CFPB Lists Money Issues That Irk Older Consumers
CFPB Lists Money Issues That Irk Older Consumers Scams & Fraud
The federal watchdog agency has received more than 1 million consumer complaints since its creation in 2011 under the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. In an analysis released Thursday, the U.S. Public Interest Research Group (PIRG) found that nearly 10 percent of complaints the CFPB has received have been filed by consumers age 62 or older.
Of those, 31 percent involve complaints against and financial institutions, with about eight in 10 related to existing mortgages. Many centered on botched basic activities, such as inaccurate statements, miscrediting payments, and improper handling of taxes and insurance.
Ed Mierzwinski, a coauthor of the U.S. PIRG analysis and the organization’s consumer program director, says many of the complaints against mortgage lenders stem from the upheaval caused by fallout from the , when the industry consolidated and millions of loans were repackaged and sold to other providers.
Credit-reporting agencies and credit-repair services accounted for 17 percent of CFPB complaints from older consumers, about the same percentage who filed complaints against debt collectors. Most of the credit-report problems related to incorrect information, such as . Credit cards or prepaid cards accounted for 15 percent of complaints, and checking or savings accounts accounted for 13 percent, U.S. PIRG found.
The bulk of CFPB complaints filed by older consumers came from California, Florida, New York, Georgia, Ohio and Illinois.
Republicans have been seeking to dismantle the CFPB or roll back its regulatory and punitive powers. But Democrats cite the $11 billion in restitution the agency has won for defrauded consumers and its enforcement and regulatory actions against and .
But Mierzwinski, noting that the number of older consumers filing compliants could be twice as high as reported because age disclosures on the complaint forms are voluntary, says the agency is essential to protect older Americans.
“Older consumers are vulnerable and need strong financial protection,’’ he says. “The CFPB protects them from unfair, deceptive or abusive practices. We support that.”
Older Consumers Speak Out About Financial Hassles
New report examines complaints against lenders debt collectors and others
Yuji Sakai/Getty Images Mortgage lenders and debt collectors prompt the most complaints to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, according to a recent analysis. have the most trouble with mortgage lenders, credit-reporting agencies and debt collectors, according to a new analysis of complaints that were filed with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB).The federal watchdog agency has received more than 1 million consumer complaints since its creation in 2011 under the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. In an analysis released Thursday, the U.S. Public Interest Research Group (PIRG) found that nearly 10 percent of complaints the CFPB has received have been filed by consumers age 62 or older.
Of those, 31 percent involve complaints against and financial institutions, with about eight in 10 related to existing mortgages. Many centered on botched basic activities, such as inaccurate statements, miscrediting payments, and improper handling of taxes and insurance.
Ed Mierzwinski, a coauthor of the U.S. PIRG analysis and the organization’s consumer program director, says many of the complaints against mortgage lenders stem from the upheaval caused by fallout from the , when the industry consolidated and millions of loans were repackaged and sold to other providers.
Credit-reporting agencies and credit-repair services accounted for 17 percent of CFPB complaints from older consumers, about the same percentage who filed complaints against debt collectors. Most of the credit-report problems related to incorrect information, such as . Credit cards or prepaid cards accounted for 15 percent of complaints, and checking or savings accounts accounted for 13 percent, U.S. PIRG found.
The bulk of CFPB complaints filed by older consumers came from California, Florida, New York, Georgia, Ohio and Illinois.
Republicans have been seeking to dismantle the CFPB or roll back its regulatory and punitive powers. But Democrats cite the $11 billion in restitution the agency has won for defrauded consumers and its enforcement and regulatory actions against and .
But Mierzwinski, noting that the number of older consumers filing compliants could be twice as high as reported because age disclosures on the complaint forms are voluntary, says the agency is essential to protect older Americans.
“Older consumers are vulnerable and need strong financial protection,’’ he says. “The CFPB protects them from unfair, deceptive or abusive practices. We support that.”