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Personal Finance

National Consumer Law Center (NCLC) Take Action!

The NCLC has provided solid consumer law information for many year. Here's where you can see what legislation it is currently advocating.

Center for Responsible Lending

CRL conducts in-depth research on the extent and impact of predatory lending, to provide useful information to consumers, community advocates, and policymakers alike. We also share our market and legal knowledge with advocates and policymakers across the nation interested in reforming lending practices and frequently respond to regulators' requests for comments on lending issues.

NCSL - National Conference of State Legislatures

The strength of NCSL is bipartisanship and commitment to serving both Republicans and Democrats. It is recognized for comprehensive, unbiased research.

The chart below lists state legislation introduced or pending during the 2018 legislative session relating to financial literacy or financial education. 

https://www.ncsl.org/financial-services

GOTRACK.US

GOTRACK.US publishes the status of federal legislation, information about your representative and senators in Congress including voting records, and original research on bills and votes.

Browse bills in the U.S. Congress related to the subject Financial literacy, as determined by the Library of Congress.

https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/subjects/financial_literacy/6074

Bankruptcy

NACBA - National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys  

NACBA protects and advocates the rights of consumer bankruptcy debtors by getting involved in legislative efforts to change the Bankruptcy Code and has led recent efforts in Congress to enact mortgage modification legislation.

https://nacba.org/page/legislative_efforts (Recent Legislative Efforts)

https://nacba.org/page/state_advocacy (State Legislative Efforts)

ABI - American Bankruptcy Institute

ABI is the nation’s largest association of bankruptcy professionals, made up of over 12,000 members in multi-disciplinary roles, including attorneys, auctioneers, bankers, judges, lenders, professors, turnaround specialists, accountants and others. 

ABI plays a leading role in providing congressional leaders and the general public with non-partisan reporting and analysis of bankruptcy regulations, laws and trends. 

https://www.abi.org/newsroom/legislative-news  (Legislative Updates)

The National Association of Consumer Advocates (NACA) 

NACA is a nonprofit association of more than 1,500 attorneys and consumer advocates committed to representing consumers’ interests.

Legislative work NACA takes on:

  • Working to eliminate forced arbitration clauses from consumer contracts
  • Addressing the need to change the current structure around attorney fee tax policy
  • Partnering with like-minded organizations to increase our leverage and bring additional resources to bear on legislative and government regulatory bodies

Members are encouraged to participate in our legislative activities by taking action.

https://www.consumeradvocates.org/advocacy

National Association of Bankruptcy Trustees - NABT

The National Association of Bankruptcy Trustees (NABT) is a nonprofit association formed in 1982 to address the needs of chapter 7 bankruptcy trustees and to promote the effectiveness of the bankruptcy system as a whole.

Membership in NABT is open to chapter 7 trustees and their staff, judges, employees of the Office of the U.S. Trustee, and associated professionals and businesses. Associate members include attorneys, accountants, auctioneers, appraisers, insurance agents, software providers and bankers.

 

National Association of Chapter 13 Trustees - NACTT

NACTT membership consists of trustees, bankruptcy judges, lawyers for debtors and creditors, certified public accountants and other insolvency related professionals.

Site offers resources, news, meeting info and other helpful information.

https://nactt.com/Frequently-Asked-Questions  (Chapter 13 FAQ's)

The National Consumer Bankruptcy Rights Center (NCBRC) 

NCBRC provides assistance either by working directly with debtors’ attorneys or by filing amicus briefs in courts throughout the country.

The site offers resource links, a blog, briefs, and event information. 

https://www.ncbrc.org/

Credit Cards

CFPB - Consumer Financial Protection Bureau

The CFPB was created to provide a single point of accountability for enforcing federal consumer financial laws and protecting consumers in the financial marketplace. 

The site answers questions about credit card problems, identity theft, interest rates, understanding the bill and more. 

https://www.consumerfinance.gov/consumer-tools/credit-cards/answers/

Debt Collection

Federal Trade Commission - FTC

The FTC is the nation’s consumer protection agency. The FTC works to prevent fraudulent, deceptive and unfair business practices in the marketplace.

The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act protects consumers from abusive or harassing treatment by debt collectors and establishes guidelines for the industry.

https://www.ftc.gov/business-guidance/credit-finance/debt-collection

https://www.ftc.gov/legal-library/browse/cases-proceedings/banned-debt-collectors  ( A list of banned debt collectors) 

BBB - Better Business Bureau 

The Better Business Bureau (BBB), is a non-governmental organization created to enhance marketplace trust. Consumers can file disputes with the Better Business Bureau (BBB) about unfair business practices and other marketplace issues.

Collection Laws and Exemptions by State: 

https://www.bbb.org/financial-building-blocks/collection-laws/

CFPB -Consumer Financial Protection Bureau

The CFPB was created to provide a single point of accountability for enforcing federal consumer financial laws and protecting consumers in the financial marketplace. 

The site answers questions about disputing debt, harassment, wage garnishment, student debt collection to name a few. 

https://www.consumerfinance.gov/ask-cfpb/category-debt-collection/ 

Lending Practices 

OCC - Office of the Comptroller of the Currency

The OCC charters, regulates, and supervises all national banks and federal savings associations as well as federal branches and agencies of foreign banks. The OCC is an independent bureau of the U.S. Department of the Treasury.

The Truth in Lending Act (TILA) protects against inaccurate and unfair credit billing and credit card practices. It requires lenders to provide loan cost information so that one can comparison shop for certain types of loans.

The Fair Housing Act (FHA) and the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA) protect consumers by prohibiting unfair and discriminatory practices. Read the OCC's "Answers About Consumer Loans" and "Answers About Mortgages and Home Loans" for more information.

The Servicemembers' Civil Relief Act (SCRA) postpones or suspends certain civil obligations to enable service members to devote their full attention to duty and relieve stress on their families.

The Servicemembers' Civil Relief Act (SCRA) postpones or suspends certain civil obligations to enable service members to devote their full attention to duty and to relieve stress on their families. The act covers

  • Outstanding credit card debt
  • Mortgage payments
  • Pending trials
  • Taxes
  • Termination of lease
  • Eviction from housing
  • Life insurance protection

The SCRA covers all active duty service members, reservists, and members of the National Guard while on active duty. Visit Military.com or the U.S. Department of Justice for more information.

The Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act (FACTA) provides you with better access to your credit information. Under FACTA, consumers are entitled to one free credit report every 12 months from each of the three credit bureaus (Equifax, TransUnion, and Experian). Reviewing these reports allows you to correct any errors in your credit history and protect your credit identity. Learn more about identity theft on the Federal Trade Commission website and in the OCC's "Answers About Identity Theft."

The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) regulates the consumer credit reporting industry. In general, the FCRA requires that industry to report your consumer credit information in a fair, timely, and accurate manner. Banks and other lenders use this information to make lending decisions. If a lender denies credit or increases the cost of credit to you, it must give you the name and address of the consumer reporting agency from which it received your report. Under the FCRA, you have the right to review that report and correct any errors that may be in it. Read "Credit and Your Consumer Rights" on the Federal Trade Commission website and see the OCC's "Answers About Credit Reports."

CFPB - Commission Financial Protection Bureau

The CFPB was created to provide a single point of accountability for enforcing federal consumer financial laws and protecting consumers in the financial marketplace. 

The Equal Credit Opportunity Act makes it illegal for a creditor to discriminate in any aspect of credit transaction based on certain characteristics.

The site answers questions about discrimination, fair lending, how to protect from discrimination and others.

https://www.consumerfinance.gov/fair-lending/

ABA - American Bankers Association 

ABA advocates for banks before Congress, the regulatory agencies and the courts. 

Find out about recent developments, procedures, regulations and more information. 

https://www.aba.com/banking-topics/compliance/acts 

ICBA - Independent Community Bank Association

The Independent Community Bankers of America®, the nation’s voice for nearly 5,700 community banks of all sizes and charter types, is dedicated exclusively to representing the interests of the community banking industry and its membership through effective advocacy, best-in-class education and high-quality products and services. 

Advocacy issues include: consumer lending, commercial real-estate, fair lending, military and small business. 

http://www.icba.org/advocacy/industry-issues/lending

Securities Fraud

U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission  (SEC)

The mission of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission is to protect investors, maintain fair, orderly, and efficient markets, and facilitate capital formation.

Information on how to identify and avoid securities fraud.

https://www.sec.gov/reportspubs/investor-publications/investorpubsidentavoidfraudhtm.html

NASAA - North American Securites Administrators Association

NASAA actively advocates the interests of state and provincial securities regulators at all levels of government to protect investors and promote capital markets for the benefit of all investors.

Letters to Congress, Joint Policy letters, Legislative Priorities and NSAA'S Legislative Priorities for the 115th Congress are some of the many resources on the site.

http://www.nasaa.org/issues-and-advocacy/ (Issues & Advocacy)

http://www.nasaa.org/about-us/contact-us/contact-your-regulator/  (Contact your State Regulator)  

 

Student Loans





Jurisdictional relevance: US

Legal Consumer - Bad Axe, MILaw. The content of this article pertains to all US states and counties.