Tuesday, August 4, 2015

Credit Card Hotline Causes Next Fight Over Consumer Bureau

By Cornelius Nunev


The debate over the CFPB is getting worse thanks to several issues, includ-ing the proposed credit card hotline. The idea is the bureau would compile information and grievances direct from consumers, and use that information when appropriate. However, banks and card issuers want re-strictions placed on the information. This would help keep all pay day loan data private.

Charge cards to get crowdsourcing penalties

A lot of debate was put into the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau before the credit card hot-line was considered. This hotline would make it so customers can complain about credit card issuers and practices they have, Daily Finance reports. The hotline would be so customers can report any abuse that occurs. Then the Bureau would give that information to states to use. Essentially, the complaint system would be crowdsourcing; the data would come straight from the people. However, the complaints would also go straight to government officials who could potentially fine card issuers without vetting the complaints. Bloomberg states that card issuers and banks try to keep a private database so that only the few people that have to be involved will be.

Ways to stop data from flowing

The idea behind making the information private is that it restricts the flow of raw data, which could be unfairly biased against banks. Right now, the complaint line will start with the CFPB. This is expected to happen on July 21. In its current for-mat, any person could access the complaint data and see every little thing said about every charge card issuer that it tracks. Though it may seem that banks and card issuers want to keep this data from the public to keep everybody from seeing the dishonest practices they engage in, there's a fair point to consider; a lot of people are apt to complain about fees regardless of whether those fees were fairly levied. A way to get infor-mation straight from the public is certainly admirable, but without restraint it can easi-ly be used inappropriately.

How the future is looking

The job of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is to monitor everything involving consumer credit. This involves debit cards, charge cards, payday loans and mortgages. However, the existence of the organization has caused a fight in Congress to break out. Reuters reports that there were three bills introduced to limit the bureau recently including two on the director. One of these would give a five member panel control instead of one director while another would keep the CFPB from having control until a director is assigned. Congressional Republicans have made it clear they are not in favor of Elizabeth Warren, the adviser to the White House who's assisting in getting the bureau ready for operation. The bureau is intended to start operations in July. This might not actually occur though.




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