Table of Contents

Senate should enhance consumer credit protections for servicemembers and their families
Consumer Action joined in sending a letter of support for S. Amdt. 1294 to S. 1867, the Defense Authorization Bill, which would close legal loopholes that allow payday and auto title lenders to bilk military men and women.

Real debt help
Consumer Action partnered with other national consumer groups to provide tips on how to avoid debt relief scams and bogus mortgage relief assistance. The Get Real Debt Help fact sheet explains debt relief danger signs, rules on upfront fees, and where to turn for real debt help. (Available in Spanish and English).

Old exceptions to risk-based pricing rule must be removed before Dodd-Frank can work
Consumer Action signed onto comments that point out problems with provisions proposed by the Federal Reserve and the FTC that would fail to remove currently-existing exceptions to the risk-based pricing rule (if the creditor makes a credit scoring disclosure) in the Dodd-Frank bill.

Wisconsinites for Responsible Lending
Wisconsinites for Responsible Lending (WRL) is a statewide coalition of groups and concerned residents that has come together to promote responsible lending practices and products and address one of the pressing economic and social issues affecting our state: Predatory Payday Lending.

Financial reform coalition tackles big issues
A new financial reform coalition, Americans for Financial Reform, has been launched. Consumer Action is a part of this coalition.

Shareholders target predatory credit card practices
Consumer Action and the Center for Responsible Lending joined socially responsible MMA Praxis Mutual Funds and the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility to discuss anti-consumer credit card practices that could have a negative impact on shareholders of major card issuers, and the larger economy.

“Opt-in” fundamental to consumer overdraft protection
The Federal Reserve's move to curb abuses in bank overdraft practices prompted Consumer Action and its coalition partners to write a letter demanding that the Fed ask institutions to first obtain consumer "opt-in" or agreement before imposing any fees for the service.

Advancing financial literacy in Wisconsin

Over the last three years, Consumer Action’s Sol Carbonell has served as the Dane County Marketing and Promotions Committee Chair for Money Smart Week, a weeklong financial literacy awareness and education campaign that takes place in the state of Wisconsin during the month of October. In this article, Carbonell shares some of the accomplishments and behind the scenes coordination efforts of this campaign that reached thousands of consumers with financial literacy information.

“Consumer Action is proud to be part of Money Smart Wisconsin and urges state partners to join the movement and continue promoting financial literacy,” said Carbonell.

Loan modifications available for all mortgages, not just subprime
Consumer Action joined its coalition members in a letter supporting S. 61, which would provide judges with the authority to modify unaffordable loans for all families who are facing foreclosure, not just those with subprime mortgage loans.

Wolf in sheep’s clothing: payday lending bill harms consumers
In a letter to the House Financial Institutions and Consumer Credit Subcommittee, Consumer Action joined its coalition members in strongly opposing H.R. 1214, which would condone predatory terms in payday loan products.