Author-NCLC Staff Archives

2020 Tax Season: More Delays and Higher Costs for Struggling Taxpayers

January 30, 2020

READ the full report, including a list of resources and free tax preparation resources for taxpayers. Boston – As tax filing season begins, advocates from the National Consumer Law Center (NCLC) issued their annual consumer advisory on taxpayer consumer protection issues. These include: Tax-time financial products. Lenders and tax return preparers again team up to…

Report Assesses the Value of Smart Thermostats in Low-Income Weatherization Programs

January 30, 2020

The National Consumer Law Center Finds that Customer Behavior is Key to Success Boston – Smart thermostats are promoted as a measure to produce substantial household energy savings and increased comfort and convenience for residential utility customers, but actual energy savings achieved vary widely, according to a new report by the National Consumer Law Center…

Consumer Advocates Praise Passage of Landmark Bill in U.S. House to Reform Credit Reporting Industry

January 30, 2020

Boston – National Consumer Law Center advocates (NCLC) applaud last night’s passage of the Comprehensive CREDIT (Credit Reporting Enhancement, Disclosure, Innovation, and Transparency) Act of 2020 (H.R. 3621) by the U.S. House of Representatives. “For too many years, indeed decades, the Big Three credit bureaus – Equifax, Experian and TransUnion – have used and abused…

Advocates Decry Consumer Agency’s Narrowing of Abusive Standards Which Will Protect Dishonest Businesses Instead of Cheated Consumers

January 24, 2020

Washington, D.C. – Today, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) announced a policy statement limiting the circumstances under which it will act to protect consumers when companies engage in abusive practices. “The CFPB’s new abusive policy limits the protection of consumers in ways Congress did not intend, curbs the CFPB’s ability to pursue lawbreakers in…

Consumer and Civil Rights Groups Urge Federal Banking Regulator to Stop Rent-a-Bank Payday Loan Schemes

January 22, 2020

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 22, 2020 Groups Strongly Oppose OCC Proposal that Would Bypass State Rate Caps to Allow High-Cost Predatory Loans Washington, D.C. – The Center for Responsible Lending, National Consumer Law Center, Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, NAACP, National Association for Latino Community Asset Builders, Americans for Financial Reform, Consumer Federation…

Advocates Applaud U.S. House Vote to Restore Rule to Protect Borrowers from School Fraud and Closures

January 16, 2020

Boston – Today, National Consumer Law Center advocates applauded the U.S. House of Representatives’ use of the Congressional Review Act to overturn the 2019 Borrower Defense to Repayment rule issued by the U.S. Department of Education last September. “The House correctly recognized that Department of Education’s attempt to prop up for-profit schools that cheat and…

National Consumer Law Center Attorney Testifies at Jan. 14 Hearing on Massachusetts Competitive Energy Supply Bills

January 14, 2020

More than 50 Groups, Individuals Urge MA DPU to Investigate Unfair and Deceptive Practices of Competitive Suppliers that Harm Massachusetts Families Boston – On Tuesday, January 14, 2020, National Consumer Law Center attorney Jenifer Bosco testified at a hearing between 1pm and 5pm before the Massachusetts Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities, and Energy that will include…

Statement Condemning Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s New Taskforce to Review Consumer Protection Regulations

January 9, 2020

Washington, D.C.- Late today, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) announced four members who will serve on the Taskforce on Federal Consumer Financial Law. The Taskforce will examine the existing legal and regulatory environment facing consumers and financial services providers. Lauren Saunders, associate director of the National Consumer Law Center, issues the following statement. “It’s…

Bipartisan TRACED Act Signed Into Law, Latest Tool in Fight Against the Robocall Epidemic

December 30, 2019

FCC must now move aggressively to provide critical relief for consumers Washington, D.C. – Today, the bipartisan Pallone-Thune TRACED Act was signed into law in an important step forward to provide Americans some relief from the plague of robocalls. The final bill, passed overwhelming by the U.S. House last month, includes elements from the bills…

Report: Rampant Errors on Criminal Background Check Reports Are Still Preventing Consumers from Securing Jobs and Housing

December 9, 2019

Report: Rampant Errors on Criminal Background Check Reports Are Still Preventing Consumers from Securing Jobs and Housing National Consumer Law Center Urges Federal and State Action to Stop Faulty Criminal Background Check Reports and Hold Background Screening Companies Accountable; FTC/CFPB to Host Accuracy in Consumer Reporting workshop on Tue., Dec. 10 Download the National Consumer…

The National Consumer Law Center Earns Top Rating From Charity Navigator

December 5, 2019

Boston – The National Consumer Law Center’s (NCLC) strong financial health and commitment to accountability and transparency have earned it a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator, America’s largest independent charity evaluator. This is the third consecutive time that NCLC has earned this top distinction. Only 25% of the charities evaluated have received at least 3…

Statement Regarding Bank Regulators’ Guidance on Alternative Data

December 4, 2019

Boston – Yesterday, the Federal Reserve Board, Federal Deposit Insurance Corp., Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, and National Credit Union Administration released an Interagency Statement on the Use of Alternative Data in Credit Underwriting. Chi Chi Wu, staff attorney at the National Consumer Law Center, issued the following statement…

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