CFPB Launches Streamlining Regulations Feedback Web Tool
On February 16th, Richard Cordray, director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) announced the launch of a Streamlining Regulations Feedback Web Tool. This tool enables you to more easily submit suggestions for streamlining regulations the CFPB has recently inherited from other Federal agencies. Last November, the CFPB asked for input on how to streamline the regulations it inherited from seven [...]
FCC Regulation Amendments
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) approved a Report and Order on February 15, 2012 that adopts significant amendments to its Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) regulations (Amended Regulations). The Amended Regulations impose additional requirements pertaining to prerecorded telemarketing messages and/or telemarketing calls made to cell phones. The regulations also include new call abandonment rules. Significant changes [...]
State AG Fines Dealer $100,000 for Advertising Violations
Washington Attorney General Rob McKenna filed a complaint against a Washington dealer for engaging in “Power Booking” loans to get consumer’s qualified for loans by misrepresenting the value of the vehicle. This practice involved listing phantom options on the vehicle to inflate the true value. The Attorney General also alleged that the dealer misled consumers [...]
FCC Amends TCPA
Today the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) voted to amend its Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA). The amendments have not been published, however, based on the FCC comments, the amendments include: 1. A company must have express written consent to place a prerecorded sales call to a consumer, which consent can be obtained electronically if compliant [...]
FTC Shuts Down Robocallers Who Fraudulently Claim To Reduce Credit Card Interest Rates
The Federal Trade Commission recently reached a settlement with F&F Payment Processing Inc., Bajada Management Group Inc., Baird B. Fisher, Jacqueline M. Fisher, four defendants who allegedly engaged in phony debt relief services. Through the use of robocalls, Defendants claimed that, for $995, they could dramatically reduce consumers’ credit card interest rates. At most, the [...]
Federal Court Holds that Zip Codes are Personally Identifiable Information
The US District Court for the District of Massachusetts recently held, in Tyler v. Michaels Stores, that zip codes constitute personal identification information (PII) for purposes of a Massachusetts’ privacy law that prohibits businesses from recording consumers’ PII in connection with credit card transactions (certain exemptions apply). The holding comports with a decision reached last [...]
Buy Here Pay Here Dealers Face Scrutiny in California
Following a series of articles that ran in the LA Times during the fall, the California Legislature is considering two bills that would significantly alter the Buy Here Pay Here industry in California. The proposed legislation would require buy here pay here dealers to obtain a finance lenders license and would subject them to the [...]
TCPA Violaters Can be Sued in Fed. Ct.
Consumers will now have more forums in which to sue telemarketers, debt collectors and others calling their home or cell phones. The U.S. Supreme Court unanimously ruled in Mims v. Arrow Financial Services that companies that violate the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) can be sued in either state or federal court. The TCPA allows [...]
Supreme Court allows telemarketers to be sued in federal court
The Associated Press has reported that the Supreme Court says people who get unwanted calls from telemarketers and other businesses can sue in federal as well as state courts.
The Vancouver Sun Reports Regarding International Do Not Call Collaborations
Canada’s communications authority has joined forces with 11 other countries to enforce an international Do-Not-Call list. Read more: http://www.canada.com/business/CRTC+joins+countries+limit+telemarketers+enforce+international+call+list/5623112/story.html#ixzz1jLvruuPK
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