NATIONAL CONSUMER LAW CENTER INC
7 WINTHROP SQUARE 4TH FLOOR, BOSTON, MA 021101006 www.nclc.org

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Organizations Filed Purposes: SINCE 1969, THE NONPROFIT NATIONAL CONSUMER LAW CENTER HAS USED ITS EXPERTISE IN CONSUMER LAW AND ENERGY POLICY TO WORK FOR CONSUMER JUSTICE AND ECONOMIC SECURITY FOR LOW-INCOME AND OTHER DISADVANTAGED PEOPLE. NCLC'S EXPERTISE INCLUDES POLICY ANALYSIS AND ADVOCACY; CONSUMER LAW AND ENERGY PUBLICATIONS; LITIGATION; EXPERT WITNESS SERVICES, AND TRAINING AND ADVICE FOR ADVOCATES. NCLC WORKS WITH NONPROFIT AND LEGAL SERVICES ORGANIZATIONS, PRIVATE ATTORNEYS, POLICYMAKERS, AND FEDERAL AND STATE GOVERNMENT AND COURTS ACROSS THE NATION TO STOP EXPLOITIVE PRACTICES, HELP FINANCIALLY STRESSED FAMILIES BUILD AND RETAIN WEALTH, AND ADVANCE ECONOMIC FAIRNESS.

BUILDING FAMILY AND INDIVIDUAL ECONOMIC SECURITYLOW-INCOME FAMILIES HAVE LITTLE OR NO SAVINGS TO PROVIDE A SAFETY NET, LIVING WEEK TO WEEK AND MONTH TO MONTH TO MEET BASIC EXPENSES. THIS POPULATION IS DISPROPORTIONATELY TARGETED FOR OVERPRICED FINANCIAL SERVICES, SUCH AS EXCESSIVE BANK FEES, HIGH-COST LOANS, AND PREDATORY HOME MORTGAGES. LAX REGULATION HAS LEFT MANY FAMILIES VULNERABLE TO WEALTH-STRIPPING PRACTICES AND DEEPLY IN DEBT, REDUCING OPPORTUNITIES FOR HIGHER EDUCATION, JOB TRAINING AND HOMEOWNERSHIP. TO COUNTER THESE TRENDS AND HELP LOW-INCOME PEOPLE BUILD ASSETS AND ECONOMIC SECURITY, NCLC PROMOTES THE ADOPTION AND ENFORCEMENT OF STRONG CONSUMER PROTECTIONS IN THE FINANCIAL SERVICES MARKETPLACE.SPECIFIC ACHIEVEMENTS INCLUDE:NCLC FOCUSED ON STATE AUTHORITY TO PROTECT DEBTORS BY COORDINATING ADVOCACY AT THE STATE LEVEL AND PROVIDING TECHNICAL EXPERTISE TO STATE ADVOCATES. ASTRONOMIC GROWTH OF THE DEBT BUYER AND COLLECTION INDUSTRIES MAKES LOW INCOME FAMILIES INCREASINGLY VULNERABLE TO SEIZURE OF ESSENTIAL WAGES AND PROPERTY TO PAY THEIR OLDEST DEBTS. IN 2019, ADVOCATES IN CALIFORNIA, COLORADO, AND WASHINGTON SUCCEEDED IN WINNING STRONGER PROTECTIONS FOR DEBTORS' WAGES AND ASSETS WHEN THEY ARE SUED BY DEBT COLLECTORS. WE ALSO ISSUED A SIGNIFICANT ISSUE BRIEF ON THE POTENTIAL BENEFITS AND DANGERS OF ON-LINE SYSTEMS FOR RESOLVING CONSUMER DEBT CLAIMS, A RAPIDLY GROWING AREA. NCLC ALSO PUBLISHED THE REPORT NO FRESH START IN 2019: HOW STATES STILL LET DEBT COLLECTORS PUSH FAMILIES INTO POVERTY -- NO FRESH START, SURVEYING THE EXEMPTION LAWS OF THE 50 STATES, THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, PUERTO RICO, AND THE VIRGIN ISLANDS. IMPROVED CREDIT REPORTING STANDARDS TO ADDRESS INACCURACIES AND IMPROVE THE FLAWED DISPUTE PROCESS, WERE ESTABLISHED WITH THE PASSAGE OF THE COMPREHENSIVE CREDIT ACT. NCLC HAS LONG ADVOCATED FOR MAJOR REFORMS TO THE CREDIT REPORTING INDUSTRY AND THE RECENT PASSAGE OF THE COMPREHENSIVE CREDIT (CREDIT REPORTING ENHANCEMENT, DISCLOSURE, INNOVATION, AND TRANSPARENCY) ACT OF 2020 (H.R. 3621) BY THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES IS AN IMPORTANT STEP TOWARD THESE REFORMS. THE BILL WOULD REDUCE THE PUNITIVE IMPACT OF NEGATIVE INFORMATION BY REDUCING THE TIME PERIOD IT CAN STAY ON A CONSUMER'S CREDIT - A RECOMMENDATION THAT NCLC MADE.OVERDRAFT FEES WILL EFFECTIVELY BE REMOVED FROM PAYROLL CARDS AND PREPAID CARDS. NCLC PRODUCED NUMEROUS MATERIALS EXPLAINING IMPORTANT NEW PROTECTIONS FOR PREPAID CARDS THAT WE WORKED HARD TO ACHIEVE AND THAT WENT INTO EFFECT APRIL 1, 2019. WE WORKED TO HIGHLIGHT CERTAIN PREPAID CARDS THAT ARE EVADING THE RULES LIMITING OVERDRAFT FEES, BY SPEAKING TO REPORTERS AND HIGHLIGHTING THAT THOSE CARDS ARE MISSING FROM THE NEW PREPAID CARDS DATABASE. NCLC FILED COMMENTS WITH THE CFPB URGING IT NOT TO WEAKEN ITS EXISTING RULES REQUIRING CONSUMER OPT-IN FOR OVERDRAFT FEES AND TO STRENGTHEN THE OVERDRAFT FEE RULES. REVERSE MORTGAGES: FOLLOWING A MAJOR POLICY SHIFT BY HUD (AND ADVOCATED BY NCLC) AIMED AT HELPING WIDOWS AND WIDOWERS REMAIN IN THEIR HOMES AFTER THE DEATH OF A SPOUSE WHO HAD TAKEN OUT A REVERSE MORTGAGE ON THE HOME, NCLC ATTORNEY SARAH BOLLING MANCINI TESTIFIED BEFORE THE U.S. HOUSE FINANCIAL SERVICES COMMITTEE HOUSING, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, AND INSURANCE SUBCOMMITTEE AT A HEARING ENTITLED "PROTECTING SENIORS: A REVIEW OF THE FHA'S HOME EQUITY CONVERSION MORTGAGE (HECM) PROGRAM." PRIOR TO THE POLICY SHIFT THESE SO-CALLED NON-BORROWING SPOUSES HAD BEEN BLOCKED FROM A FORECLOSURE DEFERRAL PROGRAM BY UNWORKABLE DEADLINES. MANCINI TESTIFIED ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS POLICY SHIFT, WHICH WILL BENEFIT MANY VULNERABLE SURVIVING SPOUSES, AND HIGHLIGHTED THE CHALLENGES THAT REMAIN.DISCRIMINATION IN AUTO SALES AND FINANCING: IN MAY 2019 NCLC ATTORNEY JOHN VAN ALST TESTIFIED BEFORE THE U.S. HOUSE SUBCOMMITTEE ON OVERSIGHT AND INVESTIGATIONS REGARDING DISCRIMINATION ON THE BASIS OF RACE AND NATIONAL ORIGIN IN THE SALE AND FINANCING OF CARS. AND IN APRIL 2019, TIMED TO COINCIDE WITH THIS TESTIMONY, NCLC PUBLISHED AN ISSUE BRIEF DETAILING THE RESEARCH DOCUMENTING DISCRIMINATORY PRACTICES IN AUTO SALES.

IMPROVING ACCESS TO ENERGY, UTILITIES, & TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICESACCESS TO AFFORDABLE AND EFFICIENT ELECTRICITY, HEATING FUEL, WATER, AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICES IS ESSENTIAL FOR ALL AMERICANS. UNFORTUNATELY, MILLIONS OF STRUGGLING FAMILIES CANNOT PAY FOR BASIC UTILITIES, PUTTING THEIR HEALTH, SAFETY, AND WELL-BEING AT RISK. IN ADDITION, LOW-INCOME HOUSEHOLDS TEND TO LIVE IN LESS ENERGY EFFICIENT HOMES AND USE LESS EFFICIENT APPLIANCES, BOTH OF WHICH LEAD TO HIGHER OVERALL ENERGY COSTS. NCLC PROMOTES THE ADOPTION AND ENFORCEMENT OF PUBLIC POLICIES THAT DELIVER AFFORDABLE AND EFFICIENT UTILITY SERVICES FOR LOW-INCOME HOUSEHOLDS. SPECIFIC ACHIEVEMENTS INCLUDE:PROMOTING ACCESS TO ESSENTIAL UTILITY SERVICES: NCLC WORKED WITH FEDERAL AND STATE POLICYMAKERS, UTILITY COMPANIES, AND ADVOCATES ON POLICIES AND PROGRAMS TO MAINTAIN FAIR AND AFFORDABLE UTILITY SERVICES FOR LOW-INCOME FAMILIES AND WORKED TO ADDRESS SYSTEMATIC PROBLEMS THOSE HOUSEHOLDS (OR THE AGENCIES THAT HELP THEM) ENCOUNTER. FUEL ASSISTANCE FOR MASSACHUSETTS RESIDENTS: NCLC ASSISTED THE MASSACHUSETTS COMMUNITY ACTION PROGRAM DIRECTORS ASSOCIATION IN THEIR ADVOCACY EFFORTS TO MAKE APPROVAL OF A $30 MILLION INCREASE IN FUEL ASSISTANCE A REALITY FOR LOW INCOME HOUSEHOLDS AFTER THE MASSACHUSETTS LEGISLATURE SENT TO THE GOVERNOR'S DESK A SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET THAT INCLUDED $30 MILLION FOR FUEL ASSISTANCE ON MARCH 29TH, 2019. ALSO, IN RESPONSE TO NCLC'S REQUEST, BOTH NATIONAL GRID AND EVERSOURCE UTILITIES SENT LETTERS TO THE GOVERNOR URGING HIM TO APPROVE THE $30 MILLION, AND TO ENSURE THAT ALL INCOME-ELIGIBLE HOUSEHOLDS -- WHETHER THEY HEAT WITH OIL, PROPANE, ELECTRICITY OR GAS - WOULD RECEIVE AN INCREASE IN THEIR MAXIMUM BENEFIT LEVELS.

WORKING WITH DISTINCT POPULATIONSNCLC SEEKS TO FORM PARTNERSHIPS WITH GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATIONS, HUMAN SERVICE PROVIDERS, COUNSELING GROUPS, AND OTHERS INTERESTED IN PROTECTING CONSUMER RIGHTS. WE PROVIDE SPECIAL PUBLICATIONS THAT ARE TAILORED TO ATTORNEYS AND HUMAN SERVICE PROVIDERS; CONDUCT HANDS-ON, PRACTICAL TRAINING WORKSHOPS; AND OFFER CASE CONSULTING EXPERTISE ON DIFFICULT CLIENT MATTERS. NCLC HAS ESTABLISHED STRONG RELATIONSHIPS WITH ORGANIZATIONS NATIONWIDE SERVING A BROAD RANGE OF DISTINCT POPULATIONS. SPECIFIC ACHIEVEMENTS INCLUDE:- TO CONTINUE TO ELEVATE THE INTERESTS OF LOW-INCOME STUDENT LOAN BORROWERS AND THEIR FAMILIES, NCLC PROVIDED EXPERTISE TO CONGRESSIONAL STAFF AND POLICYMAKERS, CULMINATING IN FOUR APPEARANCES BEFORE CONGRESSIONAL SUBCOMMITTEES IN 2019. NCLC HAS LONG ADVOCATED FOR AN END TO THE SEIZURE OF THE EARNED INCOME TAX CREDIT (EITC) TO REPAY STUDENT LOANS AS THE (EITC) PROVIDES SUBSTANTIAL SUPPORT TO LOW- AND MODERATE-INCOME WORKING PARENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES. THE STOP EITC AND CHILD TAX CREDIT (CTC) SEIZURES ACT, INTRODUCED IN NOVEMBER 2019, WOULD PROTECT STUDENT LOAN BORROWERS FROM HAVING THEIR EITCS AND CTCS SEIZED TO REPAY THEIR DEFAULTED FEDERAL LOANS. NCLC ORGANIZED A COALITION OF 29 NATIONAL, STATE AND LOCAL CIVIL LEGAL AID, CIVIL RIGHTS, CONSUMER, LABOR, RELIGIOUS, VETERAN, AND PUBLIC INTEREST ORGANIZATIONS TO RAISE AWARENESS ON THIS ISSUE AND EDUCATE POLICYMAKERS AND THE PUBLIC ON THE IMPACT OF THE PROBLEM AND NEED FOR A SOLUTION. - LIMITS WILL BE PLACED ON THE HARMFUL COLLECTION PRACTICES ASSOCIATED WITH CRIMINAL JUSTICE DEBT, AND PROGRESS MADE IN PROTECTING INDIVIDUALS AND PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR FRESH STARTS. NCLC'S CONFRONTING CRIMINAL JUSTICE DEBT PROJECT EXPANDED IN 2019 IN ITS CONSULTING, SUPPORT AND COALITION WORK PROVIDING CONSUMER PROTECTION EXPERTISE TO THE COALITION OF ORGANIZATIONS WORKING ON CRIMINAL JUSTICE DEBT ISSUES. NCLC ALSO PUBLISHED TWO REPORTS RELATED TO CRIMINAL JUSTICE DEBT: COMMERCIALIZED (IN)JUSTICE: THE GROWING PROBLEM OF CONSUMER ABUSES PERPETUATED BY COMPANIES PROFITING FROM MASS INCARCERATION AND THE RENT-TO-OWN RACKET: USING CRIMINAL COURTS TO COERCE PAYMENTS FROM VULNERABLE FAMILIES, DETAILING THAT THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA AND 47 STATES HAVE LAWS THAT CAN BE USED TO CRIMINALIZE THE FAILURE TO RETURN RENTAL PROPERTY AT THE END OF AN RTO LEASE TERM. NCLC ALSO PUBLISHED A FACT SHEET FOR STATES: WHAT STATES CAN DO: CRIMINAL JUSTICE DEBT AND PRESENTED THE WEBINAR DRIVING WITH DEBT: WHAT ATTORNEYS AND ORGANIZERS CAN DO TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM OF DRIVER'S LICENSE SUSPENSIONS FOR COURT DEBT. - PROGRESS WAS MADE IN PROVIDING ACCESS TO CREDIT REPORTS FOR U.S. SERVICE MEMBERS WHEN THE FTC ADOPTED NCLC'S RECOMMENDATION TO REQUIRE THAT SERVICE MEMBERS HAVE ACCESS TO FREE ONLINE CREDIT REPORTS WHEN A SERVICE MEMBER GETS AN ALERT. NCLC CONTINUED ITS ADVOCACY HIGHLIGHTING ONGOING PROBLEMS WITH ERRORS IN BACKGROUND CHECK AND CREDIT REPORTS, ISSUING THE REPORT BROKEN RECORDS REDUX ON DECEMBER 19, 2019 AND ALSO APPEARING, THE SAME DAY, AS PANELISTS (NCLC ATTORNEYS ARIEL NELSON AND CHI CHI WU) AT A JOINT FTC/CFPB WORKSHOP ON ACCURACY IN CONSUMER REPORTING DISCUSSING THE CONSEQUENCES OF ERRORS IN BACKGROUND CHECK AND CREDIT REPORTS FOR CONSUMERS.- NCLC ALSO RELEASED THE REPORTS: TIME TO STOP RACING CARS: THE ROLE OF RACE AND ETHNICITY IN BUYING AND USING A CAR; AND DON'T ADD INSULT TO INJURY: MEDICAL DEBT & CREDIT REPORTS.

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