In a recent press release, the Pennsylvania Attorney General announced that settlements have been reached with Delaware and Florida lenders who made allegedly usurious loans to Pennsylvania residents.  In apparent support of the settlement, the press release cites the Third Circuit’s decision in TitleMax of Delaware, Inc. v. Weissman, in which an out-of-state lender unsuccessfully sought to enjoin the Pennsylvania Department of Banking from investigating loans made to Pennsylvania residents. … Continue Reading

We discuss recent and ongoing enforcement activity of the PA AG involving consumer financial services.  Our conversation focuses on activity directed at: auto title lenders for alleged violations of PA usury law; national banks for alleged CARD Act violations; furniture retailers for alleged “hang tag” law violations; home sellers for alleged violations of mortgage laws arising from the use of contracts for deed; and phone scams.… Continue Reading

The CFPB announced that it has entered into a consent order with Main Street Personal Finance, Inc. and two subsidiaries (Main Street), each a small-dollar lender, to settle the CFPB’s allegations that Main Street (1) violated the Truth in Lending Act and the CFPA’s UDAAP prohibition by underdisclosing the finance charge on auto-title loans entered into with Mississippi consumers and failing to make timely refunds of credit balances, and (2) violated the UDAAP prohibition by making collection calls to consumers’ workplaces and references.… Continue Reading

The CFPB announced last week that it has entered into a consent order with Triton Management Group, Inc., a small-dollar lender, to settle the CFPB’s allegations that Triton had violated the Truth in Lending Act and the CFPA’s UDAAP prohibition by underdisclosing the finance charge on auto title pledges entered into with Mississippi consumers.… Continue Reading

The CFPB’s final payday loan rule was published in today’s Federal Register.  Lenders covered by the rule include nonbank entities as well as banks and credit unions.  In addition to payday loans, the rule covers auto title loans, deposit advance products, and certain high-rate installment and open-end loans.  For a summary of the rule, see our legal alert.… Continue Reading

The CFPB announced that it has entered into a consent order with TMX Finance, LLC to settle allegations that the company did not provide sufficient information to consumers about the terms of auto title loans, pawns or pledges, and engaged in unfair collection practices.  The consent order requires TMX Finance to pay a $9 million civil money penalty.… Continue Reading

The CFPB announced that it has filed administrative enforcement actions against five Arizona auto title lenders for alleged violations of Truth in Lending Act advertising requirements.  According to the CFPB, the lenders violated TILA by advertising a periodic interest rate for their loans on their websites without advertising a corresponding annual percentage rate. … Continue Reading

As expected, the CFPB issued its proposed payday loan rule, in a release running 1,334 pages.  The CFPB also issued a fact sheet summarizing the proposal.  On June 15, 2016, from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. ET, we will hold a webinar on the proposal: The CFPB’s Proposed Payday/Auto Title/High-Rate Installment Loan Rule: Can Industry Adapt to the New World Order? … Continue Reading

The CFPB has issued a new report entitled “Single-Payment Vehicle Title Lending,” summarizing data on single-payment auto title loans.  The latest report is the fourth report issued by the CFPB in connection with its anticipated rulemaking addressing single-payment payday and auto title loans, deposit advance products, and certain “high cost” installment and open-end loans.  … Continue Reading

The CFPB has announced that a summer meeting of its Consumer Advisory Board is scheduled for June 18, 2015 in Omaha, Nebraska.  Director Cordray is slated to attend the meeting.

The meeting will focus on trends and themes in consumer financial markets and recent proposals related to payday loans, auto title loans, and other longer term credit products. … Continue Reading