A Word of Caution on Buy Now, Pay Later

 From NewsBreak:

The U.S. Public Interest Research Group (U.S. PIRG) issued a report analyzing complaints made to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) on Buy Now, Pay Later products. The report contained key findings that create cause for concern around these products.

In a press release, PIRG warned of the hazards of using such products - offered by companies such as AfterPay, Sezzle, Klarna, Affirm, and others.

“There’s no such thing as a free lunch. Or free airline tickets. Or free appliances. But it isn’t hard to get the latter two with no money down these days with the proliferation of ‘Buy Now, Pay Later’ plans,” said Ed Mierzwinski, the senior director of U.S. PIRG Education Fund’s consumer program. “Many of these installment plans, often advertised as ‘free’ to the consumer if all payments are made on time, aren’t run by the company you buy your furniture or electronics from. Instead, they’re managed by third-party financial firms -- known as fintechs -- and some claim they aren’t subject to credit card consumer protections.” 

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$30 Billion a Year in "Junk Fees"

 From NewsBreak:

Today, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) issued a request for information on late and junk fees charged by banks and credit cards. The move is an effort to begin the process of designing protections for consumers in the credit and banking industries.

In making the announcement, the CFPB indicated that industry reform could save consumers billions of dollars each year.

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Consumer Group Takes on Failings of Credit Bureaus

 From NewsBreak:

Following a report from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) on the failings of the Big Three credit bureaus when it comes to resolving consumer complaints, the Public Interest Research Group (PIRG) issued a call for reform of the industry.

Consumer Advocates Call for Reform of Credit Bureaus | by Andy Spears | Jan, 2022 | Medium

PIRG noted:

For over 30 years now, PIRGs have fought for changes in the private credit reporting system that the Big 3 bureaus dominate. A summary of our own findings is this: The big 3 credit bureaus function as self-appointed gatekeepers to financial and employment opportunity. Their oligopoly has been an epic fail for consumers.

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More on the Risks of Buy Now, Pay Later

 From NewsBreak:

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has announced an inquiry into the practices of the Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) industry in light of the popularity of products such as Klarna and Afterpay. The move comes as the major credit bureaus are adding information from Buy Now, Pay Later to credit reports.

Use of BNPL has seen astronomical growth. Companies like Affirm, Afterpay, Klarna, PayPal, and Zip (formerly Quadpay) have become almost ubiquitous in the retail market since the pandemic. This past holiday season, usage spiked even higher, especially among young people.

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A Call to Action on Credit Bureau Reform

 From NewsBreak:

On the heels of a report released by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), advocates at the National Consumer Law Center (NCLC) are calling for major reform to the credit reporting industry.

“The CFPB is to be commended for issuing this report and shining a spotlight on the serious problems of the Big Three credit bureaus in responding to credit reporting disputes,” said Chi Chi Wu, staff attorney with NCLC. We appreciate the leadership of Commissioner Chopra and the efforts of the CFPB staffers who worked on the report. We endorse the CFPB’s conclusion that ‘The [credit bureaus’] responses to these complaints raise serious questions about whether they are unable — or unwilling — to comply with the law.’ And quite troubling is CFPB’s highlighting that the credit bureaus reported relief in response to less than 2% of covered complaints.”

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