This document summarizes the CFPB's examination procedures for short-term, small-dollar lending (payday lending). Module 2 addresses compliance with laws around taking applications, evaluating applicants, and originating loans, including ECOA, FCRA, TILA, and other risks. Examiners will assess compliance with requirements for non-discrimination, accurate disclosures, and proper treatment of customers. Module 3 covers repayment of loans and issues around rollovers. While not as heavily regulated, repayment is still subject to important rules depending on loan features. Examiners will seek to identify any violations of applicable laws.
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CFPB Small Dollar Lending Exam Procedures Module 2 ECOA, FCRA, TILA and Other Risks
1. CFPB Exam Procedures for Short-Term, Small-Dollar Lending
Module 2 Provisions Addressing: ECOA, FCRA, TILA and
Other Risks
October 6, 2012
Justin Hosie
Hudson Cook, LLP
2. Introduction
• Coverage. Module 2 covers:
Taking applications
Evaluating applicants
Originating payday loans
• Federal Laws. Examiners will seek to identify acts, practices, or materials
that violate the following federal requirements:
Equal Credit Opportunity Act/Regulation B
Fair Credit Reporting Act
Truth In Lending Act/Regulation Z
Electronic Fund Transfer Act/Regulation E (addressed by Chuck with Module 3)
• 7 Other Risks. Examiners will also seek to address 7 other risks to
consumers in this module
3. Overview of CFPB Examinations
• The Playbook is Published. Agency has published it’s small dollar lending
examination manual, outlining expectations.
• “Mostly” Enforcing Regulations You’ve Known About. Primarily
addresses longstanding requirements that have always applied. There are
some new concepts.
• Learning Curve Exists on Both Sides. There is a new level of scrutiny
and a learning curve.
Learning about federal regulatory processes
Similarities exist for those who made loans under an FDIC bank model years ago
Industry members have been examined, and some are undergoing examination now
The CFPB is learning about the industry too.
• Policies Alone Are Not Enough – You Need Training and Auditing Too.
4. Equal Credit Opportunity Act and
Regulation B (ECOA)
• Examiners will assess compliance with
requirements for:
taking applications
evaluating customer qualifications
extending credit
providing disclosures (i.e. adverse action)
and denying credit
5. ECOA – Don’t Discriminate
Don’t treat consumers less favorably, in any
part of the process, based on:
Race, Color,
Religion, National
origin, Sex
Marital status
Age (provided the
applicant has the
capacity to contract)
Public assistance
income
The applicant has in
good faith
exercised any
right under the
Consumer Credit
Protection Act
6. ECOA – Taking Applications
• Don’t Discourage Applications. The
Company should not make any oral or
written statement, in advertising or
otherwise, to applicants or prospective
applicants that would discourage on a
prohibited basis a reasonable person
from making or pursuing an application.
7. ECOA – Taking Applications
• Use a Model Application Like a Regulation B Model.
5 models based on transaction type.
• Important Notices:
Optional nature of courtesy titles (“Mr.,” Ms.,” &
“Mrs.” are optional).
Option to disclose alimony, child support, or
separate maintenance income
Limitation concerning marital status inquiries must
be included in the appropriate places.
8. ECOA – Taking Applications
• Don’t Force Non-Applicant to Enter Credit
Agreement. You should not force a non-applicant to
obtain credit, for example, just because of marital
status. Rather, if only one consumer applies, a spouse
should not be forced to apply.
• So, if the spouse is not an applicant, don’t force them to
sign the contract.
9. ECOA – Evaluating Customer
Qualifications
• Consider anything, except:
information used to discriminate on a
prohibited basis
Note the following list of special
considerations
10. ECOA – Evaluating Customer
Qualifications
• Special Considerations – Don’t Discriminate Based on:
Having Children. Don’t make assumptions
or use aggregate statistics relating to the
likelihood that any category of persons will
bear or rear children or will, for that reason,
receive diminished or interrupted income in
the future.
11. • Special Considerations – Don’t Discriminate Based on:
Unlisted Phone Numbers. Don’t consider
whether there is a telephone listing in the
name of an applicant for consumer credit.
You can consider whether there is a
telephone in the applicant's residence.
ECOA – Evaluating Customer
Qualifications
12. • Special Considerations – Don’t Discriminate Based on:
Part Time Income, etc. Don’t discount or
exclude income because it’s from part-time
employment or is an annuity, pension, or
other retirement benefit.
You can consider the amount and
probable continuance of any income.
ECOA – Evaluating Customer
Qualifications
13. • Special Considerations – Don’t Discriminate Based on:
Alimony, etc. Don’t discount or exclude
income because it’s from alimony, child
support, or separate maintenance payments.
If the customer decides to share the amount,
the amount is income.
You can consider whether those amounts
are likely to be consistently made.
ECOA – Evaluating Customer
Qualifications
14. ECOA – Evaluating Customer
Qualifications
• Other Special Rules:
You may consider Immigration Status.
Lenders may consider an applicant's
immigration status or status as a permanent
US resident of the United States.
You can also consider any additional information
that may be necessary to ascertain the creditor's
rights and remedies regarding repayment.
15. ECOA – Evaluating Customer
Qualifications
• Other Special Rules:
Treat Married / Unmarried the Same.
Evaluate married and unmarried applicants by the same standards
Don’t Treat Joint Applicants Different based on Marital
Status.
For joint applicants, don’t treat applicants differently based on the
existence, absence, or likelihood of a marital relationship between
the parties
If I apply with Grandma, a roommate, or my wife, all pairings
should be evaluated in the same way.
16. ECOA – Extending Credit
• Don’t Discriminate on a Prohibited Basis.
• Only Applicants Should Sign the
Contract. Don’t require the a spouse or
other person to sign the contract with a
qualified applicant, unless the person is a
joint applicant.
Submitting joint financial information/assets,
is not an application for joint credit.
17. ECOA – Extending Credit
• Unique Rule: Pick a Name
Customer Can Choose to Use Their Birth-Given
Surname, Married Name, or Combined Name.
Don’t refuse to allow an applicant to open or maintain an account
in a birth-given first name and a surname that is the applicant's
birth-given surname, the spouse's surname, or a combined
surname.
CFPB Regulation B § 1002.7(b)
18. ECOA – Denying Credit
• Provide Model Denial Notices within 30 Days. You
must notify applicants of action taken on their
applications, such as a denial, in a proscribed format
within 30 days of receipt of a complete or incomplete
application, and document the reason for the action.
• Give a Conspicuous Copy to the Consumer. ECOA
disclosures must be provided in a clear and conspicuous
manner and generally in a form the applicant may retain.
19. What is adverse action?
• Refusal to grant credit in terms requested
in an application (barring an accepted
counteroffer)
• Terminating or unfavorably changing terms
• Refusing to increase credit available
after an application for an increase
20. ECOA – Disclosures (Adverse Action)
• Use the Model Form. Use the regulatory
template and note your reasons on the
notice or internally. Must include:
statement of the action taken
name and address of the creditor
nondiscrimination statement
Federal agency information
Specific denial reasons or the right to request
denial reasons
21. ECOA – Disclosures (Adverse Action)
• Incomplete Application
Use the specific model form. If the denial
is due to an incomplete application use
special model notice of missing info and
timeframe.
22. ECOA – Disclosures (Adverse Action
• Denial reasons must:
be specific
indicate the principal reason(s) for the
adverse action.
23. ECOA – Final Notes
• Have Clear Policies and Employee Scripts.
Fair Lending, Non-discrimination, Credit Criteria, Sending denial
notices, Responding to inquiries
• Keep Records.
Required for 25 Months from date you notify consumer of application
status (incomplete, denial, or loan approval).
• Consider Self-Testing Regarding Unintended Practices
that Yield Discriminatory Results.
Discrimination is measured by the effects of the policies in place, not
the intent (disparate treatment and impact)
Companies should hire qualified parties to conduct self-testing to
determine whether policies are discriminatory.
24. Fair Credit Reporting Act
• Permissible Purpose. Only use info from third
party databases for permissible purposes
(application or as authorized)
• Accurate Furnishing. Only furnish accurate info
to third party databases
25. Fair Credit Reporting Act
• Probably Using Consumer Reports.
3rd party data providers may be FCRA consumer
reporting agencies
FCRA applies when you use a consumer
reporting agency to determine creditworthiness
26. FCRA – Loan Denial
• If you used a consumer reporting agency
or third party source as part of your denial,
notify the consumer of:
Contact information
Right to a copy
• Use the model FCRA notices provided by
the agencies in Regulation B
27. FCRA – Key Policies
• Have, Use, and Update the Following Policies:
Dispute Policy. Be Prepared to Respond to Consumer Disputes Regarding
Information the Company Reports to Credit Bureaus.
Red Flags Policy. Be Prepared for Address Discrepancies and Identity Theft.
Information Disposal Policy. Be Prepared to Properly Dispose of Sensitive
Consumer Information.
• These policies are explicitly required under the FCRA and it’s
implementing regulations.
28. FCRA – Other Considerations
• Negative Reporting Notice.
• Truncate Card Numbers.
• Investigate Alerts. Don’t Just Deny Consumers.
• Ignore Medical Info. Don’t Obtain, Use, or Share Consumer
Medical Information.
• Read and Follow the Stuff from Consumer Reporting Agencies.
Follow the Rights and Responsibilities Notice You Receive from the
Consumer Reporting Agencies.
29. FCRA – Higher APRs
• If you have a higher APR due to info
from a third party – give a special “risk
based pricing” notice.
• Most payday companies have fixed
fees, and APR variance is based on
transaction durations not consumer
reports.
30. Truth in Lending Act / Regulation Z
• Disclose loan terms and Annual
Percentage Rates
• Credit payments properly
• Process credit balances in accordance
with its requirements
31. Truth In Lending Act / Regulation Z
• Examiner Focus:
Are loans closed-end or open-end?
Are appropriate disclosures (closed vs.
open-end credit) provided?
Whether disclosures comply?
Do loans conform to the lender’s
representations?
Is “refinancing” properly disclosed?
32. Truth In Lending Act / Regulation Z
• Respond to Oral Questions on Cost, by Quoting the
“APR.” In an oral response to a consumer's inquiry
about the cost of credit, respond by stating the annual
percentage rate. If the annual percentage rate cannot be
determined in advance, the annual percentage rate for a
sample transaction shall be stated, and other cost
information for the consumer's specific transaction may
be given.
33. Truth In Lending Act / Regulation Z
• Provide Accurate TILA
Disclosures. Provide model TILA
disclosure for simple interest transactions,
as appropriate, with correct calculations, in
a form that the consumer may keep,
before the consumer becomes
contractually obligated on the obligation
(“consummation”).
34. Truth In Lending Act / Regulation Z
• Here is a copy of the model form for credit
transactions:
http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/graphics/pdfs/ec
27se91.024.pdf
• Here is a copy of the model itemization to
include below the disclosures:
http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/graphics/pdfs/ec
27se91.025.pdf
35. Truth In Lending Act / Regulation Z
• Make the APR and Finance Charge More
Conspicuous than Other Disclosures.
• The terms “finance charge” and “annual percentage rate,”
together with a corresponding amount or percentage rate, must
be more conspicuous than any other disclosure, except the
Company’s identity.
• Get the math right on these. It isn’t easy, but
resources exist to help you
36. Truth In Lending Act / Regulation Z
• TILA Math
Here is a copy of the calculation rules for your programmers to
implement in determining the Annual Percentage
Rate: http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/text/text-
idx?c=ecfr&sid=06c1202917450b3643462228d4aba3a1&rgn=
div5&view=text&node=12:3.0.1.1.7&idno=12#12:3.0.1.1.7.7.8.1
0.26
Federal APR Calculator: http://occ.gov/tools-
forms/tools/compliance-bsa/aprwin-software.html
37. Truth In Lending Act / Regulation Z
• Regularly Check for Errors. Maintain procedures to
regularly and promptly detect, and correct errors such as
clerical errors, calculation errors, computer malfunctions,
programming errors, and printing errors.
• 60 Days to Correct. If you detect any TILA error
immediately consult with counsel, and send correction
notices within 60 days of detection.
38. Truth In Lending Act / Regulation Z
• What is a refinancing?
One obligation substitutes and replaces
another.
Distinguished from extensions, deferrals, and
renewal of a single payment obligation on
the same terms.
A few important cases distinguish these.
Make sure your processes for successive
transactions are clear
39. Truth In Lending Act / Regulation Z
• Two Final Notes:
If You Make Disclosures in Non-English
Languages, Make them Available in English
too.
Keep all TILA records for at least 2 years.
41. 7 Other Risks to Consumers - #1
• Don’t Mislead Cost, Value, Availability,
Cost Savings, Benefits, or Terms.
No explicit regulations address this yet
Ultimately may require disclosure on
likelihood and cost of rollovers
If state law allows 4 rollovers – should a
disclosure address the cost over 4 transactions?
APR does annualize the cost
See Texas model
43. 7 Other Risks to Consumers - #2
• Disclose “Useable” Credit.
• Do you accurately and non-deceptively
represent the amount of potential,
approved, or useable credit the consumer
will receive?
Make sure the consumer knows the amount
they will walk away with
44. 7 Other Risks to Consumers - #3
• Disclose Fees to Get Proceeds. Do you
disclose the fees to get the proceeds?
Proceeds by Check – Is the Cost
Disclosed?
Prepaid Card Proceeds – Do you Disclose
ATM Access Fee?
45. 7 Other Risks to Consumers - #4
• Optional/Additional Products. Do you:
Clearly and prominently disclose material
terms including costs?
Receive and document express authorization
before adding optional products or services?
Provide and document authorizations?
• Review how option is authorized.
46. 7 Other Risks to Consumers - #5
• Disclose Repayment & Collection
Practices.
• Do you disclose repayment and collection
practices?
No explicit rule yet for this requirement
Make sure ACH/Check policies
Consider explaining collection policies
47. 7 Other Risks to Consumers - #6
• Disclose Repayment Rights.
• Do you clearly and prominently disclose
rights regarding payment methods?
No explicit regulation yet
Make sure the consumer knows when you
may begin the process to deposit the check
or submit the ACH
48. 7 Other Risks to Consumers - #7
• Other Laws Apply.
Military Lending Act and Servicemembers
Civil Relief Act
TCPA - Robocalling and text message
requirements
• CFPB may refer matters to other state and
federal agencies
51. CFPB Exam Procedures for Short-Term, Small-Dollar Lending
Module 3: Payment Processing and Sustained Use
October 6, 2012
Chuck Washburn
Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP
52. Introduction
• Module 3 of the CFPB's examination procedures for short-term, small-dollar
lending (“payday lending”) covers the period in the lifecycle of a payday loan
after origination and before collection following default.
• Accordingly, Module 3 focuses on repayment, including rollovers and other
transactions in lieu of repayment.
• Although not as intensively regulated as origination and collection, this
period in a payday loan's lifecycle is subject to important rules.
• Which rules apply will depend upon the features of a particular payday loan,
including whether it is revolving credit, repaid electronically and/or repaid in
a series of payments.
53. Overview of CFPB Examinations
• Being closely examined for compliance with federal consumer financial laws
will be a new experience for most FiSCA members.
• Unlike state agencies and federal banking agencies, CFPB is singularly
focused on consumer protection.
• In addition to traditional UDAP standards, CFPB will be applying an
"abusive" test.
• CFPB is a new agency, and as such it is developing innovative examination
procedures and techniques, taking into account what has worked in the past
and what hasn't.
• Prior to the creation of the CFPB, federal consumer financial laws were
interpreted by several agencies. Now, the CFPB is solely responsible for
interpreting most of these laws.
54. Regulation Z – Open-End Credit vs. Closed-End Credit
• Different Regulation Z requirements apply to "open-end credit" and "closed-
end credit".
• Open-end credit generally is revolving credit, where the creditor expects
repeated transactions, an interest rate is applied to the outstanding balance,
and the consumer can repay and re-borrow up to a credit limit.
• Closed-end credit is everything else.
• Payday loans historically have qualified as closed-end credit.
• The closed-end credit rules of Regulation Z focus on disclosures made prior
to consummation (which were covered in the discussion of Module 2), and
generally do not require post-consummation disclosures, except in the case
of a “refinancing.”
55. Refinancing
• A “refinancing” for Regulation Z purposes occurs when a borrower’s
obligation is satisfied and replaced by a new obligation. The new obligation
completely replaces the prior one.
• A refinancing is treated as a new transaction and requires a new set of
Regulation Z disclosures.
• A modification that does not replace the existing obligation is not a
refinancing.
• Also, a new obligation that is only a renewal of the prior obligation with no
change in terms is not a refinancing.
• When in doubt, disclose!
56. Regulation Z – Open-End Credit
• Some payday lenders structure their products as open-end credit.
• Open-end credit requires some disclosures prior to consummation, but the
focus instead is on post-consummation disclosures:
A billing statement generally must be sent for each billing cycle. The regulation
includes detailed specifications for the format and content of billing statements
(monthly credit card statements reflect many of these requirements).
Certain changes in terms (to the extent permitted by the loan agreement) are
subject to notice requirements, including with respect to how much advance
notice must be given.
• Open-end credit rules require that payments usually be credited as of the
date of receipt, and also govern what requirements a creditor can specify for
making payments (such as reasonable cut-off times).
57. Billing Errors
• Regulation Z provides for billing error procedures in connection with open-
end credit.
• Billing errors include items on a billing statement that the borrower
challenges for various reasons, including transactions with respect to which
the borrower requests additional information, such as documentary
evidence.
• If a borrower submits a proper billing error notice, the lender has to resolve
the error within certain time frames.
• While this is going on, the borrower is not required to pay and the lender
cannot attempt to collect any amount that is disputed.
58. Electronic Fund Transfers - Introduction
• Payday loans are repaid by the borrower giving the lender a right to access
the borrower’s deposit account with a financial institution.
• Historically, a borrower would give a payday lender a paper check drawn on
the borrower’s account to deposit on the repayment date.
• In online payday lending, borrowers instead typically authorize the lender to
initiate an electronic fund transfer (an “EFT”) from the borrower’s deposit
account to repay the loan. Brick and mortar payday lenders also are
frequently repaid by EFTs.
• Also, payday loans may be funded in cash or by paper check.
• Today it is increasingly common to fund payday loans by an EFT to the
borrower’s deposit account or by issuance of a prepaid card.
59. EFTA and Regulation E
• The Electronic Fund Transfer Act ("EFTA") regulates EFTs from and to
consumer “accounts.”
• EFTA is implemented by Regulation E.
• The CFPB is now charged with interpreting most of EFTA, including through
Regulation E and the Official Staff Commentary thereto.
The FRB retains authority to issue regulations relating to debit interchange.
60. EFTs vs. Paper Checks
• Regulation E only applies to EFTs.
• So payment of a payday loan by paper check is outside of Regulation E.
• A remotely created check (“RCC”) in paper form and deposited in paper
form also is outside of Regulation E.
• But an EFT initiated using information from a paper check is covered by
Regulation E.
• An EFT to collect a returned item fee on a returned paper check likewise is
subject to Regulation E.
61. Authorization of EFTs
• In remarks at the payday loan field hearing in Birmingham in January 2012,
CFPB Director Richard Cordray said that the CFPB will act immediately to
eliminate illegal practices in connection with payday loans, and the first
example he gave was “unauthorized debits on a person’s checking
account.”
• An “unauthorized” EFT is defined as one that is initiated by a person other
than the consumer without “actual” authority and from which the consumer
receives no benefit.
62. Authorization – One-Time EFTs
• Regulation E does not include extensive authorization requirements for one-
time EFT transactions.
• Regulation E billing error procedures apply among other things to any
unauthorized EFT.
• EFTs using a paper check as a source of information for a one-time EFT
must be authorized by the consumer. Authorization includes disclosing to
the consumer that the paper check will be converted to an EFT and the
consumer then “goes forward” with the transaction.
An appendix to Regulation E includes model language for this disclosure.
• A similar authorization rule applies for collecting returned item fees by EFT,
including required disclosure of the amount of the fee.
Again, model language is provided in an appendix.
63. Recurring EFTs
• A preauthorized EFT is an EFT that is “authorized in advance to recur in
substantially regular intervals.” So there would need to be a minimum of
three EFTs in order for them to recur at regular intervals.
• Preauthorized EFTs can be involved in connection with:
A series of rollovers or other renewals.
Repayment plans involving installment payments.
A payday loan structured as open-end credit.
• Regulation E imposes significant restrictions on preauthorized EFTs.
64. Recurring EFTs – Compulsory Use
• A creditor may not condition an extension of credit on repayment by
preauthorized EFTs.
But the Regulation E Commentary provides that a creditor can encourage the
borrower to agree to repay by preauthorized EFTs by offering a discount or
other cost-related incentive.
A creditor can also avoid the prohibition by offering other repayment options.
65. Recurring EFTs - Authorization
• Preauthorized EFTs may be authorized “only by a writing signed or similarly
authenticated by the consumer.”
• An “electronic record” and “electronic signature” under the ESIGN Act can
satisfy these requirements.
“Similarly authenticate” means an electronic signature must authenticate the
borrower similarly to a manual signature.
• These requirements can be satisfied in a transaction conducted over the
Internet.
• What about a recorded telephone conversation?
66. Recurring EFTs – Authorization (Continued)
• The Commentary provides that the authorization must be “readily
identifiable as such” and the terms of the authorization must be “clear and
readily understandable.”
• The consumer must be provided with a copy of the authorization.
• A consumer may place a stop payment with his or her bank on a
preauthorized EFT at least 3 business days before the scheduled date of
the transfer.
• If the amount of preauthorized EFTs may vary, written notice of each varying
amount must be provided at least 10 days before the scheduled date of the
transfer.
The consumer can agree that he or she will only receive notice if the varying
amount is outside of a specified range.
67. SAFE Lending Act of 2012
• The Stopping Abuse and Fraud in Electronic Lending Act of 2012 has been
introduced in Congress. Its chances of passage will be impacted by the
upcoming elections.
• Among other provisions that impact payday lending, the SAFE Lending Act
as proposed includes the following provisions relating to repayment:
It would amend EFTA to prohibit RCCs (including paper RCCs) except with the
specific, written authorization of the borrower to his or her bank, which
authorization can be revoked at any time.
The current EFTA prohibition against conditioning an extension of credit on
repayment by preauthorized EFTs would be amended to apply to repayment by
any EFT.
If a consumer agrees to repay a payday loan by an EFT, that EFT would be
treated as a preauthorized EFT for purposes of the EFTA.
68. NACHA Rules
• Repayment of payday loans by EFTs processed through the automated
clearinghouse (“ACH”) network are subject to the NACHA rules.
• Unlike Regulation E, the NACHA rules require written authorization of one-
time ACH transfers from a consumer’s account, subject to alternative
authorization requirements for certain types of transactions, including:
One-time or recurring ACH transfers authorized over the Internet (WEB entries)
are subject to requirements similar to preauthorized EFTs under Regulation E.
One-time ACH transfers may be authorized over the telephone (TEL entries)
but must include several items of information, and must be recorded or prior
written disclosure must be given. Recurring TEL entries are subject to similar
requirements (including recording) and must comply with Regulation E
(including providing a copy of the authorization).
69. NACHA Rules (Continued)
• The NACHA rules require that authorizations include a right to revoke.
This includes one-time ACH transfers scheduled in advance.
• TEL entries require express consent. “Silence is not express consent.”
• Key-entry responses do not qualify as “oral” authorizations for TEL entry
purposes.
• NACHA rules are “private law.”
70. Payment Card Network Rules
• Repayment of payday loans by debits to debit cards or charges to credit
cards are subject to the rules of the applicable payment card network (for
example, Visa or MasterCard).
• Requirements under the payment card network rules for recurring payment
card transactions are similar to Regulation E requirements for preauthorized
EFTs, but apply to credit cards as well as debit cards.
• These rules likewise are private law.
• Keep in mind that debit card transactions involve EFTs so Regulation E also
applies.
71. Prepaid Cards
• Some payday lenders may fund payday loans through the issuance of
prepaid cards.
• Per prior FRB guidance, prepaid cards are not deemed to be “accounts” for
Regulation E purposes and therefore are not subject to most Regulation E
requirements.
• Also, Regulation E was amended to implement provisions of the Credit
CARD Act regulating “general-use prepaid cards” and other products, but
the rules only apply to such cards that are marketed or labeled as gifts.
• However, the CFPB in May 2012 issued an advance notice of proposed
rulemaking indicating that the CFPB intends to extend Regulation E
protections to general purpose reloadable (“GPR”) prepaid cards, and
requested information about GPR cards.
72. Fair Credit Reporting Act – Furnisher Duties
• Historically, payday lenders have not used traditional consumer reporting
agencies (“CRAs”), such as Equifax, Experian and TransUnion.
• However, the use by payday lenders of non-traditional CRAs, including
those scoring consumers based on utility payments and social media data,
is increasing.
• In order to obtain scores and other consumer reports, a user must often
agree to furnish information to the CRA.
• The Fair Credit Reporting Act (“FCRA”) and CFPB regulations require
furnishers to:
Adopt and implement policies and procedures regarding the accuracy and
integrity of information furnished to CRAs.
Investigate “direct disputes” received from consumers in accordance with
certain timing and other requirements.
73. Sustained Use
• “Sustained use” means repeated use of payday loans over a significant
period of time. It includes rollovers, “back-to-back” transactions, and repeat
transactions after brief “cooling off” periods.
• In his remarks at the Birmingham payday loan field hearing, Director
Cordray said that a particular focus of the CFPB would be “repeated long-
term use of payday loans,” and that the CFPB plans “to dig deep on this
topic.”
• Sustained use is discussed in great detail in Module 3 of the CFPB exam
procedures, confirming CFPB concerns with the practice.
• Consumer groups submitting comments to the CFPB on payday lending
often focus on sustained use.
74. Sustained Use - Regulation
• State payday laws, Department of Defense regulations and FDIC
guidelines, among other rules, address sustained use in various ways.
• But federal laws like Regulations E and Z currently do not expressly
regulate sustained use.
• Instead, the CFPB appears to be raising a potential UDAAP concern
regarding sustained use, including whether a payday lender’s program,
depending on the facts, may be “deceptive” or possibly “abusive.”
75. Sustained Use - UDAAP
• "Unfair"
Causes or likely to cause substantial injury that is not reasonably avoidable
and not outweighed by countervailing benefits.
• "Deceptive"
Misleads or is likely to mislead, the consumer's interpretation is reasonable,
and the representation, omission, act or practice is material.
• "Abusive"
Materially interferes with consumer's ability to understand, or
Takes unreasonable advantage of
The consumer's lack of understanding,
Inability of the consumer to protect his or her interests, or
Reasonable reliance by the consumer on the covered person.
76. Sustained Use – Examination
• Based on the CFPB exam procedures regarding sustained use, a payday
lender should do the following, including to reduce potential UDAAP issues:
Adopt appropriate written policies and procedures regarding sustained use.
Once adopted, the lender should follow the policies.
This includes monitoring third party call centers and other vendors for compliance with
the lender’s policies.
Accurately and fully disclose the terms of rollover, back-to-back and similar
options. Failure to do so may be deemed to be a “deceptive” act or practice.
All available repayment options should be disclosed.
The most critical disclosures are those relating to the fees and other costs of each
option.
If the transaction constitutes a “refinancing” of a closed-end credit transaction, ensure
that new Regulation Z disclosures are delivered.
77. Sustained Use – Examination (Continued)
Consider, when making a loan in the first place, assessing the borrower’s
income or other financial information in order to determine whether the
borrower has the ability to repay, or instead is likely to need a rollover or similar
modification.
Precedent for this concept may be found in Regulation Z provisions implementing the
Credit CARD Act that impose “ability to pay” obligations on credit card issuers.
Consider specific limits on usage (i.e., limiting the number of transactions over
a specified time period) in addition to limits imposed by state or other law.
Consider monitoring on an ongoing basis for possible overuse by individual
borrowers, and reach out to such borrowers.
Offer alternatives, including installment payment plans.