in their names are a step closer to some payback.

Wells Fargo Business Building

A federal judge granted preliminary approval over the weekend for Wells Fargo’s $142 million national class action settlement. The court ruled that the settlement, which covers fake accounts back to 2002, “fair, reasonable and adequate.”  Victims may still have to wait before they get paid. The bank and lawyers for the plaintiffs plan to reach out to […]

Notice of Sabre Data Security Incident Impacting Guest Payment Card Information

Four Season Logo

Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts was recently informed of a data security incident at Sabre, a third-party hotel reservations provider to thousands of hotel properties, including those managed by Four Seasons. The incident involved unauthorized access to certain guest information associated with a subset of hotel reservations processed through Sabre’s SynXis Central Reservations System (CRS) […]

It just got easier for you to sue your bank and credit card company.

Consumer Protection Law Book

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau issued a new rule Monday that prevents companies from using arbitration clauses to stop consumers from bringing class action lawsuits.  The clauses force people to “go it alone or give up,” said CFPB Director Richard Cordray. “Our new rule will stop companies from sidestepping the courts and ensure that people who […]

TransUnion to pay $60 million to consumers flagged as criminals

Gavel and Money

TransUnion will pay $60 million to consumers it mistakenly labeled as possible terrorists or drug dealers, under an order issued Tuesday by a federal jury.  The decision stems from a 2012 class-action lawsuit that alleged the credit bureau failed to notify consumers who were reported to lenders as being included on a “blocked persons” list […]

Debt Collection Was the Most Complained About Financial Service Among Older Consumers for March

Calculator and Bill

For March 2017, debt collection was the most-complained-about financial product or service by consumers identifying as over the age of 62. Of the 2,169 older consumer complaints handled in March, there were 496 complaints about debt collection. The second most-complained-about consumer product was mortgages, which accounted for 486 complaints. Credit reporting was the third most-complained-about […]