Issue Brief Archives

How Congress and the CFPB Can Protect Americans from Abusive Debt Collection

November 3, 2020

Before the pandemic, 68 million people in the United States had debt in collection. Economic fallout from job loss and reduced hours related to the coronavirus pandemic have hit families hard with millions struggling to pay their bills and communities of color hit hardest by these economic hardships. Millions of additional consumers are likely to…

How Congress and the FCC Can Protect Americans from Invasive and Dangerous Robocalls and Robotexts

November 11, 2020

Americans receive more than 50 billion unwanted robocalls and robotexts a year, many of them dangerous scams that defraud consumers of hundreds of millions of dollars. Congress and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) must act to clamp down on these invasive and dangerous calls.

Broadband Service is a Racial Equity Priority

September 22, 2020

Under normal circumstances broadband is the lifeline to economic opportunities, social engagement, and democratic participation in modern society. During the COVID-19 pandemic, broadband is essential to protect the health and well-being of members of a household and the public as well as key to a families’ economic survival. Tragically, the racial disparities in broadband access…

Three Tax Fixes to Improve the Federal Student Aid Program

March 17, 2020

Stop Taxing Discharged Student Loans as Income. Stop Taxing Pell Grants as Income. End Overly Punitive Tax Offsets for Struggling Borrowers.

Issue Brief on Wage Garnishment for Consumer Debts: Reforms Needed in the Current Crisis and Beyond

November 10, 2020

Wage garnishment for consumer debts may occur after a creditor goes to court and wins a judgmentagainst a consumer. A judgment is a court decision that the consumer owes a specific sum, allowing acreditor to take steps to seize a portion of the consumer’s wages to pay the judgment.

Stabilizing Consumer Finances During and After the Coronavirus Crisis in California

May 19, 2020

In 2018, more than a quarter of all Californians had a debt in collection.1 The increases in unemployment claims and general job loss due to COVID-19 will without question result in an explosion of debts in collection that will disproportionately impact the most vulnerable consumers who are least able to weather a financial crisis and…

Time-Barred Debt Disclosures in CFPB's Supplemental Rulemaking Fall Short

May 12, 2020

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)’s supplemental debt collection rulemaking proposes disclosures for consumers when debt collectors attempt to collect after the statute of limitations (the deadline to sue) has expired. These accounts are called time-barred debts. This document summarizes the proposed disclosures, outlines significant concerns, provides recommendations, and explains how to file comments.

Protecting Credit Reports During the COVID-19 Crisis

April 21, 2020

The COVID-19 pandemic has devastated our economy, leaving over 26 million consumers unemployed (as of late April 2020) and forcing countless small businesses to close. This economic catastrophe will also lead to damaged credit reports and plunging credit scores for tens of millions of consumers. Lower credit scores will not only impede consumers’ ability to…

Credit Reports and the COVID-19 Crisis: What States Should Do to Help Consumers

March 24, 2020

The COVID-19 crisis will damage the credit reports of tens of millions of consumers, who will see their scores nosedive because of mass unemployment and loss of income. Lower credit scores will impede consumers’ ability to get affordable credit, jobs, housing, and to generally recover when this crisis is over. Yet the response to this…

Skyrocketing Utility Arrears during the Covid-19 Crisis: The Need for Substantial Federal Support

April 7, 2020

Residential utility customer arrearages will likely skyrocket amidst plummeting income and employment loss during the Covid-19 crisis. How big will the problem be? The answer depends on just how many customers will be unable to keep up with payments in the weeks to come. The tables that follow depict disparate home electricity burdens and expenditures,…

Federal, State, and Private Protections for Older Consumers Impacted by the COVID-19 Pandemic

April 21, 2020

Older adults and those with underlying health issues are most at risk of contracting COVID-19. Many will incur significant expenses related to sheltering in place or taking other measures to protect their health. Older adults with fixed or limited incomes, and those with few resources, may face foreclosure, eviction, and other financial challenges in the…

Coronavirus Emergency: Mortgage Relief for Consumers - How States Can Help

October 13, 2020

The federal CARES Act provided much-needed relief for certain borrowers who could not make their monthly mortgage payments. The Act allowed borrowers who were experiencing a financial hardship due to COVID–19 to pause mortgage payments for up to 12 months. These forbearance plans however only covered federally backed mortgages (Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, FHA, USDA,…

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How Congress and the CFPB Can Protect Americans from Abusive Debt Collection

How Congress and the FCC Can Protect Americans from Invasive and Dangerous Robocalls and Robotexts

Broadband Service is a Racial Equity Priority

Three Tax Fixes to Improve the Federal Student Aid Program

Issue Brief on Wage Garnishment for Consumer Debts: Reforms Needed in the Current Crisis and Beyond

Stabilizing Consumer Finances During and After the Coronavirus Crisis in California

Time-Barred Debt Disclosures in CFPB's Supplemental Rulemaking Fall Short

Protecting Credit Reports During the COVID-19 Crisis

Credit Reports and the COVID-19 Crisis: What States Should Do to Help Consumers

Skyrocketing Utility Arrears during the Covid-19 Crisis: The Need for Substantial Federal Support

Federal, State, and Private Protections for Older Consumers Impacted by the COVID-19 Pandemic

Coronavirus Emergency: Mortgage Relief for Consumers - How States Can Help

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