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Advocate Andy
AI's Impact on Home Appraisals: New Rule Ensures Accountability
New federal rule calls for accountability from appraisers using AI. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is here and is changing the landscape across a range of consumer finance interactions, and that includes the home buying process.
Pastors Speak Out for Voting Rights
Advocacy group decries voter intimidation from Secretary of State. A group of Tennessee pastors is speaking out against the Secretary of State's office after the state election regulator sent letters requesting proof of citizenship to 14,000 naturalized citizens registered to vote in the state.
Tennessee Doctors Expose Harms of Abortion Law
Advocacy group points out harms of state law restricting abortion. A group of Tennessee physicians affiliated with the health policy advocacy group Protect My Care says the state's restrictive abortion law, triggered by the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health, is harming women.
Online Lending Scammer Fined $7M, Concealed Funds
James and Melissa Carnes hid money to avoid paying millions in court fines. The operator of a now-defunct online lender that scammed consumers out of nearly $40 million is accused of using banking tricks in an attempt to avoid paying his fines.
Removing Medical Debt from Credit Reports: $49B in Collections to Disappear
CFPB announces plan to remove medical debt from credit reports. $49 billion of debt in collections could soon disappear from credit reports, thanks to a rule proposed by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB).
New Rule Extends Protections for Buy Now, Pay Later Loans
Some credit card rules extended to short-term purchase financing. Customers who take advantage of short-term loans that offer "pay-in-four" installment flexibility will now have some new protections thanks to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB).
Supreme Court Upholds CFPB's Funding and Authority
Court upholds funding, structure of Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Consumer advocates are hailing a decision by the U.S. Supreme Court that will allow the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) to continue conducting business with a steady stream of funding.
Victims of Think Finance Deception to Receive $384 Million
Online lender tricked borrowers into repaying loans they did not owe. Nearly 200,000 victims of an online lending scam will receive payments from a $384 million fund. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is distributing payments to former borrowers of Think Finance, an online lender that operated a deceptive scheme to secure loan repayments from borrowers.
Devalued or Denied: Credit Card Rewards Disappoint Customers
Report highlights customer problems with credit card reward programs. A new report indicates that many customers feel misled by claims made by credit card rewards programs. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) released a report analyzing rewards programs offered by credit card companies as incentives and noted that in a number of cases, those programs end up being devalued or promised benefits are later denied.
LendUp Customers to Get $40M Refunds
More than 100,000 customers misled by LendUp's false claims. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) announced that more than 100,000 customers of now-defunct nonbank installment lender LendUp will receive a total of $40 million in payments.
Chime Financial Fined $4.5 Million for Harming Customers
Nonbank financial services provided withheld customer refunds for months. A nonbank lender will pay more than $1 million directly to former customers and also pay a civil penalty in excess of $3 million for harmful and illegal actions it took against customers.
Pastor Speaks Out Against Arming Teachers
Local minister applauds Anderson County's decision on teachers with guns. An Anderson County pastor is celebrating news that officials in the local school district have decided against arming teachers, despite a new state law allowing certain teachers to carry firearms on campus.
Credit Report Crisis: $49 Billion in Medical Debt
Despite policy changes, 15 million Americans have medical debt on credit reports. A consumer advocacy group is speaking out in light of a new report showing that 15 million Americans have a total of $49 billion in medical debt in collections showing up on credit reports.
Advocate Andy
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Andy Spears is a middle Tennessee writer and policy advocate. He reports on news around public policy issues - education, health care, consumer protection, and more.
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