Consumer coalition sends letter to congress expressing support for the Payment Choice Act (H.R. 2650 and S. 4145) which would prohibit brick-and-mortar retailers from refusing to accept cash or charging consumers more for paying with cash.
Some Homeowner Assistance Fund programs may decide to structure HAF assistance as an interestfree loan payable upon transfer of the property and forgivable over a period of time. We recommend that if HAF programs choose this structure, they avoid creating undue barriers to assistance such as requiring insurable title or conditioning assistance upon the resolution of outstanding liens or potential liens in order to assure priority of the program’s lien.
Read More about Why Title Reviews Should Not Create Unnecessary Barriers to HAF Assistance
The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 includes $9.9 billion for creation of a Homeowner Assistance Fund (HAF) to be administered by the Treasury Department. The HAF was established to mitigate financial hardships connected with the coronavirus pandemic and prevent foreclosures among homeowners who have experienced a hardship related to the pandemic.
The coronavirus pandemic is creating overwhelming needs and we must provide people with the safeguards they will need to cope with their financial circumstances and to protect them against harm from scams, fraud, and predatory conduct.
Read More about White Paper on Immediate Actions the CFPB Can Take to Address the COVID-19 Crisis
Medical debt harms tens of millions of consumers, with nearly 1 in 6 Americans contacted by a debt collector over a healthcare bill, and 21% of residents in mainly nonwhite zip codes with at least one medical debt in collection on their credit reports.
Read More about What States Can Do to Help Consumers: Medical Debt
Over a quarter of U.S. households face challenges in paying energy bills or keeping their homes heated or cooled, including 50% of households with less than $20,000 in annual income.
Read More about What States Can Do to Help Consumers: Energy Insecurity
Criminal justice debt functions as a regressive tax on a state’s poorest and most vulnerable residents. Approximately 4 out of 5 criminal defendants are too poor to hire their own lawyers, yet they often fund government with fines and fees.
Read More about What States Can Do to Help Consumers: Criminal Justice Debt
A webinar presented to over 890 registrants with a focus on: Protecting stimulus payments; Dealing with car repossessions, including electronic repossessions; Navigating available mortgage relief and advocating for additional relief; Ensuring consistent utility and telecommunication access, and; Dealing with debt collection efforts.
Read More about PowerPoint: Helping Those Harmed Financially from COVID-19
Outline for Forbearance Options and CARES Act Requirements, part of NCLC's CARES Act Mortgage Webinar Series
Read More about Powerpoint: Forbearance Options and CARES Act Requirements
The Utility Customer Financial Impact of COVID-19: The Need For Flexibility and Reform in Utility Billing, Credit and Collections
Read More about Powerpoint: Utility Customer Financial Impact of COVID-19
Outline of a utility consumer rights training, part of the Massachusetts Law Reform Institute Basic Benefits training series.
Read More about Presentation: Utility Consumer Rights Course
A guide for advocates, social workers, and attorneys assisting clients in Massachusetts with their utility rights.
Read More about Massachusetts Utility Advocacy Handbook (5th ed. 2026)
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