Consumer Protection news and trends

FTC Refunds $449K to Victims of Extended Warranty Scam
Security & Fraud // October 10, 2024

The FTC is refunding $449,000 to victims of a telemarketing scam involving extended automobile warranties. According to a Thursday (Oct. 10) news release from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the scam was carried out by a company known as American Vehicle Protection Corp. The regulator said the scam involved...

CFPB Accuses Ejudicate of Conducting ‘Sham’ Student Loan Arbitrations
CFPB // October 10, 2024

The CFPB has barred dispute resolution platform Ejudicate from arbitrating disputes about consumer financial products. The ban came after the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) found that the company had misled student loan borrowers about its neutrality and undertook “sham” arbitration proceedings, the regulator said in a Thursday (Oct. 10)...

Federal Agencies Warn Businesses and Consumers About Hurricane-Related Scams
Security & Fraud // October 09, 2024

With another major hurricane on the way, three federal agencies are warning companies not to take advantage of these natural disasters and cautioning consumers to watch out for the scams that often accompany these events. Scammers often take advantage of people trying to recover from...

US Moves to Secure Connected Car Economy by Banning Foreign Technologies
Regulation // September 25, 2024

The U.S. government’s proposed ban on connected vehicle technology from China and Russia marks a significant shift in the approach to national security and cybersecurity within the automotive sector. Once finalized, the proposed rule from the Department of Commerce would prohibit the import or sale...

Interviews & Exclusives
CFPB Says Overdraft Fees Are Junk Fees — But Are They?

January 17, 2024
Labels are popular on Capitol Hill. And this week the labels are flying fast and furiously, aimed at big banks and credit unions. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) put forth a proposal Wednesday (Jan. 17) that would limit overdraft fees — in many cases, drastically so. In the release detailing the proposal, the CFPB […]

From BNPL to Crypto, Former CFPB Official Says ‘Everything Viewed Suspiciously’

September 16, 2021
Nothing is as certain as death and taxes, they say. And when it comes to payments and credit innovations experiencing explosive growth, particularly buy now, pay later (BNPL) — perhaps...

With Domestic Travel Booming, Hopper Bets Its New Services Will Take Off Too

August 25, 2021
As COVID-19 ebbs and flows and a sustainable re-opening for business and leisure remains shrouded in uncertainty, at least one thing has become clear; people everywhere are itching to pack...

The Latest Retail Upsell: Insurance At The Point Of Sale

December 02, 2019
Every merchant is looking for an edge – a way not only to make more money, but also to hit on fresh methods for building customer loyalty and trust. As...

Quick Reads
FTC Refunds $449K to Victims of Extended Warranty Scam

October 10, 2024
The FTC is refunding $449,000 to victims of a telemarketing scam involving extended automobile warranties. According to a Thursday (Oct. 10) news release from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the scam was carried out by a company known as American Vehicle Protection Corp. The regulator said the scam involved calling hundreds of thousands of consumers nationwide to sell costly […]

CFPB Accuses Ejudicate of Conducting ‘Sham’ Student Loan Arbitrations

October 10, 2024
The CFPB has barred dispute resolution platform Ejudicate from arbitrating disputes about consumer financial products. The ban came after the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) found that the company had misled student loan borrowers...

Federal Agencies Warn Businesses and Consumers About Hurricane-Related Scams

October 09, 2024
With another major hurricane on the way, three federal agencies are warning companies not to take advantage of these natural disasters and cautioning consumers to watch out for the scams...

CFPB Says Debt Collectors Try to Collect on Already-Paid Medical Bills

September 05, 2024
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has found that debt collectors are using illegal tactics, and it is taking steps to ensure they follow consumer financial protection laws. The regulator said...