Credit Acceptance’s $694 Million Settlement: What Borrowers Actually Need to Know (September 2026)
Credit Acceptance agreed to pay $694 million after 40 states alleged predatory auto lending. Here’s exactly how you’ll know if you’re covered.
Consumer Financial Protection bureau
The CFPB Just Stopped Publishing Consumer Complaint Stories — Here’s How to Still Vet a Debt Company
The CFPB stopped publishing complaint narratives Aug. 14 — here’s what’s still in the database and how I’d still vet a debt collector or settlement company.
Your Mortgage Approval Isn’t Proof You Can Afford It. Here’s the Federal Law Almost Nobody Knows About.
A lender approving your mortgage doesn’t mean you can afford it. I checked the federal law that’s supposed to protect you — and for most ordinary mortgages, it protects you far less than you’d think.
The Attorney Model Debt Settlement Loophole — And Why It’s Often Worse Than the Scams It Replaced
Debt settlement companies found a legal loophole: partner with an attorney and the FTC’s advance-fee ban doesn’t apply. Here’s how the attorney model works, why it often costs more, and the red flags that reveal a scam hiding behind a law license.
Why Financial Literacy Classes Fail: What the Research Actually Shows
Financial literacy education explains only 0.1% of financial behavior variance. A synthesis of 201 studies, Big Five personality research, and original 2001 clinical data from Myvesta reveals why — and what money personality reveals that classrooms never can.
What Is a Charge-Off? It Doesn’t Mean the Debt Disappears
A charge-off means the creditor wrote your debt off their books — not that it’s forgiven. You still owe it, it stays on your credit report for 7 years, and collectors can still sue you. Here’s what to do.
Appeals Court Signals CFPB Will Likely Survive — What It Means for Your Consumer Protections
The D.C. Circuit’s full 11-judge bench heard arguments on the CFPB shutdown Feb. 24 and appeared deeply skeptical. Even the government conceded it can’t fully eliminate the CFPB. Here’s what it means for consumers.
CFPB Gets a Reprieve: Court Blocks Defunding Attempt (For Now)
Quick Answer: A DC federal judge blocked the White House’s attempt to defund the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, calling it “an unsupported and transparent attempt to starve the CFPB of funding.” The agency will continue operating and employees will get paid—for now. But this is a temporary reprieve, not a final resolution.The CFPB light switch …
Big Bank Payday Loans: Are They Legit?
Quick Answer: Congress recently overturned a CFPB rule that would have capped big bank overdraft fees at $5, keeping current $35 charges in place. The Senate voted 52-48 to repeal the regulation, allowing banks with over $10 billion in assets to continue charging fees up to three times daily.Imagine being charged $35 because you bought …
2005 Bankruptcy Reform Helped Students: Myth vs Reality
Quick Answer: The 2005 Bankruptcy Reform did not help students with private loans, contrary to its intended purpose. Harvard research shows students lost the ability to discharge loans in bankruptcy but received no compensating price reductions, while lenders benefited from increased loan volumes.It’s official, bankruptcy reform in 2005 totally sucked for people with private student …
