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The Major Supreme Court Cases of 2024No Supreme Court term in recent memory has featured so many cases with the potential to transform American society. In 2015, the Supreme Court limited the sweep of the statute at issue in the case, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. In 2023, the Supreme Court temporarily blocked efforts to severely curb access to the pill, mifepristone, as an appeal moved forward. A series of Supreme Court decisions say that making race the predominant factor in drawing voting districts violates the Constitution. The difference matters because the Supreme Court has said that only racial gerrymandering may be challenged in federal court under the Constitution.

Persons: Donald J, Trump, Anderson, Sotomayor Jackson Kagan, Roberts Kavanaugh Barrett Gorsuch Alito Thomas, Salmon, “, ”, Mr, Nixon, Richard M, privilege.But, Fitzgerald, Vance, John G, Roberts, Fischer, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Clarence Thomas, Samuel A, Alito Jr, Alito, ’, Moyle, Wade, Roe, Johnson, Robinson, Moody, Paxton, Robins, Media Murthy, Sullivan, Murthy, Biden, Harrington, Sackler, Alexander, Jan, Raimondo, ” Paul D, Clement, Dodd, Frank, Homer, Cargill Organizations: Harvard, Stanford, University of Texas, Trump, Liberal, Sotomayor Jackson Kagan Conservative, Colorado, Former, Trump v . United, United, Sarbanes, Oxley, U.S, Capitol, Drug Administration, Alliance, Hippocratic, Jackson, Health, Supreme, Labor, New York, Homeless, Miami Herald, Media, Biden, National Rifle Association, Rifle Association of America, New York State, Purdue Pharma, . South Carolina State Conference of, Federal, Loper Bright Enterprises, . Department of Commerce, Chevron, Natural Resources Defense, ”, SCOTUSPoll, Consumer Financial, Community Financial Services Association of America, Securities, Exchange Commission, Exchange, Occupational Safety, Commission, Lucia v . Securities, Federal Trade Commission, Internal Revenue Service, Environmental Protection Agency, Social Security Administration, National Labor Relations Board, Air Pollution Ohio, Environmental, Guns Garland, Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, Explosives, National Firearms, Gun Control Locations: Colorado, Trump v . United States, United States, Nixon, Florida, Gulf of Mexico, Dobbs v, Idaho, Roe, Texas, States, New, New York, Grants, Oregon, . California, Martin v, Boise, Boise , Idaho, Missouri, Parkland, Fla, Murthy v . Missouri, . Missouri, ., South Carolina, Alabama, SCOTUSPoll, Lucia v, Western

☆ Airline Agrees to Pay $79 Million After Selling Tickets for Canceled Flights
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-06 | by ( Jin Yu Young | More About Jin Yu Young | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Qantas, Australia’s national airline, said on Monday that it had reached a deal with the country’s consumer watchdog to pay the equivalent of $79 million for selling thousands of tickets to flights that it had already canceled. The airline said in a statement that the payments, totaling 120 million Australian dollars, would resolve a lawsuit that the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission filed against Qantas over the issue last year. The commission accused the airline of advertising and selling tickets for more than 8,000 canceled flights from May 2021 through July 2022. The commission said Qantas had known that the flights would never take off, and that tickets remained available for an average of over two weeks after the flights were canceled — in some cases, for as long as 47 days. Qantas said it expected to pay 20 million Australian dollars in compensation to more than 86,000 of its customers, as well as a fine of 100 million dollars, subject to court approval.

Organizations: Qantas, Australia’s, Australian Competition, Consumer Commission

But a new report from Consumer Reports said it recently compared the nutritional profiles of two Lunchables kits served in schools and found they have even higher levels of sodium than the Lunchables kits consumers can buy in stores. The non-profit consumer group said it has petitioned the US Department of Agriculture, which oversees the federally assisted school meal program, to remove Lunchables food kits from school cafeterias, as a result. The introduction of Lunchables in schools came amid proposed changes to school food guidelines by the USDA, which oversees the federally assisted school meal program. The proposed changes aimed to reduce added sugars and sodium levels in school-provided lunches. Food additives are considered “generally recognized as safe” (GRAS) by the US Food and Drug Administration, but not everyone agrees.

Persons: Lunchables, Armour LunchMakers, Oscar Mayer, can’t, “, Brian Ronholm, Kraft Heinz, ” Kraft Heinz, Carlos Monteiro, Monteiro, ” Monteiro, Heinz “ Organizations: New, New York CNN, Consumer, Natural Meat, World Health Organization, US Centers for Disease Control, US Department of Agriculture, CNN, USDA, University of Sao, NOVA, US Food and Drug Administration, Center for Science, Environmental, Kraft Locations: New York, University of Sao Paulo, Brazil

☆ How your iPhone could get better if Apple loses its big legal battle
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-23 | by ( Jordan Hart | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

More smartwatch optionsA Google Pixel Watch and the iPhone don't play as nicely together as an Apple Watch and the iPhone. GoogleIf the Apple Watch isn't your cup of tea, a court loss for the company could make using an alternative watch with the iPhone more seamless. Prosecutors said the Apple Watch depends too much on the iPhone while other smartwatches aren't nearly as compatible with the iOS system. iOS users might have been overcharged for music streaming subscriptions due to the fees placed on app developers by Apple, regulators said. "This lawsuit threatens who we are and the principles that set Apple products apart in fiercely competitive markets," Apple told BI in a statement.

Persons: —, Apple's, you'll, Apple, Jonathan Kanter, Kanter, Riley Testut, Jamie Court, you've, they've, Testut Organizations: Apple, DOJ, Service, US Department of Justice, CNBC, EU's, EU, Epic, Consumer, LA Times, Watch, Apple Watch, Google, Prosecutors, European Commission Locations: EU

☆ A Goldman Sachs-backed electricity firm is making a play to reach more Americans’ homes
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-02 | by ( Hugh Son | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

That covers energy networks, mostly in the Northeast, that provide electricity for 190 million Americans, according to federal data. It also gets Goldman into an industry, albeit through an intermediary, that critics have called a hotbed of consumer abuse. The startup, which began offering retail energy plans to Texans in 2021, avoids the teaser rates and hidden fees of rivals, it has said. "Many of those companies operate businesses that serve retail customers. Private equity firms have transformed the energy landscape in the nation's largest power markets.

Persons: Omar Marques, Goldman Sachs, Goldman, watchdogs, James Bride, Marcus, David Solomon, Dennis Wamsted, Tyson Slocum Organizations: Lightrocket, Getty, Energy, CNBC, Texans, U.S . Energy Information Administration, New, Institute for Energy Economics, Utilities, Federal Energy Regulatory, Street, Public Citizen Locations: Texas, Houston, New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland

☆ Biden administration plans to slash overdraft fees at big banks: 'I call it exploitation,' president says
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-19 | by ( Ryan Ermey | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau on Wednesday proposed a set of new rules that would slash the fees banks charge customers for withdrawing more than the available funds in their account. Americans have paid an estimated $280 billion in overdraft fees since 2000, according to data from the consumer watchdog agency. "For too long, some banks have charged exorbitant overdraft fees — sometimes $30 or more — that often hit the most vulnerable Americans the hardest, all while banks pad their bottom lines," President Joe Biden said in a statement. Overdraft fees affect some 23 million households in a given year, and the proposed cutbacks would save Americans about $3.5 billion annually, the CFPB says. Much of that money would theoretically return to the pockets of lower income bank customers: Consumer Reports says 8% of bank customers generate nearly 75% of banks' revenue from such fees.

Persons: Joe Biden Organizations: Consumer Financial, Biden, Consumer

☆ Consumer watchdog agency proposes limits on overdraft fees at big banks and credit unions
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-17 | by ( Jeanne Sahadi | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

New York CNN —The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau on Wednesday said it is proposing a rule that would curb excessive overdraft fees charged to customers of large banks and credit unions, potentially saving consumers as much as $3.5 billion a year. Too often, the consumer watchdog agency has noted, bank customers are surprised by overdraft fees and those who can least afford them are charged the most frequently. Annual overdraft fee revenue in 2019 was an estimated $12.6 billion,” CFPB said. Today, big banks have made many modifications to their overdraft practices, effectively lowering their overdraft revenue to roughly $9 billion a year. The CFPB rule would lower that amount further by requiring big banks and credit unions to be as forthcoming about the terms of extending an overdraft loan as they are for other lending products.

Persons: ”, Rohit Chopra, CFPB, ” CFPB Organizations: New, New York CNN, Consumer Financial, Biden Administration Locations: New York, United States

☆ How 3 big Supreme Court cases could derail the government
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-29 | by ( Ayelet Sheffey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

On Wednesday, the Supreme Court is hearing a case challenging the authority of federal agencies. AdvertisementThree major Supreme Court cases could upend the way the government works — and put Americans' federal benefits and consumer protections at risk. These are the other big cases to follow on the Supreme Court's docket. AdvertisementChanging how the federal government is allowed to make regulationsAnother Supreme Court challenge has big implications for the way all federal agencies function. AdvertisementThe Supreme Court will likely issue final decisions on these cases by June.

Persons: —, George Jarkesy, Jarkesy, Sheila Bair, Loper, Raimondo Organizations: Service, SEC, Securities and Exchange Commission, Center, American Progress, Social Security, Social Security Administration, Financial, Community Financial Services Association of America Ltd, Federal, Fifth Circuit, Federal Deposit Insurance, Loper Bright Enterprises, National Marine Fisheries Locations: Chevron

☆ Toyota financing arm fined $60 million by consumer watchdog for car loan scam
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-20 | by ( Chelsey Cox | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

WASHINGTON — The U.S. financing arm for Toyota was fined $60 million Monday by a federal consumer regulator for preventing car buyers from canceling add-ons to their loans. "Toyota's lending arm illegally withheld refunds, made borrowers run through obstacle courses to cancel unwanted services, and tarnished their credit reports," said Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Director Rohit Chopra. Toyota Motor Credit Corp., or TMCC, violated the Consumer Financial Protection Act by preventing customers from canceling loan add-ons that cost on average between $700 and $2,500 per loan, according to a consent order. TMCC is ordered to pay $48 million in consumer redress and a $12 million civil money penalty to the CFPB's victims relief fund. "Given the growing burdens of auto loan payments on Americans, we will continue to pursue large auto lenders that cheat their customers," Chopra said.

Persons: WASHINGTON, Rohit Chopra, Chopra, Vincent Bray Organizations: Toyota, Financial, Toyota Motor Credit Corp, Consumer Financial, Bureau, Toyota Financial Services, CNBC Locations: The U.S

U.S. oversight of Big Tech financial services is fragmented. The CFPB rule would toughen up supervision, requiring Big Tech to comply with its rules on privacy protections, executives' conduct and unfair and deceptive practices. Without regulatory scrutiny, they could leverage their growing dominance of consumer payments to capture other services like lending and card issuing, analysts said. 'LEG UP'Representatives for Big Tech have accused the CFPB of trying to protect traditional lenders. While Big Tech companies have deep pockets and plenty of resources to handle the new scrutiny, the rule could limit how they use and protect consumer data.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Rohit Chopra, Todd Phillips, Dodd, Frank, It's, Paige Pidano Paridon, Chopra, John Coleman, Hannah Lang, Stephen Nellis, Michelle Price, Richard Chang Organizations: Apple, REUTERS, Wall, Big Tech, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Google, Georgia State University, PayPal, Federal, McKinsey, Bank, BPI, Banks, Representatives, Big, Herrington, Thomson Locations: U.S, Washington

Social media’s antisemitism problemThe rise in antisemitism since the outbreak of war in the Middle East has ignited a clash between Wall Street donors and universities, and divided some workplaces. Now, the pressure is building on social media platforms, particularly Elon Musk’s X and TikTok, with advertisers, celebrities and influencers pulling spending and confronting executives about the proliferation of hate speech. He posted to X his support for white nationalist conspiracy theories that Jewish communities were spreading hatred. Yaccarino was brought in to win back advertisers after Musk bought Twitter last year and culled many content moderators. More than a dozen Jewish celebrities and creators, including the actors Sacha Baron Cohen, Debra Messing and Amy Schumer, confronted TikTok executives this week.

Persons: Elon Musk’s, Adolf Hitler, Musk, X’s, Linda Yaccarino, Yaccarino, “ Linda, ” Martin Sorrell, DealBook, TikTok, Sacha Baron Cohen, Debra Messing, Amy Schumer, “ Hitler, Anne Frank ”, Cohen, ”, Osama bin, bin Laden, —, Alex Haurek, George Santos, Biden, Xi Jinping, Doug McMillon, Walmart’s, “, ” Brian Cornell, ’ Organizations: IBM, Media, America, Nazi Party, Apple, Oracle, Defamation League, Twitter, S4 Capital, House, Big, General Motors, Hyundai, Republican, Justice Department, Business, APEC, West Texas Intermediate, Consumers, Depot, Walmart Locations: TikTok, New York, Hong Kong, China, San Francisco, Beijing, Washington, U.S

Federal rules require banks to reimburse customers for payments made without their authorization, such as by hackers, but not when customers themselves make the transfer. Following its launch in 2017, Zelle grew to become one of the largest U.S. peer-to-peer payments networks by total payments. A March 2022 New York Times report that scams were flourishing on Zelle caught the attention of lawmakers frequently critical of big banks, including Senator Elizabeth Warren. He said Zelle has seen "a step-change reduction" in fraud and scam rates this year but declined to provide details. Chance said EWS has been engaging with policymakers on the need for a "holistic approach" to combating scams, including advocating for more dedicated law enforcement resources.

Persons: Jamie Dimon, Jane Fraser, Brian Moynihan, Banks, Ben Chance, Zelle, Elizabeth Warren, Warren, Dimon, EWS, Chance, ”, Trace, Carla Sanchez, Adams, we're, Lindsey Johnson, Hannah Lang, Chris Prentice, Michelle Price, Rod Nickel Organizations: JPMorgan Chase, Citigroup, Bank of America, Banking, Housing, Urban Affairs, Capitol, Warning, Reuters, Federal, JPMorgan, New York Times, Federal Trade Commission, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, PayPal, National Consumer Law, Consumer Bankers Association, Thomson Locations: Zelle, U.S, Warren, Washington, New York

REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsWASHINGTON, Nov 7 (Reuters) - The top U.S. consumer financial watchdog on Tuesday proposed to regulate tech giants' digital payments and smartphone wallet services, saying they rival traditional payment methods in scale and scope but lack consumer safeguards. In a statement on Tuesday, Chopra said the tech sector had expanded into financial services traditionally provided by the closely regulated banking sector. "Today's rule would crack down on one avenue for regulatory arbitrage by ensuring large technology firms and other nonbank payments companies are subjected to appropriate oversight," he said. Representatives of Big Tech companies have previously highlighted their efforts to protect consumer data. The agency said the rule would also foster competition by ensuring that both traditional financial players and the tech sector were equally subject to the same oversight.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Block's, CashApp, Rohit Chopra, Chopra, CFPB, Lindsey Johnson, Douglas Gillison, Hannah Lang, Chris Prentice, Matthew Lewis, Mark Potter, David Gregorio Our Organizations: PayPal, REUTERS, Rights, Consumer, Apple, Big Tech, Consumer Bankers Association, Electronic Transactions Association, Thomson Locations: Washington, New York

NEW YORK (AP) — “Junk fees” are just what they sound like: hidden or misleading charges that increase the total cost of concert tickets, hotel rooms, utility bills and other goods and services. Here's what to know:WHAT QUALIFIES AS A JUNK FEE? That should reduce junk fees for financial advice for people saving for retirement. HOW CAN I AVOID PAYING JUNK FEES? HOW MUCH DO THESE FEES COST CONSUMERS?

Persons: Biden, Ariel Nelson, Nelson, ”, “, Lina Kahn, Lael Brainard, Charles Schwab Organizations: Federal Trade Commission, Consumer Finance Protection Bureau, Department of Labor, National Consumer Law Center, Republican, Consumer Financial, Department, Labor, Securities and Exchange Commission, Interest, White, National Economic Council, FTC, Associated Press, Charles, Charles Schwab Foundation, Inc, AP

☆ Dutch regulator disputes Apple's commissions in dating app case
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-31 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

An Apple logo hangs above the entrance to the Apple store on 5th Avenue in the Manhattan borough of New York City, July 21, 2015. Although the case is limited to dating apps in the Netherlands, it is seen as having potential to set a precedent for other markets. Apple did agreed to make changes to the app store including opening it to alternative forms of payment for dating apps in the Netherlands. In February 2022 Apple cut commissions for dating app makers in the Netherlands to 27% from 30%. "Apple ... harms dating app providers by charging them an additional, and inexplicably higher, fee for the same services" it does other types of app makers, it said in the document.

Persons: Mike Segar, Foo Yun Chee, Toby Sterling, David Gregorio Our Organizations: Apple, REUTERS, Apple Inc, U.S ., Reuters, Bloomberg, Authority for Consumers and Markets, Rotterdam Court, ACM, Thomson Locations: Manhattan, New York City, Netherlands, U.S, Rotterdam

☆ US consumer watchdog warns payment systems risk Chinese-style surveillance
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Signage is seen at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) headquarters in Washington, D.C., U.S., May 14, 2021. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsCompanies Consumer Financial Protection Bureau FollowOct 6 (Reuters) - The top U.S. agency for consumer financial protection is considering regulatory moves to help protect the public from the kind of excessive surveillance of their financial data enabled by payment structures in China, its director said on Friday. This will involve ordering some large U.S. tech firms to provide information on their use of personal data and private currencies, Rohit Chopra, director of the U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), said in a speech. "It's critically important for American consumers to have stronger protections against excessive surveillance and misuse of our data," Chopra said in a speech at the Brookings Institution in Washington. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's "open banking" proposal is expected to give consumers the ability to switch service providers more easily and control how financial tech service providers collect consumer data.

Persons: Andrew Kelly, Rohit Chopra, Chopra, Chopra's, Douglas Gillison, Chizu Nomiyama, Bill Berkrot Organizations: Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Washington , D.C, REUTERS, Consumer Financial, U.S, U.S . Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Brookings Institution, Consumer, Thomson Locations: Washington ,, China, Washington

☆ More mortgage applications are being rejected for 'insufficient income.' Here's why
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-04 | by ( Jared Mitovich | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Prospective buyers attend an open house at a home for sale in Larchmont, New York, on Jan. 22, 2023. As high home prices and interest rates push up monthly mortgage payments, it's harder for many consumers to even get a mortgage in the first place. Last year, lenders denied loan applications due to "insufficient income" more often than any other point since records began in 2018, according to a new report from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Refinance applications were more frequently rejected, at a rate of 24.7% in 2022 — up sharply from 14.2% in 2021. "In most cases, income did not increase at the pace of average mortgage payments," said Glassman, who is a member of CNBC's FA Council.

Persons: Barry Glassman, Glassman Organizations: Consumer Financial, Finance, Wealth, CNBC's FA Locations: Larchmont , New York, McLean , Virginia, CNBC's

☆ Supreme Court case may gut the CFPB: Consumer watchdog's ‘future is on the line,’ group says
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-03 | by ( Greg Iacurci | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Visitors walk across the U.S. Supreme Court plaza on the first day of the court's new session on Oct. 2, 2023. Bill Clark | Cq-roll Call, Inc. | Getty ImagesWhy the CFPB's funding may be unconstitutionalThe Consumer Financial Protection Bureau headquarters in Washington. Lawmakers created the federal agency to protect consumers from predatory financial practices. The Supreme Court ruled against the agency in a 2020 case, Seila Law v. CFPB, finding part of its structure to be unconstitutional but ultimately keeping the agency intact. Instead, the CFPB's funding isn't authorized by Congress each year.

Persons: Bill Clark, Washington . Samuel Corum, Dodd, Frank, —, John Coleman, Orrick, Coleman, Rohit Chopra, Tom Williams Organizations: U.S, Supreme, Cq, Inc, Getty, Financial, Bloomberg, Lawmakers, U.S ., Appeals, Circuit, Congress, Federal Reserve, 5th Circuit, Congressional Research Service, Mortgage Bankers Association, National Association of Home Builders, National Association of Realtors Locations: Washington .

"Financial inclusion," defined as individuals and businesses having access to useful and affordable financial products, has declined in the U.S., according to new industry research. The U.S. fell to fourth place, from second, this year in the second annual Global Financial Inclusion Index compiled by the Centre for Economics and Business Research in London and Des Moines, Iowa-based Principal Financial Group. Singapore's small size, with a population of just six million people, helps it in the ranking, but it is also boosted by its commitment to financial literacy, financial technology adoption and employer support. Consumer sentiment in the U.S. is down across financial systems and employers but is especially pronounced when it comes to the government. "It creates uncertainty and causes people to delay decisions that they might otherwise make about purchase around savings, and you don't want to paralyze people's decision-making around financial security," Dan Houston, Principal Financial Group Chair and CEO, told CNBC in an exclusive interview.

Persons: people's, Dan Houston Organizations: Centre for Economics, Business Research, Financial Group, Finance, Consumer, Supreme, CNBC Locations: U.S, London, Des Moines , Iowa, Singapore, Hong Kong, Switzerland, Sweden

☆ The fate of this consumer watchdog is in the hands of the Supreme Court
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-03 | by ( Elisabeth Buchwald | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

New York CNN —On Tuesday, the Supreme Court began hearing oral arguments in a case that will determine the fate of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. The Supreme Court will have the final say on that, however. The consumer watchdog agency was created after the 2008 financial crisis by way of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. If the Supreme Court finds the CFPB’s funding structure unconstitutional, it could shutter the agency and invalidate all of its prior rulings. From listening to the case on Tuesday, though, Lynyak believes the Supreme Court will rule that the CFPB’s funding structure is constitutional.

Persons: Dodd, Frank Wall, Democratic Sen, Elizabeth Warren, Ting Shen, Wells, Sam Gilford, ” There’s, Joseph Lynyak III, Lynyak, ”, Noel Francisco, Francisco, “, Sonia Sotomayor, Amy Coney Barrett Organizations: New, New York CNN, Supreme, Consumer Financial, Bureau, Community Financial Services Association of America, Appeals, Fifth Circuit, Frank Wall Street Reform, Consumer, Democratic, Harvard Law School, Federal Reserve, Bloomberg, Getty, “, Mortgage Bankers Association, National Association of Homebuilders, National Association of Realtors, Bank of America, Court, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Congressional, CNN, Dorsey & Whitney, Republican Locations: New York, New Orleans, United States

Here's a look at what California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara proposed and how it would affect the state's insurance market:WHAT ARE THE RULES FOR INSURANCE COMPANIES? It said insurance companies had to get permission from the state Department of Insurance before they could raise their rates. When setting their rates, insurance companies cannot consider current or future risks to a property. Insurance companies also buy insurance themselves, a process known as reinsurance. The process includes lots of time for insurance companies and consumer groups to give their input.

Persons: Ricardo Lara, They've, Lara Organizations: California, of Insurance, Insurance, Companies, California Department of Forestry, Protection . Insurance, . Insurance, FAIR, Consumer Locations: SACRAMENTO, Calif, California, ratepayers

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — A new plan from California's insurance commissioner aims to stop the nation's top insurers from leaving the wildfire-prone state by letting them consider climate risks when setting their prices. Unlike most states, California tightly restricts how insurance companies can price policies. Companies aren't allowed to factor in current or future risks when deciding how much to charge for an insurance policy. It’s one reason why, in the past year, seven of California’s top insurance companies have paused or restricted new business in the state. On Thursday, California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara said the state will write new rules to let insurers look to the future when setting their rates.

Persons: aren't, Ricardo Lara, ” Lara, Denni Ritter, Amy Bach, United, “, Ken Sweet Organizations: First Street Foundation, California, American, Casualty Insurance Association, Consumer Watchdog, Associated Press Locations: SACRAMENTO, Calif, California, Florida, New York

☆ Some student-loan borrowers are getting kicked out of classes and racking up debt after being placed in shady payment plans with minimal legal protection, a federal consumer watchdog says
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-16 | by ( Ayelet Sheffey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

It found the plans can have predatory terms that include big late fees and aggressive debt collection practices. AdvertisementAdvertisementThe report analyzed 450 institutions' payment plans — 60% of which outsourced management of the payment plans to third-party financial service providers, and it found that the interest-fee plans aren't as affordable as they sound. Additionally, the inconsistency among payment plans can leave students facing disparate consequences for missing a payment. CFPB example of late fees on tuition payment plans. The CFPB said it will continue to monitor schools' payment plans to ensure they are in accordance with consumer law.

Persons: Rohit Chopra, Joe Biden's Organizations: Service, Consumer Financial, Education Department Locations: Wall, Silicon

☆ Withheld transcripts, kicked off campus: College payment plans pose risks, consumer watchdog warns
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-15 | by ( Annie Nova | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

However, a new report by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau warns of a number of risks associated with these payment plans, including snowballing charges and aggressive collection practices. Nearly 4 million students use payment plansNearly all colleges offer some sort of tuition payment plan, the CFPB found. Under the plans, tuition and other education expenses are typically spread out into several payments over a semester or academic year. Most college payment plans are interest-free, but there can be enrollment fees and other charges involved, the CFPB found. "If the family misses a payment, some tuition payment plans may be converted into private student loans with unfavorable terms," he said.

Persons: Rohit Chopra, they're, Elaine Rubin, Rubin, Mark Kantrowitz, delinquencies Organizations: Istock, Consumer Financial, Finance, Money, Homeowners Locations: Edvisors

☆ Conservatives hope Supreme Court defangs US consumer watchdog
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-12 | by ( John Kruzel | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

But the watchdog's future may be in peril thanks to a case now before the U.S. Supreme Court. Pro-business conservatives and their Republican allies believe the court fight has brought them closer than ever to dismantling the CFPB. Congress, then controlled by Democrats, authorized the agency to supervise certain financial institutions' compliance with federal consumer laws, backed by the threat of lawsuits and fines. Circuit Court of Appeals last October ruled that the agency's funding structure violated the Constitution. Biden's administration told the Supreme Court that the CFPB's funding structure approved by Congress - with a fixed amount going to the agency annually - was effectively "a standing, capped lump-sum appropriation."

Persons: Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, Kevin Wurm, Wells, Joe Biden's, Ellen Harnick, Barack Obama, Mick Mulvaney, Donald Trump, Mulvaney, John Kruzel, Douglas Gillison, Will Dunham, Scott Malone Organizations: U.S, Supreme, REUTERS, Rights, Consumer Financial, Bureau, Fifth Third Bank, U.S . Federal, Congress, Center for Responsible, Republican, Democrats, Republicans, Republican U.S, Community Financial Services Association of America, Consumer Service Alliance of Texas, Circuit, Trump, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Office, Federal Reserve, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, New Orleans

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