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CFPB Announces First Joint Enforcement Action with State Authorities
On December 21, the CFPB announced that it obtained an order from a federal district court in Florida that requires a nationwide payday debt relief services company to refund up to $100,000 to consumers who were charged advance fees for promised debt-settlement services that the company never actually rendered. While the amount of the refund obtained through the order is relatively small, the action is notable as the first joint enforcement action by the CFPB and certain state partners. The CFPB was joined in the suit by the attorneys general of New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, and Wisconsin, as well as the State of Hawaii Office of Consumer Protection. Following an investigation into the payday debt solution firm, the CFPB alleged that the company violated the FTC’s Telemarketing Sales Rule, the Dodd-Frank Act, and various state laws, by telemarketing debt-relief services and requesting or receiving fees from consumers for those services before renegotiating, settling, reducing, or otherwise altering the terms of at least one of the consumer’s debts. The CFPB announcement notes that the company cooperated with the CFPB and halted the allegedly illegal operations, and that in addition to the customer refunds the firm will pay a $5,000 civil penalty to the CFPB.
CFPB Announces First Partnership with a City Government, Highlights Chicago's Consumer Financial Protection Efforts
On December 5, CFPB Director Richard Cordray and Chicago, IL Mayor Rahm Emanuel announced an agreement to share consumer financial protection information and resources. According to Director Cordray, the partnership will allow the CFPB to learn from and expand on the ways Chicago protects its consumers, and help the CFPB determine where it should be focusing its attention by allowing the CFPB to better understand consumer protection challenges that arise locally. The partnership also will allow the city to leverage new resources and information developed by the CFPB. In his statement regarding the partnership, Mayor Emanuel highlighted the city’s recent consumer financial protection initiatives, including (i) the planned introduction of a new City Council ordinance to regulate and license debt collectors, (ii) information gathering on predatory and deceptive acts associated with home repair loans, payday loans, small dollar loans, reverse mortgage products, and mortgage origination and servicing, (iii) new zoning regulations to limit the proliferation of payday lenders, auto-title loan stores, and other predatory financial services, and (iv) the planned introduction of a new ordinance to enhance the Department of Business Affairs & Consumer Protection’s ability to take action against businesses convicted of violating state and federal consumer protection acts.
FTC Loses Motion in Unfair Billing Case Against Online Payday Loan Referral Service
On November 7, the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida held that numerous factual issues prevented the court from granting summary judgment on the FTC’s claims that an online payday loan referral business engaged in unfair and deceptive billing practices and failed to provide adequate disclosures. FTC v. Direct Benefits Group, LLC, No 11-1186, 2012 WL 5430989 (M.D. Fla. Nov. 7, 2012). The FTC alleges that the defendants violated the FTC Act by obtaining consumers’ bank account information through payday loan referral websites and debiting their accounts without their consent. The FTC also alleges that the defendants failed to adequately disclose that, in addition to using consumers’ financial information for a payday loan application, they would use it to charge them for enrollments in unrelated programs and services. Although it acknowledged that the FTC had presented substantial evidence regarding consumer complaints about the defendants’ activities, the court held that because the defendants maintain that no consumer could be enrolled in the programs without at least clicking an “okay” button on the defendants’ websites, the FTC was not entitled to summary judgment. A bench trial is scheduled for November 27, 2012, during which the parties will present additional evidence and arguments regarding the content and operation of the websites and whether consumers could enroll in the referral programs without taking affirmative steps to do so.
Federal Nonbank Charter Legislation Faces Opposition from State AGs
On October 5, forty-one state attorneys general (state AGs) reasserted their interest in enforcing state laws regulating short-term, small dollar lenders, including payday lenders. The National Association of State Attorneys General sent a letter to the leadership of the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate urging them to oppose H.R. 6139, the Consumer Credit Access, Innovation, and Modernization Act. As previously reported, the Act, introduced by Reps. Luetkemeyer (R-MO) and Baca (D-CA), would allow the OCC to establish a federal charter for certain nonbanks. The state AGs charge that H.R. 6139 would preempt state laws governing consumer lending and generally would undermine states’ authority with regard to consumer protection enforcement. The state AGs acknowledge that the bill would allow them to enforce violations of federal law, but argue that state laws designed for local markets would be preempted and the state AGs’ ability to target abuses as they emerge would be impaired. During a July hearing on the legislation, the OCC and the Conference of State Bank Supervisors also expressed opposition to the legislation.
State Law Update: Illinois Amends Consumer Installment and Payday Loan Acts
On August 20, Illinois enacted House Bill 3935, which amends the state’s Consumer Installment Loan Act and Payday Loan Act to clarify that loans made by unlicensed lenders are considered null and void and that unlicensed lenders have no right to collect on such loans. The amendments take effect on January 1, 2013.
Arizona Attorney General Settles Action Against Internet Payday Loan Lead Generator
On July 30, Arizona Attorney General Tom Horne announced an agreement with an Internet lead generator that requires the firm to halt operations through which it solicited information on behalf of payday lenders. Under state law, lenders have been prohibited from offering payday loans to Arizona consumers since July 2010. The Attorney General alleged that the settling company operated a website that collected Arizona consumers’ personal information and then sold that information to payday lenders who subsequently offered illegal payday loans to those consumers. While the agreement requires that the lead generator cease collecting and transmitting consumer information in connection with any type of consumer loan, it does not include any monetary payment beyond attorney fees.
Bills Introduced on Regulation of Short Term, Small Dollar Lending
On July 18, Representatives Luetkemeyer (R-MO) and Baca (D-CA) introduced H.R. 6139, a bill that would create a national charter for qualified non-depository creditors, to be known as National Consumer Credit Corporations (NCCCs). The bill would task the OCC with assessing applications with a focus on the applicant institution’s ability to offer products that provide credit to underserved consumers, and developing a process for approving financial products to be offered by NCCCs. The OCC would be able to establish an annual fee for a charter, but it would not be permitted to restrict the method by which an NCCC offers its products, or to establish usury limits. NCCCs would be subject to certain restrictions, including a prohibition on consumer loans with terms of 30 days or less. The House Financial Services Committee’s Subcommittee on Financial Institutions and Consumer Credit held a hearing to consider H.R. 6139 on July 24, 2012.
On July 24, Senators Merkley (D-OR), Udall (D-NM), and Durbin (D-IL) introduced a bill, first revealed by Senator Merkley in March 2012, and now formalized as S. 3426, the Stopping Abuse and Fraud in Electronic Lending Act. According to a press release, the bill seeks to (i) ensure that a third party doesn’t gain control of a consumer’s account through remotely created checks, (ii) allow consumers to cancel a debit in connection with a small-dollar loan, (iii) require all lenders, including banks, to abide by a state’s rules for small-dollar, payday-like loans they offer customers in the state, (iv) ban lead generators and anonymously registered payday lending websites, and (v) give the CFPB authority to shut down payment processing for lenders that are violating state and other consumer lending laws through the Internet.
FTC Files Case Against Tribe-Affiliated Payday Lenders
On April 2, the FTC announced that it filed a complaint in the United States District Court for the District of Nevada against a payday lending operation that allegedly charged undisclosed and inflated fees, and collected on loans illegally by threatening borrowers with arrest and lawsuits. The FTC alleges that the operation, consisting of numerous defendants including three Internet-based lending companies, seven related companies and numerous individuals (i) violated the FTC Act by making misrepresentations and false threats, (ii) violated TILA by failing to accurately disclose APR and other loan terms, and (iii) violated the Electronic Fund Transfer Act by requiring consumers to preauthorize electronic fund transfers from their accounts. According to the FTC, the defendants have claimed in state court that they are immune from legal action because of their affiliation with Native American tribes. The FTC argues that notwithstanding any such affiliation, the defendants are still subject to federal law. This is the second time in seven months that the FTC has brought suit against a payday lender that has used a tribal affiliation defense against actions by state authorities.
Senators Push for CFPB Action on Payday Lending, Propose Federal Legislation
On March 12, Senators Jeff Merkley and Daniel Akaka released a letter sent to CFPB Director Richard Cordray urging that the CFPB take action to address online, offshore, and insured depository payday lending activities and products. The letter specifically pushes the CFPB to adopt rules and partner with state attorneys general to address (i) Internet-based lead generators that collect data on potential customers for payday lenders, (ii) offshore Internet lenders that avoid state laws by relying on loopholes in the rules covering debit transactions and remotely-created checks, and (iii) insured depository institutions that offer payday loan or similar products. In the same announcement, Senator Merkley revealed plans to introduce legislation that will, broadly, (i) require greater disclosure for online lending websites, (ii) address the abusive practice of providing false or misleading data to payday lenders and debt collectors to defraud consumers in paying debts they do not owe, (iii) attempt to limit the activities of offshore payday lenders, and (iv) address bank and insured depository institution payday loan products.
Washington Enacts Multiple Amendments to Consumer and Mortgage Lending Laws
On March 8, Washington enacted HB 2255, which alters state regulation of consumer loan companies, including mortgage originators, check cashers and sellers, and payday lenders. Under the Consumer Loan Act, which covers nonbank consumer lenders including nonbank mortgage originators, consumer lenders are prohibited from making a loan from an unlicensed location. The Director of the Department of Financial Institutions can, among other things, order refunds to customers, informally settle complaints and enforcement actions, and issue subpoenas. Entities offering retail installment sales using open loop prepaid cards are no longer exempt from the Consumer Loan Act. Under the Check Cashers and Sellers Act, which covers entities that cash or sell checks, drafts, money orders, or other commercial paper, as well payday lenders, the definition of “licensee” is amended to include out-of-state entities, as well as those that should have a small loan endorsement. The Director can informally settle complaints and enforcement actions regarding covered entities. The bill includes new prohibited practices for check cashers and sellers, including (i) selling open loop prepaid access in a retail installment loan, (ii) advertising a statement that is false or deceptive, (iii) failing to pay annual assessments on time, and (iv) failing to pay other monies due to the Director. The law allows for the transition of check cashers and sellers, escrow agents, and money transmitters to the National Mortgage License System and Registry. HB 2255 also eliminates the requirement that mortgage originators provide a state disclosure form, so long as the originator offers disclosures in compliance with federal Regulation X. All of the above changes take effect June 7, 2012.