The FTC and Connecticut Join Forces for Action Against Nissan Dealer
Consumer Finance Monitor Podcast Episode: A Close Look at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s Proposed Rules on Overdraft and Nonsufficient Funds Fees
Consumer Finance Monitor Podcast Episode: The Federal Trade Commission: Looking Back at 2023 and Looking Ahead to 2024 and Beyond
An In-Depth Analysis of the CFPB’s Proposed Overdraft Rule - The Consumer Finance Podcast
The FTC Takes Initiative to Stop Junk Fees
Consumer Finance Monitor Podcast Episode: The Biden Admin “Junk Fees” Initiative Continues: What the Latest Actions Mean for the Consumer Financial Services and Rental Housing Industries, Pt 1
AD Nauseam: Junk Fees Will Keep Us Together
CFPB’s War on Junk Fees - The Consumer Finance Podcast
Recent Tenth Circuit Decision in John Q Hammons Fall Following SCOTUS’ Decision in Siegel v. Fitzgerald Could Result in Significant Refunds for Certain Chapter 11 Debtors
The Constitutionality of Increased Trustee Fees In Bankruptcy
2BInformed: The Future of Fluoride in Drinking Water, the New TSCA Fees Rule, and the Drinking Water Contaminant Candidate List 5
Immigration Insights Podcast: International Entrepreneur Parole Program & Biometrics Requirement
I-22- The Benefits of Benefits: A Roundtable Discussion on Trending Benefits Issues for 2018
Investment Management Update – Fees and Expenses
Bill on Bankruptcy: Rakoff Reverses Himself in Madoff Case
In Circular 26-24-19, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) sets forth documentation requirements for fees and charges that may be imposed on veterans in connection with VA-guaranteed home loans, other than the VA funding...more
Welcome to the latest edition of the Spectrum, covering hot-topic issues in the structured finance markets in the U.S. and UK. This edition features the new UK securitization regime, eHELOCs, and climate risk disclosures....more
Although a senior living property manager is not the party on the hook for the loan, it is important that they review and negotiate certain provisions in the owner’s loan documents that affect their rights and obligations in...more
On May 30, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB or Bureau) issued a request for information (Request) regarding alleged “junk fees” in closing costs charged by mortgage lenders and related settlement service...more
While the Spring 2024 Supervisory Highlights report issued by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) largely covered loss mitigation deficiencies and fee practices — issues that are regulatory priorities and,...more
As previously reported, in November 2022 the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) issued a proposal to update its rules for interest rate reduction refinancing loans (often referred to as “IRRRLs”) to conform with VA loan...more
On February 26, the Department of Veterans Affairs published a circular to address assumption fees, specifically permitting a loan holder to charge an additional assumption-related fee based on the location of the relevant...more
Currently, more than 60% of Americans are living paycheck-to-paycheck. And for the average American household, emergency expenses don’t always align perfectly with the typical biweekly payday. This financial strain leads...more
The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) has issued a bulletin (2023-37) that provides guidance on managing risks associated with “buy now, pay later” (BNPL) lending. The BNPL loans addressed in the bulletin are...more
On November 13, 2023, a nonbank lender and the Colorado Administrator of the Uniform Consumer Credit Code (Administrator) entered into an Assurance of Discontinuance to settle allegations that the lender charged membership...more
A New York Bankruptcy Judge held that a debtor must pay default-rate interest and fees to a secured lender as a condition to reinstatement of defaulted and accelerated debt under a chapter 11 plan. A debtor must pay...more
On September 27, the CFPB released its annual report on residential mortgage lending activity and trends for 2022. Under the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA), the CFPB requires financial institutions to collect and provide...more
Ticking fees for extended commitment periods (often over at least 4 to 6-months) have long been a feature of committed financings in the U.S. loan market. Such fee structures were initially most common in syndicated deals,...more
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has sought comments on how it can best crack down on what it calls “junk fees.” Our Financial Services & Products Group examines how mortgage servicing is singled out and why mortgage...more
As Black History Month comes to a close, the relationships between the history of race, poverty, affordable financial services, and modern American life are hard to ignore. Over the past two years, surviving a pandemic has...more
If I told you I was going to give you money now and forcibly take it back from you a few days from now, that is a loan. If you paid me a fee for this, you’d probably presume this to be interest on your loan. But what if...more
Twice this year, Balch & Bingham reported on the wave of “Agent Fee” class actions against lenders who made PPP loans under the CARES Act. At one point, there were over sixty such lawsuits spread across the federal courts,...more
A&B ABstract: In a number of recent decisions, district courts have split on the issue of whether a mortgage servicer violates the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (“FDCPA”) and related state debt collection statutes by...more
In the News. On the heels of a lawsuit challenging the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency’s (OCC) recently issued Madden fix/valid when made rule, eight state attorneys general filed suit challenging a similar rule...more
Transactions involving the borrowing and lending of units of virtual currency (or crypto loans) are increasing in number and type. Lacking Treasury or IRS guidance with respect to crypto loans, potential tax issues that arise...more
A recap of Carlos Ghosn’s big media moment on Wednesday, which was short on the escape details everyone wanted to hear and long on accusations against other execs at Nissan and Japan’s justice system....more
A defendant who lost a bench trial in a certified class case alleging that it violated the Electronic Funds Transfer Act by forcing the plaintiff and class to use electronic funds transfer services to obtain loans sought to...more
Following news of Starboard Value’s plan to shake things up at Perrigo, we have this take from Breakingviews, which suggests that fending off a hostile takeover (as Perrigo did from Mylan) tends to “make fertile turf for an...more
In LaBonte v. New England Development R.I., LLC et al., No 12-328, the Rhode Island Supreme Court recently clarified the state’s usury law by holding that a fee could be included in the calculation of interest even though it...more
The Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (“SCRA”) was signed into law in 2003, greatly expanding prior legislation in order to better assist servicemembers in avoiding default and foreclosure while they are on active duty. The...more