CRL Publications

Are prepaid credit cards helping or hurting consumers?

Fri, 25 May 2012 00:00:00 -0500

Martin Eakes remarks on prepaid cards before a CFPB field hearing.

Regulatory Compliance Costs and Small Financial Institutions

Wed, 09 May 2012 00:00:00 -0500

CRL President Michael Calhoun testifies before a House Financial Services subcommittee on the benefits of strong lending protections. Financial reform, including the CFPB, is good for American families as well as bank safety and soundness.

Predatory Credit Card Lending: Unsafe, Unsound for Consumers and Lenders

Tue, 08 May 2012 00:00:00 -0500

What hurts consumers financially hurts business. Losses in downturns mount faster at banks enagaging in unfair, deceptive practices. High-cost penalty fees, interest rates don’t mitigate risk—as credit card issuers have said—but instead are the risk that causes consumers to default.

California Foreclosure Statistics: The Crisis is Not Over

Thu, 26 Apr 2012 00:00:00 -0500

Compilation of California foreclosure statistics through 2011 from a variety of sources, including Center for Responsible Lending, DataQuick and the Mortgage Bankers Association.

Refinancing: Helping Responsible Homeowners Save Money

Wed, 25 Apr 2012 00:00:00 -0500

Interest rates are at historic lows, but many homeowners who could benefit from these low rates have not refinanced their higher-rate mortgage. In this testimony, CRL President Michael Calhoun recommends expanding the Home Affordable Refinance Program (HARP) to prevent unnecessary foreclosures and boost economic recovery.

Comments to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau on Payday Lending Abuses

Mon, 23 Apr 2012 00:00:00 -0500

Comments to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau on payday lending abuses on behalf of several organizations concerned about the documented abuses of payday lenders.

CRL Analysis of the 2012 California Homeowner Bill of Rights

Tue, 10 Apr 2012 00:00:00 -0500

Attorney General Kamala Harris is sponsoring a package of bills (the Homeowner Bill of Rights) designed to mitigate the foreclosure crisis and provide Californians with greater protections in the foreclosure process.

Deal or No Deal: How Yo-Yo Scams Rig the Game against Car Buyers

Wed, 04 Apr 2012 00:00:00 -0500

This latest paper by CRL provides a clear picture of the prevalence of yo-yo scams, insight into how yo-yo scams are perpetrated, and identifies which consumers are most likely to be targeted by dealers for this scam.

Dealer Markup of Interest Rates is an Unfair and Deceptive Practice

Fri, 30 Mar 2012 00:00:00 -0500

The Federal Trade Commission has the authority to deem dealer markups of interest rates as an unfair and deceptive practice, according to this comment letter filed by the Center for Responsible Lending.

Summary of National Mortgage Settlement

Wed, 14 Mar 2012 00:00:00 -0500

Forty-nine state attorneys generals and two government agencies have reached a $25 billion agreement with the nation's five largest mortgage servicers to address mortgage loan servicing and foreclosure abuses. Here we provide a quick-reference summary of the terms of this agreement.