National Consumer Law Center

Parent PLUS borrowers urged to consolidate before July 1 deadline Parent PLUS borrowers may lose income‑contingent repayment after July 1. Here’s who should consolidate now and how the new rules change payments.

"Parent PLUS borrowers with low incomes or high student loan burdens will not have a good option to reduce their payments to a more affordable amount," according to NCLC's Student Loan Borrower Assistance program. #ProtectBorrowers #DefendStudents @freep.com www.freep.com/story/money/...

Yo-Yo Financing: The Shady Lending Tactic That Can Cost You Your Car Even If You Make Every Payment | Bankrate Marklyn Johnson drove to the grocery store in March 2025 with her boyfriend and 5-month-old son. They needed groceries, and welcomed a warm indoor diversion on a cold Connecticut winter day.  As they ...

On yo-yo financing: “'It doesn’t even have to be highly regulated,' agrees NACA senior policy director Christine Hines. 'It just means the contract is a final contract — there shouldn’t be any conditions on it that [harm] a consumer… because the dealer doesn’t know how to conduct a transaction.'”

A CFPB Union member looks on while @consumerfed.bsky.social's Adam Rust patiently explains to Republicans that they can't fight fraud while Trump & Vought destroy the CFPB. #stopvought #savecfpb

Yo-Yo Financing: The Shady Lending Tactic That Can Cost You Your Car Even If You Make Every Payment | Bankrate Marklyn Johnson drove to the grocery store in March 2025 with her boyfriend and 5-month-old son. They needed groceries, and welcomed a warm indoor diversion on a cold Connecticut winter day.  As they ...

Imagine yourself experiencing the high of driving off the lot and the low of being summoned back to make a bigger down payment or face a higher interest rate.

“You’re really invested, and it’s hard for people then to say, no." #ProtectConsumers @bankrate.com www.bankrate.com/loans/yo-yo-...

Student loan update as states call to block forgiveness plan The filing opens a new front in a long-running legal battle over the Biden administration's SAVE repayment program.

"The court has given the Department a golden opportunity to do right by people struggling with the staggering cost of living and crippling student loan debt," said Abby Shafroth at NCLC. #ProtectBorrowers #DefendStudents via @newsweek.com www.newsweek.com/student-loan...

How Predatory but Legal Auto Loans Are Systematically Taking Advantage of People with Subprime Credit | Bankrate This is a story about a predatory loan that can ensnare you in a matter of hours and lead to crushing debt — and perhaps wrecked credit — that can span years. It’s also a story about how it’s all perf...

Truth in Lending rules require that lenders explain the cost of financing a car. But you never get that info until the end, when you’re already locked in – creating an opaque, difficult-to-manage transaction rife with abuse. #ProtectConsumers @bankrate.com www.bankrate.com/loans/auto-l...

What to Know About Those ‘We’ll Buy Your Home’ Ads and Mailers Shady house flippers use high-pressure tactics and offers of fast cash to make a profit on your property

The problem: Homeowners usually receive only about 60 percent of a home’s fair market value, says Keith Clayton, special deputy with the North Carolina attorney general’s office.

“I refer to these scams as equity stripping." @aarp.org #ProtectConsumers #FairHousing www.aarp.org/money/scams-...

Spring Training - NACA Register Today Why Attend? Join the community of consumer advocates to learn from leaders how we can work together to support and protect the vulnerable from financial exploitation and fight back agai...

𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞’𝐬 𝐍𝐨 𝐒𝐮𝐛𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐭𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐁𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐓𝐨𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫. Network with the nation’s consumer law experts and top practitioners at the 2026 Spring Training, April 30 - May 1, in Minneapolis. @consumeradvocates.bsky.social #ConsumerLaw #ProtectConsumers www.consumeradvocates.org/training-eve...

Civil Rights and Immigration Advocates to Court: Sham Settlement Betrays Victims of Housing Scam Friend of the Court Brief in Texas Fair Housing Case Calls Out Troubling Terms of Settlement Agreement

“Money that should go to victims is instead being proposed for immigration enforcement, subjecting victims to increased risk of deportation ... The court must reject this so-called settlement, which provides no meaningful relief & puts victims at risk.” #ProtectConsumers www.nclc.org/civil-rights...

Happy Consumer Protection Week!

In 2025, my office answered 47,214 calls on our consumer hotline. That’s:

⚾ 10,000 more people than can fit in Fenway Park.
🎤 Greater than two sold out shows at TD Garden.
🏒 Over three times the size of the DCU Center

When you need help, we answer.

Happy National Consumer Protection Week! 🎉 Consumer Privacy is one of our top priorities here at EPIC, and we’ve played a leading role in developing the FTC’s authority to address emerging privacy issues.

Here's a sampling of what we've been up to in the consumer privacy space recently ⬇️

National Consumer Protection Week: March 1-7, 2026 Learn tips to avoid scams, report scams, recover from scams

It’s National Consumer Protection Week! The Oregon Department of Justice is fighting for working families every day, and that includes helping Oregonians stay safe from scams and fraud.

Follow along this week to learn how to avoid, report, and recover from scams and fraud. #NCPW2026

It’s National Consumer Protection Week, New York!

Every day, my office fights to enforce the law and return money to New Yorkers who have been cheated.

Here are some of the issues we tackled last year.

If you have a complaint, contact my office:

ag.ny.gov/consumer-complaint

Court Dismisses SAVE Lawsuit — But Uncertainty Remains for Borrowers The legal status of SAVE remains unresolved and borrowers are left to navigate a complicated landscape with an administration that is still not in favor of the policy.

“The court has given the @usdeptofed.bsky.social a golden opportunity to do right by people struggling with the staggering cost of living & crippling student loan debt,” said Abby Shafroth, NCLC's managing director of advocacy. #ProtectBorrowers #DefendStudents www.theeduledger.com/students/art...

Legal Aid Groups Urge the Department of Education to Protect Struggling Borrowers as “Big Bill” Brings Sweeping Changes With new rules for student loans scheduled to go into effect this summer that could radically increase borrowers’ monthly payments, the Department of Education must take steps to protect borrowers fro...

“Legal aid organizations have seen firsthand how student loan rules and practices can push struggling families into default. Without proper implementation, these new rules could force people to pay more than they should." #ProtectBorrowers #DefendStudents www.nclc.org/legal-aid-gr...

It's National Consumer Protection Week! Here's a tip from consumer attorneys on how to spot a scam caller: look out for attempts to create a sense of urgency. #NCPW2026

NCLC Launches Initiative to Support California Economic Justice Efforts Leigh Ferrin Will Head the New Project, Aimed at Increasing the Capacity of Legal Services Programs to Address Consumer Law Issues

“I’m honored to join NCLC as the inaugural California Project Director,” said Leigh Ferrin. "I’m excited to join them to strengthen the network of services available to low-income Californians.” #ProtectConsumers #CApol www.nclc.org/nclc-launche...

SAVE Survives Another Day: Court Refuses to Vacate Most Affordable Student Loan Repayment Plan Court Rejects Department of Education’s Request to Approve Proposed Settlement That Would End SAVE Plan and Dismisses Case

“This decision offers borrowers a ray of hope that the Department of Education won’t deliver a devastating blow to borrowers in the midst of the affordability crisis. The court has given the Department a golden opportunity to do right by people." #ProtectBorrowers www.nclc.org/save-survive...

We Uncovered the Secret Scheme Trapping Americans in Car Loans YouTube video by More Perfect Union

"They [auto dealers] are setting themselves up for success even though they might be setting the consumer up for failure," said John Van Alst, senior attorney at NCLC. #ProtectConsumers @moreperfectunion.bsky.social www.youtube.com/watch?v=ST-M...

“Consumers are often charged too much for the home, often wind up with more expensive credit than they should get, are unaware of the significance of titling their home as real or personal property."

Stronger consumer protections could help #ProtectConsumers. www.homes.com/news/buyers-...

CFPB Union NTEU 335 and our friends rocked the George Gordon Meade Memorial in front of Prettyman Federal Courthouse yesterday!

Trump’s tariffs are driving up prices on everyday goods and hitting working families hardest.

That’s not “protecting” Americans. #SOTU2026 #StateOfOurCivilRights

Courts continue to find that this administration’s attempts to target DEI initiatives are unconstitutional, including the recent case we won protecting America's public schools.

Ahead of House Vote, Consumer Groups Warn H.R. 4626 Threatens Consumer Savings - CR Advocacy Proposal could weaken appliance efficiency standards, raising utility bill costs for households across America. Washington, D.C. – The US House is expected to vote this…

Ahead of House Vote, Consumer Groups Warn H.R. 4626 Threatens Consumer Savings.

Without existing standards, the typical US household would have spent an additional $6,000 on utility bills over the past decade.

advocacy.consumerreports.org/press_releas...

Rally To Save CFPB At Prettyman Courthouse · CFPB UnionNTEU 335 On February 24 the en banc U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit will hear oral arguments in NTEU v Vought at the Prettyman Courthouse at 333 Constitution Ave. NW. From 12-1pm, NTEU 335 will…

Join CFPB workers and allies tomorrow. @ 12PM for a rally at the courthourse to save the CFPB. RSVP for the rally here: mobilize.us/s/1ZSUXI

Then pack Courtroom 20 @ 2PM for oral arguments in our lawsuit against Vought.

Location: Prettyman Courthouse, 333 Constitution Ave NW (DC)

#savecfpb

What Is The Pitt Trying to Tell America About Health Care? HBO’s smash-hit medical drama can be off-putting in its overt wonkery, but there’s a method to the maudlin.

@hbo.bsky.social, thanks for the great coverage on medical debt during #ThePitt!

Next time, can you spotlight hospital financial assistance too? We would have encouraged Mr. Diaz to apply for charity care. Learn more at dollarfor.org @newrepublic.com newrepublic.com/article/2062...

New Predatory 100% APR Bank Seeks Trump Administration’s Approval OCC Should Not Allow CashNetUSA and NetCredit to Ignore State Interest Rate Limits

“During an affordability crisis, when President Trump has supported a 10% cap on credit card rates, his Administration must reject a new national bank that charges 100% to 300% ... It would be unprecedented for the Trump Administration to sanction a 100% APR bank.” www.nclc.org/new-predator...

“Consumers are often charged too much for the home, often wind up with more expensive credit than they should get, and are unaware of the significance of titling their home as real or personal property." #FairHousing #FairLending #ProtectConsumers www.homes.com/news/buyers-...

The CFPB still stands a year after the Trump admin tried to delete it, thanks to its staff and advocates. But, the attacks on the Bureau have not stopped. It's time for Congress to show working people some love and restore CFPB funding so it can get back to protecting consumers. #LoveCFPB

We Can’t Address Affordability Without Tackling Corporate Power Concentrated economic influence is making us increasingly powerless—and angry.

Our @dylangyauchl.bsky.social has a piece out in @newrepublic.com about why affordability has to include taking on corporate power.

"Prosperity is not possible until those who have schemed against the American people are run to ground and held accountable at last."

newrepublic.com/article/2064...