CFPB: FTC, CFPB and States Announce Settlement with Equifax Over 2017 Data Breach
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (Bureau), the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), and 48 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico announced a global settlement today with Equifax that would provide up to $700 million in monetary relief and penalties. In a complaint and proposed stipulated judgment filed in federal district court in the Northern…
CFPB: A No-Cost Way to Prepare Your Credit for a Big Purchase
Thinking about buying a house, car, or other big ticket item, and know you’ll be using credit? Before making a big purchase, your first step should be to take a look at all of your finances. Check out these five steps to prepare your finances that won’t cost you a penny. 1. Take advantage of…
CFPB: Get Your Credit on Track with New CFPB Booklet
Today the Bureau is releasing “Want credit to work for you?” the newest addition to the Your Money, Your Goals suite of financial empowerment tools. The third in a series released by the Bureau, this booklet provides eight tools to help consumers through the various stages of building credit, maintaining good credit, and fixing credit if it…
CFPB: Report Released on 2018 Administration of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (Bureau) released the annual report to Congress on the administration of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA). The report highlights the continued efforts by the Bureau and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to stop unlawful debt collection practices, including vigorous law enforcement, education and public outreach, and policy initiatives….
CFPB: New Credit Monitoring, Medical Debit Restrictions and Mortgage Protections for Servicemembers and Veterans
Free credit monitoring, medical debt credit reporting restrictions, and mortgage protections for those recently back from active duty In May 2018, new protections for servicemembers and veterans were signed into law . The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Bureau previously highlighted the new federal law that went into effect on September 21, 2018 requiring…
CFPB: Latest List of Consumer Reporting Companies Published
You may know that your credit record affects your ability to get an affordable loan, a job, an apartment, or many other essentials of daily life. But, do you know where and how to actually request your credit report and what you can do once you order your consumer reports? Over the past few years,…
CFPB: Natural Disaster Assistance Is Reported on a Minority of Credit Records Among Potentially Affected Consumers
Today the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection (Bureau) released the latest quarterly consumer credit trends report, this time focusing on the reporting of natural disasters in credit reports. This report explores how financial institutions furnish natural disaster assistance to credit reporting agencies, and summarizes trends in natural disaster reporting for consumers in the Greater Houston area…
CFPB: Free Credit Freezes Now Available
Free credit freezes and year-long fraud alerts are here, starting Sept. 21, 2018, thanks to a new federal law. Here’s what you should know. Free credit freezes Security freezes, also known as credit freezes, restrict access to your credit file, making it harder for identity thieves to open new accounts in your name. Starting Sept….
CFPB: New Research Report on the Geography of Credit Invisibility
Creditworthy consumers can face difficulties accessing credit if they lack a credit record that is treated as “scorable” by widely used credit scoring models. These consumers include those who are “credit invisible,” meaning that they do not have a credit record maintained by one of the nationwide consumer reporting agencies (NCRAs). They also include those…
CFPB: Building a Bridge to Credit Symposium Scheduled for September 17th
Mark your calendar to join the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection for a day-long symposium, Building a Bridge to Credit Visibility. This event will explore challenges many consumers face in accessing credit. Sessions also will highlight strategies and innovations to overcome barriers and expand consumer credit access. This event is open to the public, however space…