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NCLC Will Continue to Fight for Racial and Economic Justice After U.S. Supreme Court Rules Against Affirmative Action

June 30, 2023

The U.S. Supreme Court’s radical decision dismantling affirmative action in higher education is outrageous and disheartening and will limit educational and economic opportunity for people of color. The decision disregards decades of federal precedent upholding the consideration of race in higher education admissions and ignores the legacy of discrimination in American society, and the daily…

Borrowers Must Beware of Payment Changes as LIBOR Ends Friday

June 28, 2023

NCLC Advocates Caution Consumers to Check ARMs and Private Student Loans for Servicer Mistakes WASHINGTON – This Friday, June 30, will be the last day for the LIBOR. Starting next week, loan servicers responsible for millions of consumer loans that use the LIBOR will switch borrowers to a new index. The LIBOR is a widely used…

FHA to Require Mortgage Originators to Ask Borrowers about Language Preference

June 27, 2023

NCLC Advocates Praise New Requirement for Use of Supplemental Consumer Information Form WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Federal Housing Administration (FHA) announced that it will require lenders making FHA-insured mortgage loans to use the Fannie Mae/ Freddie Mac Supplementary Consumer Information Form (SCIF) to collect a mortgage applicant’s language…

Digital Library: Protecting Federal Claims by Using State Courts

June 26, 2023

This article describes advantages and tactics in initiating federal claims in state court and then details a key resource when federal claims are litigated in state court—a just-updated, state-by-state analysis of state court standing rules with a focus on consumer claims. A make-or-break question in much consumer litigation today is: if a case is likely…

New Resources for Student Loan Borrowers

June 22, 2023

Revised StudentLoanBorrowerAssistance.org Provides Resources for Consumers, Reporters BOSTON – In anticipation of an announcement from the U.S. Supreme Court concerning the fate of President Biden’s student debt cancellation plan, the National Consumer Law Center’s Student Loan Borrower Assistance project has launched a newly updated, consumer-facing website with resources and advice for borrowers and for media…

Consumer Advocates Applaud Members of Congress for Supporting FTC Auto Dealer Rule

June 22, 2023

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Sen. Ed Markey and U.S. Rep. Pramila Jayapal led 17 members of Congress in a letter to Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Chair Lina Khan asking for commonsense rules against abuses in the sale and financing of motor vehicles. A large majority of American consumers rely on their car to get to…

How Important Calls Regarding Medicaid Renewals Can be Made Legally

June 16, 2023

FCC must protect consumers from scam health insurance calls while facilitating HHS calls to remind Medicaid recipients to reenroll.

American Banker: Colorado's new law on high-cost lending may be a model for other states

June 15, 2023

Originally appearing in American Banker on June 7, 2023, Polo Rocha discusses a legal debate that brewing over whether the Colorado law leaves potential wiggle room for high-cost lenders with NCLC’s Lauren Saunders. Lauren Saunders, associate director at the National Consumer Law Center, described such debates as lawyers trying to “gin up uncertainty” even though…

The Wall Street Journal: Zombie Mortgages Could Force Some Homeowners Into Foreclosure

June 15, 2023

Originally appearing in The Wall Street Journal on June 4, 2023, Nicole Friedman and Ben Eisen discuss long-dormant mortgages that are coming back to bite with NCLC’s Andrea Bopp Stark. “All of a sudden we saw these second mortgages come out from under the woodwork. It’s a moneymaking opportunity.” Andrea Bopp Stark, a senior attorney…

The New York Times: The Student Loan Payment Pause Is Ending. Here's How to Prepare.

June 15, 2023

Originally appearing in The New York Times on June 1, 2023, Tara Siegel Bernard discusses a proposed plan with NCLC’s Abby Shafroth to revise the existing income-driven plan known as REPAYE, that could reduce payments for millions of borrowers by more than half. The Education Department released the proposal in January, and a final rule — which…

Associated Press: It’s almost time to resume student loan payments. Not doing so could cost you

June 15, 2023

Originally appearing in AP News on June 14, 2023, Cora Lewis and Adriana Morga quote Abby Shafroth in a piece about the consequences of nonpayment upon the resumption of student loan payments. “Forbearance allows you to postpone payments without it being held against you, but interest does accrue. So you’re going to see your balance…

ABC News: 'A train wreck coming': Americans brace for the return of student loan payments

June 8, 2023

Originally appearing in ABC News on June 8, 2023, Peter Charalambous interviews Abby Shafroth for a discussion about the resumption of student loan payments as the Supreme Court deliberates student debt forgiveness. “Anyone who has been paying attention to the student loan system sees a train wreck coming, and there’s very little time to try…

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