Last week, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) announced a settlement with an Iowa based company, Dwolla, Inc., marking the first time the CFPB has penalized a company for lax of data security. The agency alleged that Dwolla, a payment processor, deceived consumers by claiming to have data security practices that surpassed industry standards when in fact, Dwolla had actually [...]
Marketplace lenders (also referred to as “peer-to-peer” or “platform” lenders) have become popular methods of consumer lending in the past few years. In fact, according to a PricewaterhouseCoopers report, peer-to-peer lenders in the United States issued approximately $5.5 billion in loans in 2014. Given this growing presence in the consumer lending space, it was only a matter of time before [...]
On February 18th, the CFPB finalized its No Action Letter (“NAL”) Policy as part of its Project Catalyst. Project Catalyst is a CFPB program designed to reduce the burden on new and innovative consumer financial products. And while that sounds like CFPB would take a liberal approach to issuing NALs, the new NAL Policy demonstrates how difficult obtaining a NAL [...]
The FTC announced that it intends to initiate reviews of, and solicit public comments on, the following rules: (1) Standards for Safeguarding Customer Information, 16 CFR part 314. Agency Contact: David Lincicum, (202) 326-2773, Federal Trade Commission, Bureau of Consumer Protection, Division of Privacy and Identity Protection, 600 Pennsylvania Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20580. (2) CAN-SPAM Rule, 16 CFR part 316. Agency Contact: Christopher [...]
Significant fines imposed this week by the FTC and CFPB signal the federal government’s growing enforcement of consumer protection regulation. The FTC’s settlement with LifeLock represents the largest fine ever imposed by the agency on an individual company. LifeLock will pay $100 million to settle FTC contempt charges LifeLock has agreed to pay the largest fine imposed upon a company [...]
Monday, December 7th marked a victorious day for Debt Buyers Association International (DBA International) and the debt collection industry as H.R. 601, the “Eliminate Privacy Confusion Act,” was signed into law. This new law amends the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (GLBA) to eliminate debt buyers’ current requirement to send an annual privacy notice to consumers whose debt they own. This success comes [...]
Audio beacon tracking is a new form of consumer tracking that is sure to become a controversial topic. Marketers working in India have already begun to use audio beacons, and it is expected that the technology will eventually emerge as a marketing tool in the United States. How it Works Audio beacon tracking works by utilizing inaudible sounds to transmit [...]
The Colorado Secretary of State has announced that beginning on December 17, 2015, charitable solicitation notices that are filed late will be subject to fines. Notices must now be filed and paid at least 15 days prior to a charitable solicitation campaign commencing. If notices are filed or paid after 15 days, a $200 late fee will be assessed in [...]
On November 4, 2015, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and other law enforcement authorities around the country announced the first coordinated enforcement effort targeting debt collectors. “Operation Collection Protection” encompasses thirty new enforcement actions against debt collectors who are alleged to use unlawful collection tactics such as harassing phone calls and false threats of litigation, arrest, and wage garnishment. This [...]
In what proponents argue is an effort to allow consumers greater control over credit card disputes, Citibank has begun to provide existing credit card holders with a limited window in which they may opt-out of binding arbitration. The notice explains that: “You have the right to reject the change to the arbitration. If you reject this change, your account will no longer be [...]
