Key Insights from the CFPB’s 2024 Consumer Response Annual Report: Millions of Complaints Tracked
Imagine Learning from the Driver’s License Office
Tough Decisions at the Watering Hole: Navigating Change with Your Collection Partners
Butt Seriously, Let’s Talk About Audits: How Collection Agencies and Repo Vendors Can Save Themselves with Better Testing
Financial Education Reimagined: Reaching Customers Who Don't Answer the Phone, Text, or Email?
The High Cost of Repossession: Why No One Wins
The Plastic Owl Chronicles: A Wildlife Series on Hiring in Debt Collections — Part Two
The Lesson of the Plastic Owl

CFPB Withdraws Proposed Rule on Data Broker Practices
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has officially withdrawn its proposed rule titled Protecting Americans from Harmful Data Broker Practices (Regulation V). Initially published in the Federal Register on December 13, 2024, this rule aimed to clarify and implement certain provisions of the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), including definitions of “consumer report” and “consumer reporting agency,” and the circumstances under which consumer reports can be shared or accessed. However,

CFPB Signals New Direction on Buy Now, Pay Later Oversight
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is shifting its focus when it comes to oversight and enforcement in the growing Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) market. In a recent announcement, the bureau stated that it will no longer prioritize enforcement actions based on its previous interpretation that classified BNPL lenders under credit card regulations. This change signals a potential rollback of a rule issued last year that required BNPL providers

Key Insights from the CFPB’s 2024 Consumer Response Annual Report: Millions of Complaints Tracked
Under the Consumer Financial Protection Act of 2010, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is tasked with monitoring and reporting on consumer complaints. The CFPB’s 2024 Consumer Response Annual Report provides a comprehensive analysis of the more than 2.8 million complaints submitted by consumers last year—complaints that were then routed to over 3,600 companies for review and response. Consumers from all 50 states submitted complaints, with the highest per capita

Imagine Learning from the Driver’s License Office
As someone who conducts audits and training for collections organizations, I am always on the lookout for ideas that can help improve operations. Usually, these improvements revolve around three areas: technology, procedures, and people. I never imagined that a trip to obtain a Real ID would provide such valuable lessons on running an efficient operation. Recently, I spent a full day at the Kentucky Driver’s License Office to support my

Federal Court Asked to Vacate Medical Debt Reporting Rule
A legal challenge is underway in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, where parties have jointly requested the court to vacate a federal rule that limits the reporting of medical debt on consumer credit reports. The request stems from a joint motion filed by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), Acting Director Russell Vought, the Consumer Data Industry Association (CDIA), and the Cornerstone Credit Union League.

CFPB Withdraws from Auto Finance Litigation Against Credit Acceptance Corporation
On April 22, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) formally requested to withdraw as a plaintiff in the ongoing lawsuit CFPB v. Credit Acceptance Corporation, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. While the CFPB steps back from the case, the New York Attorney General continues to pursue the matter on behalf of state consumers. The move marks a notable shift in the bureau’s