Payday loan apps take hundreds of dollars a year from people struggling to make ends meet. The apps exacerbate affordability problems, leaving people with depleted paychecks, trapped in a vicious cycle of reborrowing, and facing manipulations that multiply fees: Annual percentage rate limits or low, comprehensive monthly fee caps are the only way to prevent…
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New York has passed the first comprehensive law to protect shoppers who use Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) loans. Some details remain to be fleshed out through regulations, and the law does not address every issue BNPL borrowers may face. But it is a significant step forward and provides a helpful roadmap for other states.…
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Heirs property owners are at an elevated risk of losing their home to property tax foreclosure. These owners of inherited homes are disproportionately likely to be older adults living and people of color. Targeted policy solutions can make a significant difference in reducing the rate of property tax foreclosure on heirs property, preventing housing instability…
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HUD Should Withdraw Proposed Rule to Gut Important Discrimination Protections and Fully Enforce the Fair Housing Act Request for Public Comment, Docket No. FR-6540-P-01, RIN 2529-AB09 Comments Due February 13, 2026 The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) has proposed a rule, that would substantially weaken the Fair Housing Act and leave consumers…
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Strong protections against the sale of unsafe cars protect the buyer, passengers, and other drivers on the road.
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Selected complaints filed in government enforcement actions discussed in the report, Picking Workers’ Pockets: Unfair, Deceptive and Abusive Practices by Earned Wage Payday Lenders, highlights the following enforcement actions taken against providers of earned wage payday lenders: FTC v. Bridge It; FTC v. Floatme; CFPB v. Solo Funds; DC AG v. EarnIn d/b/a Active Hours;…
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The time has come for policymakers to protect homeowners from the risks this product poses and those who may abuse it. HEI loans are really just another form of mortgage and should be regulated like other forms of mortgage credit.
State debt collection efforts can conflict with state anti-poverty programs. This issue brief discusses how states that seize income tax refunds to collect debts owed to the state may also be seizing safety-net payments such as state Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) or Child Tax Credit (CTC) funds. States should follow California’s example to protect…
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The CFPB has issued a proposed rule gutting fair lending protections under the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA). Please comment by December 15th. This is a deeply concerning development. Here are the facts: How should we respond now? What the proposal does: The proposal would be harmful, is illegal, and is not based on facts. …
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S.1071 / H.1983: An Act relative to unlawful practices in the servicing and foreclosure of a subordinate mortgage provides a crucial lifeline for these homeowners. This legislation targets the predatory practices of zombie second mortgage investors and protects homeowners from unfair and deceptive tactics. It brings transparency and accountability to a system that has allowed…
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Many jails and prisons charge various fees, such as medical co-pays, emergency fees, prescription co-pays, medical device fees, and fees for necessary hygiene items. This issue brief discusses the problems caused by such fees and proposes state solutions.
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