In Ontario a bill passed recently which significantly impacts the delivery of debt settlement services there. First, I owe a big hat tip to a good friend up there in the great white north for alerting me to this. This new bill impacts both debt settlement companies and credit counselors. Bill 55, the Stronger Protection for Ontario Consumers Act 2013, ... Read More »

Collections & Credit Risk is reporting the State of Massachusetts is a step closer to regulate for-profit debt settlement companies operating in the state. Debt settlement companies would have to disclose their fees and create a budget analysis before enrolling consumers. “The longer Massachusetts waits, choosing not to oversee this industry, the more consumers will be taken advantage of by ... Read More »

I wrote extensively about the new coverage by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau of rules that regulate the debt relief industry. See Here It Comes. CFPB Supervision of Debt Relief Industry and Credit Counseling. The new rules were published in the Federal Register on July 3, 2013 and will go into force on August 2, 2013. – Source Read More »

Nova Scotia, Canada has recently introduced new legislation to help protect consumers from debt relief companies and rogue debt collection companies. The Debt Collection and Management Reform (2012) Act will target debt relief companies that make disturbing marketing practices and unachieved promises. It will also target debt relief companies that charge advance fee or up-front fees for debt help. “The ... Read More »

In a predatory move, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has issued a public request for comment over rules that could be used to regulate debt relief industry companies, both for-profit and not-for-profit. The document, “Procedural Rules to Establish Supervisory Authority over Certain Nonbank Covered Persons Based on Risk Determination” has been put out for public comment. Under this proposed ... Read More »

The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) in the UK has recently issued new rules that govern the delivery of debt relief assistance in the UK. Under these new rules a number of items are considered to be unfair or improper business practices. The OFT stated: Businesses specialising in ‘lead generation’ use various marketing methods to generate leads, particularly online via ... Read More »

According to the Maryland Division of Financial Regulation, the following companies are the only ones licensed to offer debt settlement services in Maryland under the new debt settlement law. This list is effective April 19, 2012. Freedom Debt Relief 1875 S. Grant Street, Suite 450 San Mateo, CA 94402-2676 CareOne Services, Inc. 8993 Stanford Boulevard Columbia, Maryland 21045 Debt Relief ... Read More »

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has recently released a copy of their new simpler proposed credit card agreements. One point that caught my eye was the use of the term “Workout Arrangement” in conjunction with defaulted debt. The use of this term, rather than specifying credit counseling or some other debt relief channel is very interesting. It mirrors the language ... Read More »

The CFPB today announced a new policy that may give people under investigation by the CFPB a chance to respond early in an investigation. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) today outlined plans to provide advance notice of potential enforcement actions to individuals and firms under investigation. The Early Warning Notice process allows the subject of an investigation to respond ... Read More »

I’d like to thank a very gracious tipster (send in your tips here) for sending me notice of this announcement from the State of Maryland. For all industry and consumers that are interested in free access to the site debt relief compliance module to check current regulations, click here. Read More »

I’m happy to announce today that both consumers and debt relief companies will now have FREE access to debt relief industry compliance, regulation, and legislation resources. This site module for the GetOutOfDebt.org site will give site visitors fee access to be better informed and educated about debt relief industry regulations. In this module you will find: Updates on current debt ... Read More »

Last week I had the pleasure of visiting the Consumer Finance Protection Bureau (CFPB) in Washington, DC. to meet with staff and attend a planning session. Elizabeth Warren started the meeting with an introduction and left the meeting in the capable and good hands of Peggy Twohig and Alice Hrdy, both who supervised debt relief issues over at the FTC, ... Read More »

And here is one of those little odd facts that appears from time to time that I never knew. Yes, I still learn new stuff frequently as well. The Ohio statute 2716.03 Commencing proceeding for garnishment of personal earnings says: No proceeding in garnishment of personal earnings shall be brought against a judgment debtor for the collection of a debt ... Read More »

A tipster (send in your tips here) sent me in the link to the current California debt settlement bill that listed who was before and against it. What is interesting to note is that Visa is for it and Consumers Union. Gail Hillebrand who was behind these efforts at Consumers Union is now with the CFPB. In Support of the ... Read More »

Apparently the attorney loophole for debt settlement services is being address in new legislation. The current bill passing through the legislative process in California has had a recent addition that specifically targets advanced fee attorney model debt settlement services. Here is what the current version of the bill says regarding attorney exemptions: Section 12501 “(E) An attorney who provides debt ... Read More »