New York Consumer Law Blog

To recap: Equifax exposed personal financial information, was sued by the government and settled. The government publicly touted a cash reward alternative of up to $125 to victims without ensuring enough money had been set aside to guarantee the max amount for every possible person affected; the government backtracked on its statement; eventually, the Equifax settlement team sent a mid-weekend email adding a new hurdle for victims to claim their money. And the cash settlement? “Forget about the $125 alternative,” the Los Angeles Times columnist Read more . . .

When a criminal steals your identity, he or she can also steal your good credit score.

https://blog.myfico.
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The Fair Credit Reporting Act was ahead of its time in terms of assuring consumer rights re: the accuracy of the data that is involuntary reported about consumers.  One of the next frontiers is establishing consumers' rights to control that data.  

Listen to Microsoft's president discuss . . .
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Goldman Sachs and Apple have included an arbitration provision in the Apple Card customer agreement. It basically means you can’t join a class action lawsuit against either company, experts said.

Customers can also easily opt-out of arbitration — here’s how you do it. 

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The Trump administration imposed sweeping changes to U.S. immigration policy this week, including letting the government—apparently for the first time—weigh prospective immigrants’ credit history when deciding who gets to come to the U.S. and who gets to stay.
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https://blog.myfico.com/credit-actions-affect-fico-scores/

 The way you manage your finances and use credit (both positively and negatively) can impact your FICO® Scores.
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https://www.cnbc.
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If you’re trying to clean up your credit, you’ll come across plenty of companies offering an easy fix. But any company promising instant results for a price is likely a scam.

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The top three credit bureaus (also known as credit reporting agencies) are Experian, Equifax and TransUnion. When you’re applying for credit, lenders depend on the data provided by these bureaus to make their decision whether or not to lend you money. So where does this data come from in the first place?

https://blog.
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Despite the growing embrace of such measures, some consumer advocates say the trend will hurt lower-income or minority borrowers. “It entrenches and perpetuates inequality in such an obvious and stark way,” says Chi Chi Wu, an attorney for the National Consumer Law Center, who adds that the existing system already makes it harder for people with lower income and fewer assets to qualify for cheaper loans. 

https://www.
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