AFR’s Consumer Policy Counsel Elyse Hicks testified at today’s hearing in the House Financial Services Committee examining overdraft fees.
AFR led a letter to the House Financial Services Committee in support of Rep. Carolyn Maloney’s Overdraft Protection Act of 2021.
AFREF joined a letter to the CFPB in response to their inquiry into Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) credit products that are proliferating across market areas.
WASHINGTON – More than 75 consumer, housing, civil rights, legal services, faith, community, small business, student borrower, and public interest organizations submitted a joint comment letter to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) concerning Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) credit products. The groups are alarmed by the lack of regulation of this credit product, which is exploding in use, and urge the CFPB to view BNPL products as credit cards covered by the Truth in Lending Act (TILA), to start supervision of this market, and to look out for practices that harm consumers.
“The administration’s order includes the recognition that the rapid growth of digital assets as instruments for financial speculation is creating a wide range of serious risks and harms for consumers, investors, and the public at large. It is important that the order recognizes and articulates a set of these risks, and a whole of government approach can help address the scale and scope of the potential harm. It will be important for the studies authorized by the order to generate useful data and momentum for decisive regulatory action,” said Mark Hays, senior policy analyst with AFR and Demand Progress.
AFR joined NCLC and SBPC in a letter to Congress in support of the Economic Continuity and Stability Act, which would facilitate the credit industry’s smooth transition from the LIBOR index.
AFREF joined a letter to the CFPB in response to their inquiry into Big Tech payment platforms. The letter urges the CFPB to require person-to-person payment providers to protect consumers from fraud and errors, and to work with the Federal Reserve Board to ensure protections are in place before the Fed launches its new FedNow person-to-person service.
AFREF joined a letter urging CFPB oversight of new products like buy now, pay later (BNPL) loans, income share agreements, cash advances, “fintech” overdraft or overdraft avoidance products, and earned wage access products or look-alike products that are evading consumer protection laws and creating debt traps for consumers. The letter states that the CFPB should supervise providers and ensure that each of these products are complying with applicable consumer protection laws.
AFREF, American Economic Liberties Project and Revolving Door Project sent a letter to the CFPB in response to their inquiry into Big Tech payment platforms. The letter expresses concern about Big Tech exploitation of digital payments technology, and expresses support for their recently opened inquiry into Big Tech’s power in this vital and growing market.
Americans for Financial Reform supports the introduction of the Veterans and Consumers Fair Credit Act of 2021. This legislation would extend the 36 percent APR cap on payday and car-title loans in the Military Lending Act (MLA) to cover all borrowers.