Resources Archive

Coalition Comments to CFPB Regarding Collection of Data from the Auto Finance Market

December 21, 2022

Auto credit and cars in general have an enormous impact on the majority of households, and auto credit is the third largest consumer credit market in the United States. Yet publicly available data is minimal and often excludes important portions of the marketplace and important details of the transactions—details that impact performance of the credit…

Comments Regarding New York City's Proposed Amendments to Rules Related to Debt Collectors

December 21, 2022

NCLC’s comments focus on the relationship between DCWP’s proposed amendments, the federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (“FDCPA”), and federal debt collection regulations issued to implement the FDCPA (“Regulation F”). Regulation F has many gaps and weaknesses, and we commend the DCWP’s proposal for its efforts to fill some of these gaps.

Housing Advocates' Comment to Federal Insurance Office on Climate Risk Data Call

December 21, 2022

Americans for Financial Reform Education Fund, Consumer Federation of America, California Reinvestment Coalition, and the National Consumer Law Center write to indicate our strong support for the Federal Insurance Office’s (FIO) proposed “Climate-Related Financial Risk Data Collection” from insurers.

Letter in opposition to NJ S-S2989; Debt Settlement Legalization Bill

December 19, 2022

NCLC opposes S-2989, which would legalize certain for-profit debt adjusters. For-profit debt adjustment (also known as debt settlement) is bad for consumers and hurts honest businesses. Bankruptcy attorneys, non-profit credit counselors, and self-help are much better alternatives. The debt adjustment industry leads consumers to believe that they can negotiate reduced payoffs on unsecured debts. But…

Consumer Groups to FTC: Stop Impersonation of Government and Business Caller

December 19, 2022

The proposed trade regulation rule will more clearly address imposter scams in which the scammers impersonate government, businesses, or their officials.

S.5150 - Strengthening Consumer Protections and Medical Debt Transparency Act

December 14, 2022

NCLC is supporting S.5150- Strengthening Consumer Protections and Medical Debt Transparency Act, introduced by Sens. Murphy and Van Hollen. The law would help protect consumers from abusive debt collection practices, and would require more reporting from hospitals about their debt collection practices. NCLC provided a quote for the press release.

New Process to Discharge Student Loans in Bankruptcy

December 14, 2022

Published 12/12/2022; Updated 2/15/24 A new Guidance from the Department of Justice (Department), issued in coordination with the Department of Education (Education), has the potential to change bankruptcy practice dramatically. Until now, attorneys have not thought of bankruptcy as a way to help clients struggling with student loan debt. If the Guidance is implemented as…

An Investigation of Debt Settlement Companies: An Unsettling Business for Consumers

December 14, 2022

Many states as well as the National Conference of Commissions on Uniform State Laws (NCCUSL) have attempted to regulate debt settlement through laws that mainly target debt management practices. In fact, debt management and debt settlement are very different businesses. By including debt settlement in laws that focus on debt management, policymakers are helping to…

Reply Comments to the FCC Regarding Unwanted and Illegal Text Messages

December 12, 2022

The National Consumer Law Center (NCLC) and the Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC), along with sixteen other national and state consumer and privacy groups representing a broad swath of individual telephone subscribers across the United States, urge the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to stand firm against requests to force cell phone carriers to allow unwanted…

Coalition Letter to U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture Regarding Investor Choice and Digital Commodities Legislation

December 9, 2022

As organizations that share a commitment to investor choice, we write to express strong concern that the Digital Commodities Consumer Protection Act (S. 4760), as currently drafted, does not contemplate any safeguards with respect to injured investors’ ability to hold digital commodity issuers, brokers, and affiliated entities, accountable for misconduct. Decades of experience with the…

Group Long Comments to CFPB on its Proposed Debt Collection Rule

December 9, 2022

The National Consumer Law Center (on behalf of its low income clients), Americans for Financial Reform Education Fund, Consumer Federation of America, National Association of Consumer Advocates, U.S. PIRG, and Woodstock Institute submit these comments on the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau‘s (CFPB or Bureau) proposed debt collection rule. We are terribly disappointed with the proposed…

New Illinois Metric Is a Model for Reducing Utility Disconnections in Under-Resourced Communities

December 8, 2022

Two recent decisions by the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) provide consumer advocates with a new and innovative approach to address affordability and help customers who struggle each month to afford, and remain connected to, essential utility service.

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