"The Power of Expertise: Oversight Perfected"
"The Power of Expertise: Oversight Perfected"
For years, when assessing third-party collection vendor performance, I have tried to come up with a better word than “audit”. Much of the time, the audit word conjures up a negative impression, and I think of the audit as a tool for communication and effectiveness between the vendor, in this case, the collection agency, and the client. By verifying that performance aligns with contract expectations, and work effort meets expectations, […]
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has released detailed compliance guides for its new rule that establishes a registry of nonbank entities subject to enforcement actions. This significant regulation, which takes effect on September 16, 2024, mandates that nonbank entities, including debt collectors, register with the CFPB if they have been subject to enforcement actions by local, state, or federal courts or agencies. However, while the rule itself goes into […]
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is taking significant steps to promote transparency and fairness in the financial market, particularly in the growing Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) sector. By clarifying how existing laws apply to new financial products, the CFPB aims to foster innovation while ensuring that consumer rights are protected. Issuance of Interpretive Rule In May, the CFPB issued an interpretive rule to clarify how federal laws like […]
Recently, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) proposed a new rule to limit the inclusion of medical debt in consumer credit reports. This move has sparked serious concerns among financial experts and members of Congress, particularly the House Financial Services Committee, which expressed their opposition in a formal letter. They argue that the rule could disrupt the credit system, making it harder for consumers, especially low-income borrowers, to access affordable […]
The New York City Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) has introduced significant amendments to its debt collection rules, following updates from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). These changes, effective December 1, 2024, are designed to enhance the protection of consumers, particularly in terms of record retention, reporting requirements, and transparency in debt collection practices. Overview of the New Rules The updated regulations aim to address several key […]
The 2024 Cost of a Data Breach Report, an annual study conducted by the Ponemon Institute and sponsored by IBM, reveals a significant rise in the global average cost of data breaches. The report shows that the average cost of a data breach reached $4.88 million in 2024, marking a 10% increase from the previous year. This is the largest annual jump since the pandemic, reflecting the growing disruption that […]
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) recently issued a circular to law enforcement agencies and regulators, highlighting how broad nondisclosure agreements (NDAs) could violate whistleblower protections under Section 1057 of the Consumer Financial Protection Act (CFPA). These agreements, if not carefully worded, may deter employees from reporting misconduct or cooperating with investigations, thus undermining the CFPB’s enforcement efforts. Question: Can requiring employees to sign broad confidentiality agreements violate Section 1057 […]
In a move to support New Jersey families, Governor Phil Murphy signed the Louisa Carman Medical Debt Relief Act into law. This new legislation aims to help families avoid falling into medical debt and protect them from aggressive debt collectors. The act is named in honor of Louisa Carman, a dedicated member of the Governor’s Office who played a crucial role in crafting the proposal before her tragic death in […]
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is on the verge of finalizing a proposed rule introduced in March, which will establish a public registry for nonbank entities with arbitration agreements in their contracts. According to a recent CFPB news release, this rule aims to create transparency by making the terms and conditions of these contracts publicly accessible. What the Proposed Rule Entails The proposed rule will require supervised nonbanks to […]
On July 20, the Conference of State Bank Supervisors (CSBS) rolled out the first phase of significant updates to the Nationwide Multistate Licensing System & Registry (NMLS). These updates aim to address common issues faced by professionals in the mortgage, consumer finance, debt, and money services industries who rely on NMLS for state licensing and federal registration management. Key Benefits of the NMLS Updates The enhancements will benefit over 600,000 […]