Press Release Archives

Advocates Applaud House Passage of the FAIR Act

March 17, 2022

The FAIR Act would restore access to the courts for consumers, servicemembers, workers, and small business owners harmed when they shop at, bank with, borrow from, work for, or do other business with companies that violate the law.

New Report Examines Impact of Medical Debt on Black Families

March 14, 2022

March 14, 2022 Medical debt remains a looming crisis that disproportionately affects Black households and communities WASHINGTON – A new report from the National Consumer Law Center, The Racial Health and Wealth Gap: Impact of Medical Debt on Black Families, examines the intersection between the racial health gap and the racial wealth gap and the…

President Biden’s Announcement on Veterans' Medical Debt Will Lift a Burden from Veteran Families

March 1, 2022

Administration Removes Barriers to Cancelation of VA Medical Debt WASHINGTON – In tonight’s State of the Union Address, President Biden may speak on today’s announcement that the Veterans’ Administration (VA) will simplify the process for claiming medical debt forgiveness for veterans. Advocates at the National Consumer Law Center (NCLC) issued the following statements: “Administrative mazes…

Statement on U.S. Department of Education’s Approval of $415M in Borrower Defense Claims

February 16, 2022

February 17, 2022 Nearly 16,000 borrowers will see their loans discharged as a result of the Department’s findings BOSTON – Today, in response to the Department of Education’s announcement of findings that additional federal student loan borrowers who attended DeVry University, Westwood College, and ITT Tech will be eligible to discharge their federal student loans…

Advocates to Treasury Secretary Yellen: Protect CTC and EITC Payments in Tax Refunds

February 17, 2022

February 17, 2022 WASHINGTON – Today, advocates at over 100 organizations, including the National Consumer Law Center (on behalf of its low income clients), The Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP), and The Institute for College Access & Success (TICAS) sent a letter to U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen urging the Treasury Department to…

The High Cost of a Fresh Start: New Report Examines Court Debt as a Barrier to Clearing a Conviction Record

February 14, 2022

February 14, 2022 Download the report: https://bit.ly/rpt-High-Cost-Fresh-Start-22 BOSTON – A new report from the National Consumer Law Center and the Collateral Consequences Resource Center explores the extent to which court debt—such as criminal fines, fees, costs, and restitution—is a barrier to record clearing that prevents poor and low-income people from getting a second chance. For…

Predatory Loans for Puppies Must be Stopped, Say Consumer and Animal Welfare Advocates

February 14, 2022

February 14, 2022 TAB Bank is helping EasyPay Finance evade state laws that prohibit 189% APR loans WASHINGTON – In advance of National Love Your Pet Day on February 20, the Stop the Debt Trap coalition is teaming up with animal welfare advocates to launch a campaign to stop TAB Bank from making predatory puppy…

Advocates Urge Department of Education to Discharge Debt Held By All Former Students of Corinthian Colleges

February 10, 2022

February 10, 2022 Today, over thirty legal aid and advocacy organizations submitted comments to the U.S. Department of Education asking it to stop requiring Corinthian College students to apply for borrower defense relief; instead, the Department should issue a group discharge to those students. “Approximately 350,000 students–many of whom are low-income people of color, veterans,…

Advocates Applaud Department of Education Decision to Protect CTC Payments in Tax Refunds from Seizure

February 9, 2022

February 9, 2022 WASHINGTON – In response to yesterday’s announcement via social media that the U.S. Department of Education will make sure families who have student loans in default do not have their Child Tax Credit (CTC) benefits seized by offset – even for refunds issued after the payment pause ends on May 1, 2022…

The System is Broken: 100+ Organizations Urge Biden Administration to Aid Millions of Student Loan Borrowers with Overdue Income-Driven Repayment (IDR) Reforms

February 9, 2022

February 9, 2022 IDR program has failed borrowers for decades, organizations contend, calling on the Education Secretary to fulfill broken promises WASHINGTON — Today, a group of 104 diverse advocacy organizations, including the National Consumer Law Center, on behalf of its low income clients, Student Borrower Protection Center, Center for Responsible Lending, American Federation of…

Advocates Meet With FCC to Urge Meaningful Changes to Rules Governing Providers of Telecom Service to Criminal Enterprises

February 8, 2022

February 8, 2022 WASHINGTON – Today, the National Consumer Law Center, on behalf of its low income clients, the Electronic Privacy Information Center, Consumer Reports, National Consumers League, Public Knowledge, UnidosUS and U.S. PIRG, met with staff of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to insist that more effective measures be deployed to stop telephone service providers…

Advocates Applaud $4 Million DC Settlement with Predatory Rent-a-Bank Lender Elevate

February 8, 2022

February 8, 2022 FDIC should stop banks from laundering Elevate’s 100% -251% APR loans nationwide WASHINGTON – Advocates at the National Consumer Law Center applaud District of Columbia Attorney General Karl Racine’s announcement today that DC has reached a settlement with predatory rent-a-bank lender Elevate that requires it to abide by the District’s interest rate limits and…

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