Insurance companies played a significant role in the 2008 financial crisis, both directly and indirectly. American International Group (AIG), the world’s largest insurance group at the time, was at the epicenter of the crisis, and of course collapsed and required the largest government bailout in U.S. history.
“Americans for Financial Reform (“AFR”) appreciates this opportunity to comment on the above referenced proposed rule (the “Rule”) by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (the “CFPB” or “Bureau”) to restrict the use of forced arbitration clauses in consumer finance contracts. Forced arbitration is a system designed to leave consumers with no practical ability to enforce their most basic rights and protections.”
“The undersigned… organizations strongly support the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)’s proposed rule to limit pre-dispute binding mandatory (or forced) arbitration clauses in consumer finance contracts. The CFPB rule, which will restore consumers’ ability to band together in court to pursue claims, is a significant step forward in the ongoing fight to curb predatory practices in consumer financial products and services and to make these markets fairer and safer. “
Over 18,000 members of Americans for Financial Reform signed a petition calling on the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to ensure that consumers aren’t deprived of their day in court.
“This extensive concept release poses many questions concerning technical and detailed issues of disclosure. It is also part of a larger set of efforts relevant to financial disclosures, including the Disclosure Effectiveness Initiative, the Reg S-K study mandated by the JOBS Act, the recent proposed changes to materiality standards by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB), and the lengthy and highly technical proposed rule on Disclosure Update and Simplification released on July 13th.”
AFR wrote to the SEC to urge them to vigorously investigate what appear to be ongoing, widespread violations of securities law by private equity advisers.
AFR submitted comments to the Department of Education suggesting ways to ensure that their borrower defense proposal can truly provide a fair and transparent processes for students seeking debt relief following illegal acts by their schools.
Over 10,000 members of Americans for Financial Reform signed a petition calling on the Department to provide full loan relief to defrauded students, provide automatic loan cancellation when there is sufficient evidence of a school’s wrongdoing, not impose time limits on relief for defrauded borrowers, and close gaping loopholes allowing unscrupulous schools to prevent injured students from having their day in court.
AFR joined with the National Consumer Law Center, on behalf of its low-income clients, and 50 other organizations to file a petition today with the Federal Communications Commission urging reversal of its recent Declaratory Ruling in the Broadnet case. The FCC’s ruling allows federal contractors that
“Americans for Financial Reform (“AFR”) appreciates this opportunity to comment on the above referenced Proposed Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (the “Proposal”) issued by the Federal Reserve, FDIC, FHFA, NCUA, OCC, and SEC (the “Agencies”)… Section 956 is a particularly significant and vital element of the Dodd-Frank Act. There is widespread agreement among students of the 2008 financial crisis that the design of bonus pay was a central contributor to the crisis. “