During these challenging times, Severson & Werson remains open and in full operation, consistent with the firm’s previously established contingency planning. While many of our attorneys and staff will be working remotely, as a firm, we continue in full operation. We are here to help, as always.
The CFPB issued an interim final rule that is effective May 3, 2021 to address certain debt collector conduct associated with an eviction moratorium issued by the CDC. The rule provides that debt collectors, as defined in the FDCPA, are required to provide written notice to certain consumers of their protections under the CDC Order’s eviction moratorium. Also, debt collectors… Read More
Although on April 7, 2021, the CFPB proposed to delay the October 2020 and December 2020 Debt Collection Rules by 60 days, on April 16, 2021, the CFPB moved forward with its earlier stated plan to update the small entity compliance guide to include the December 2020 Debt Collection Rule. The update guide is available here. As discussed earlier with… Read More
On April 7, 2021, the federal CFPB issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) to delay by 60 days the effective date of two final rules issued under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA). Both debt collection rules were scheduled to become effective on November 30, 2021 and the CFPB is proposing to extend the effective date of both… Read More
On January 15, 2021, the Consumer Finance Protection Bureau (CFPB) issued a small entity compliance guide summarizing the October 2020 debt collection rule. The small entity compliance guide is available here. Earlier, the October 2020 debt collection rule amended Regulation F to implement most of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act’s (FDCPA), including, among other things, communications in connection with… Read More
In Paypal, Inc. v. Consumer Fin. Prot. Bureau, No. 19-3700 (RJL), 2020 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 244761 (D.D.C. Dec. 30, 2020), Judge Leon held that the CFPB’s Pre-Paid Card Rule exceeded the CFPB’s authority because Congress neither authorized it to require mandatory short forms nor permitted it to create a substantive restriction on a consumer's access to and use of credit under… Read More
On the heels of the October 2020 Debt Collection Final Rule issued by the Consumer Finance Protection Bureau (CFPB), on December 18, 2020, the CFPB issued an additional final rule implementing the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. The December 2020 final rule and an executive summary are available here: https://www.consumerfinance.gov/compliance/compliance-resources/other-applicable-requirements/debt-collection/. The December 2020 final rule primarily addresses the (1) requirements… Read More
In Bureau of Consumer Fin. Prot. v. Fair Collections & Outsourcing, No. GJH-19-2817, 2020 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 223797, at *14-21 (D. Md. Nov. 30, 2020), Judge Hazel found constitutional ratification after SCOTUS' decision in Seila Law v. CFPB, 140 S.Ct. 2183 (2020). The Court next turns to a question left unanswered by Seila Law: whether the current CFPB Director properly… Read More
The CFPB has issued its Final Debt Collection rule: https://www.consumerfinance.gov/policy-compliance/guidance/other-applicable-requirements/debt-collection/ The CFPB's Executive Summary is here: https://files.consumerfinance.gov/f/documents/cfpb_october_2020_debt_collection_executive_summary.pdf We are reviewing the new Final Rule, and will be publishing period updates. Stay tuned! Read More
In a recent weblog post, the CFPB warned against creditors undertaking unfair and discriminatory servicing of debts during the COVID-19 crisis. The CFPB explained: We are monitoring the marketplace in real time and coordinating on an ongoing basis with fellow Federal and State regulators who are committed to stopping COVID-19-related malfeasance. We are taking, and will continue to take, swift… Read More
They used to write the Official Staff Commentary, and give "Informal Staff Opinion" letters to industry to assist industry in complying with the FDCPA. Now, the FTC has filed a Comment in response to the CFPB's Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that can be found at https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/documents/advocacy_documents/comment-staff-federal-trade-commissions-bureau-consumer-protection-matter-proposed-rule-request/final_-_cfpb_debt_coll_draft_comment_9-13_v2_1pm_ver_to_comm.pdf The FTC devotes almost half of their comment to reminding the CFPB that the… Read More
