Agencies Announce Dollar Thresholds for Smaller Loan Exemption from Appraisal Requirements for Higher-Priced Mortgage Loans
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, the Federal Reserve Board, and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency today announced that the 2025 threshold for higher-priced mortgage loans that are subject to special appraisal requirements will increase from $32,400 to $33,500. The threshold amount will be effective January 1, 2025, and is based on the…
CFPB: Agency Takes Aim at Double Billing and Inflated Charges in Medical Debt Collection
Debt collectors may not collect on inaccurate, unsubstantiated, or invalid medical bills Today, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) issued guidance to prevent families from being targeted by illegal medical debt collection tactics. The advisory opinion clarifies that debt collectors, which may include third-party “revenue cycle management” companies, are violating federal law when they collect on inaccurate…
CFPB: Report Highlights Challenges Facing Servicemembers and Veterans with Student Loans
Annual report also identifies an increase in complaints about all financial products, including from older veterans targeted by scams and fraud Today, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) released its annual report on the top financial concerns facing servicemembers, veterans, and military families. The report finds that active duty and veteran students are encountering many financial challenges,…
CFPB: Amendment Proposed to Remittance Transfer Rule
Proposed changes will make it more efficient when consumers have questions Today, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) issued a proposed rule with a narrow amendment to disclosure requirements for certain international money transfers, or remittances. The proposed amendment would provide consumers clearer information about the types of inquiries that may be better handled by…
CFPB: Action Taken to Stop Banks from Harvesting Overdraft Fees without Consumers’ Consent
Banks have charged overdraft fees for ATM and one-time debit card transactions even though they did not have customers’ documented consent Today, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) published guidance to help federal and state consumer protection enforcers stop banks from charging overdraft fees based on phantom opt-in agreements. Phantom opt-ins occur when banks claim they have…
CFPB: Report Highlights Consumer Protection Issues in Medical and Rental Debt Collection
Debt collectors are pursuing consumers using illegal tactics for debts they do not owe The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) today issued its annual report on debt collection, which highlights aggressive and illegal practices in the collection of medical debt and rental debt. The report discusses how problems with real estate companies’ “revenue management software” can result…
CFPB: Report Finds Large Retail Chains Charging Cash-Back Fees to Customers Using Debit and Prepaid Cards
Closures of banks have created conditions for major dollar store chains to charge for cash back Today, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) published a new report finding Americans are paying tens of millions of dollars in fees to access their own money when getting “cash back” at large retail stores when making a purchase…
Joint Rulemaking Issued on Financial Data Transparency Act Data Standards
Today, the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) joined eight other agencies to announce that it is seeking comment on a proposed rule to establish data standards for certain information collected by financial regulatory agencies. FHFA joins the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, the Federal Reserve System, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the National…
CFPB: Consumer Advisory Issued to Help People Facing Housing Problems Because of a Contract for Deed
Like all home purchases, a contract for deed involves a contract between a buyer and a seller. Even if the contract goes by a different name, like “bond for deed,” “land installment contract,” or “buying on contract,” the idea is the same: a purchase made on an installment plan rather than through a traditional mortgage…
CFPB: Nationwide Consumer Advisory Issued on Predatory Solar Lending
CFPB Report Finds Lenders Cramming Markup Fees and Confusing Terms into Solar Energy Loans The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) today issued an issue spotlight finding that some residential solar lenders are misleading homeowners about the terms and costs of their loans, misrepresenting the energy savings they will deliver, and cramming markup fees into borrowers’ loan balances….