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The COVID-19 pandemic is creating upheaval in people’s lives, especially the most vulnerable, and NCLC is working with allies, government officials, and businesses, to help. This list of resources, which will be updated as new information is available, is a guide to help families navigate their financial lives during these turbulent times. It also includes best ways to connect with NCLC while our staff works from home to avoid community spread.

2021 Consumer Protection Priorities for a COVID Stimulus Package

Stimulus Payments

General Consumer Protections

Training & Conferences

Additional Resources

Archived Letters, Statements, Briefs, etc.

Stimulus Payments

General Consumer Protections

Autos

Bank and Prepaid Card Accounts, Bank Fees

  • States, including New York, have ordered or encouraged relief affecting overdraft, ATM and credit card late fees.
  • Banks and credit unions that offer safe checkless checking accounts that meet the Bank On National Account Standards (including no overdraft or NSF fees)  can be opened online, and are available to people with blemished account screening histories, can be found at JoinBankOn.org. 

Bankruptcy

  • Group letter urging Congress to adopt amendments to the Bankruptcy Code in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, March 24, 2020

Credit and Debt 

Federal Relief

State & Local Relief

NCLC is tracking state and local government responses to the coronavirus that are relevant to the collection of non-mortgage consumer debts, including:

  • For state advocates working with their state legislators to protect people impacted by income losses due to COVID-19, NCLC’s report may be of help. No Fresh Start in 2019: How States Still Let Debt Collectors Push Families into Poverty surveys all 50 states and has a number of charts and maps assessing the extent to which state laws protect basic income and assets needed for survival: wages, home, car, bank account, household goods.
  • Covid-19 Related State Protections for Wages and Cash in Bank Accounts
  • Sample letters urging a halt to bank account garnishments and/or debt collection from advocates in California (includes sample order), Ohio, Texas
  • Prohibition of Certain Collection Practices –  Entries track practices in the collection of civil, non-mortgage debts by debt collectors or creditors that have been temporarily prohibited due to the coronavirus.
  • Can Debt Collectors Work from Home? –   Entries track orders and guidance related to whether debt collectors can work from home. Only highlights guidance that has been issued in relation to the coronavirus. Some jurisdictions may have had prior guidance.
  • Bar on Collection of Debts Owed to State/Local Government  –  Entries track state and city temporary orders that have been enacted to bar the collection of debt owed to the government.
  • Suspension of Certain Court Proceedings Related to Debt Collection  –  Entries include a non-comprehensive list of courts that have suspended certain judicial proceedings or activities related to the collection of civil, non-mortgage debts. For more about state court closures see the National Center for State Courts website.
  • Calls to Action – Entries track calls to action from legislators, attorneys general, businesses, and advocates to state governments and industry leaders calling for collection moratoriums and other debt collection related consumer protections.
  • Legislative Responses – Entries track legislation introduced at state and municipality level that includes prohibitions on certain debt collection practices. Entries track status of bills.
  • Other Debt Collection Responses – Entries include responses by states that do not fall into one of the other categories, such as new legislation relating to debt collection during the coronavirus pandemic and recommendations for collection practices from state agencies.

Credit Reporting

Criminal Justice 

Housing

Federal Relief

State & Local Relief

Older Consumers

Racial and Immigrant Equity

Robocalls & Telemarketing

  • NCLC & American Bankers’ Association Ex-Parte joint comments to the FCC requesting quick action to interpret the TCPA’s emergency exception to apply to automated calls from creditors during the  COVID-19 emergency when informing consumers of forbearance and payment deferral options for loans secured by homes and vehicles, April 23, 2020
  • Group Ex Parte Comments to the FCC supporting the American Banker Asso. and other lenders petition on pandemic calls duringdeclared national emergency, limited numbers of automated calls from the described institutions to alert their customers to the callers’ offers of the specified kinds of relief related to the COVID-19 pandemic, April 9, 2020; Related press release

Student Loans

NCLC Litigation

  • Barber, Jenkins  et al vs Devos and U.S. Department of Education, Case 1:20-cv-01137, May 7, 2020. Amended Complaint and Press Release. Share your story if you have had wages garnished in 2020 for a student loan. NCLC and Student Defense, with support of the Student Borrower Protection Center, filed an emergency APA lawsuit in the D.C. District Court against the U.S. Department of Education seeking to stop its garnishment of wages from defaulted student loan borrowers and to force the agency to immediately comply with Sec. 3513 (e) of the CARES Act that mandates that all such collections be ceased until at least next September. A motion for injunctive relief class certification has also been filed.

NCLC Articles, Briefs, Fact Sheets, Reports, Videos & Webinars

Utilities and Bridging the Digital Divide

Federal Relief

  • FCC order that no current Lifeline customer lose their service during this crisis and preserves Lifeline service for existing customers by waiving certain rules that are popular reasons for loss of Lifeline service, March 30, 2020

State & Local Relief

NCLC Articles, Briefs, Fact Sheets, Reports, Videos & Webinars

Training and Conferences at NCLC

All information will be updated on our Conferences or Webinars pages.

Additional Resources

Consumers