Table of Contents

No two-tier campaign finance laws: Consumer groups oppose DISCLOSE Act
A coalition of groups, including Consumer Action, sent a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi expressing disapproval of an exemption for the National Rifle Association in a pending campaign finance bill.

Chase should revisit consumer marketing materials on overdraft fees
Consumer Action, along with other groups, sent a letter to J.P. Morgan Chase Bank, following a meeting with the bank's CEO of Consumer Banking, Scott Powell. The letter asks Chase to consider problems with marketing materials describing how consumers opt-in to overdraft fees.

Banks must be closely supervised as they implement overdraft opt-in rules
In letters to both Sheila C. Bair, Chairman of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and Acting Director of the Office of Thrift Supervision John Bowman, Consumer Action and its coalition partners asked that these agencies closely monitor the implementation of new overdraft opt-in rules.

Online payday loans trap borrowers
This joint letter to Congress signed by leading consumer advocacy groups explains the harm from online payday loans, a growing avenue for high priced payday lending. Since the online lender has electronic access to the borrower’s bank account, these loans are first in line to be repaid ahead of food, rent, or other necessities when these triple-digit loans are made to struggling families.

Give prepaid cards the same protections as debit cards
In coalition with other consumer organizations, Consumer Action asked Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke to apply the consumer protections that debit cards have to prepaid cards as well.

Curb unfair overdraft protection practices
Consumer advocates, including Consumer Action, joined in a letter asking Congress to pass a bill curbing unfair bank overdraft fees. On Friday Oct. 30, the House Financial Services Committee will hold a hearing on H.R. 3904, the Overdraft Protection Act of 2009 which would, among other provisions, require a warning before a withdrawal would trigger an overdraft fee and allow consumers to choose whether or not to enroll in overdraft programs.

Federal law should be a floor, not a ceiling, for consumer protection
As a part of Americans for Financial Reform coalition, Consumer Action sent a letter to Congress requesting that they not preempt states' authority in Consumer Financial Protection Agency (CFPA) legislation.

Keep community investment in consumer agency legislation
In the battle to define the Consumer Financial Protection Agency (CFPA), Consumer Action signed on to a letter requesting that the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) be reinserted into any legislation about the agency.

Student loans must be regulated by the CFPA
In coalition with many other groups, Consumer Action signed onto a letter asking Congress to ensure that the Consumer Financial Protection Agency be given must full authority to regulate private student loans regardless of the institution offering them.

Protect car buyers under consumer watchdog agency
Consumer Action, along with 29 other organizations, signed on to a letter asking Congressman Barney Frank to ensure that all aspects of car financing are covered under the proposed Consumer Financial Protection Agency (CFPA).