When we take an enforcement action against an entity or person we believe has violated the law, we will post court documents and other related materials here.
The Bureau may enforce the law by filing an action in federal district court or by initiating an administrative adjudication proceeding. Administrative proceedings are conducted by an Administrative Law Judge, who holds hearings and issues a recommended decision. Proceedings are conducted in accordance with the Rules of Practice for Adjudication Proceedings .
On August 21, 2020, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (Bureau) issued a consent order against Go Direct Lenders, Inc. (Go Direct), a California corporation that is licensed as a mortgage broker or lender in about 11 states.
On August 20, 2020, the Bureau issued a consent order against TD Bank, N.A. regarding its marketing and sale of its optional overdraft service: Debit Card Advance (DCA).
On July 24, 2020, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau issued a consent order against Prime Choice Funding, Inc. (Prime Choice), a California corporation that is licensed as a mortgage broker or lender in about 35 states and the District of Columbia. The Bureau found that Prime Choice violated the CFPA’s prohibition against deceptive acts and practices, the MAP Rule, and Regulation Z.
On July 24, 2020, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau issued a consent order against Sovereign Lending Group, Inc. (Sovereign), a California corporation that is licensed as a mortgage broker or lender in about 44 states and the District of Columbia. The Bureau found that Sovereign violated the CFPA’s prohibition against deceptive acts and practices, the MAP Rule, and Regulation Z.
On July 15, 2020, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau filed a lawsuit in federal district court in the Northern District of Illinois against Townstone Financial, Inc., a nonbank retail-mortgage creditor based in Chicago. The Bureau alleges that Townstone violated the Equal Credit Opportunity Act; its implementing regulation, Regulation B; and the Consumer Financial Protection Act.
On July 13, 2020, the Bureau filed a complaint in the federal district court for the Central District of California against GST Factoring, Inc., which runs a student-loan debt-relief business in Texas, and two of its owners, Rick Graff and Gregory Trimarche, as well as Champion Marketing Solutions, LLC, a customer service and marketing company, and its owner, Scott Freda. The Bureau also filed suit against four attorneys, California attorneys Amanda Johanson and Jacob Slaughter, Arizona attorney David Mize, and Florida attorney Daniel Ruggiero.
On July 7, 2020, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau settled with Timemark, Inc., a company based in Deerfield Beach, Florida, that provides debt-relief services to consumers with federal student-loan debt, and with its owners and officers, Timothy Lenihan, Sr., Mark Nagler, and Casey Gassaway.
On July 6, 2020, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (Bureau) filed a lawsuit against My Loan Doctor LLC, a Delaware company operating in West Palm Beach, Florida and New York City and doing business as Loan Doctor (Loan Doctor), and its founder, Edgar Radjabli.
On June 23, 2020, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau settled with Harbour Portfolio Advisors, LLC (Harbour); National Asset Advisors, LLC (NAA); and National Asset Mortgage, LLC (NAM), companies that worked together to issue contracts for deeds to consumers.
On June 2, 2020, the Bureau announced a settlement with Main Street Personal Finance, Inc. and its subsidiaries.
On May 22, 2020, the Bureau and Commonwealth of Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey jointly filed a lawsuit against Commonwealth Equity Group, LLC, which does business as Key Credit Repair, and Nikitas Tsoukales (also known as Nikitas Tsoukalis), Key Credit Repair’s president and owner.
On May 11 2020, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (Bureau) issued a consent order against Specialized Loan Servicing, LLC (SLS), a mortgage-loan servicer in Colorado.
On April 1, 2020, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau issued a consent order against Cottonwood Financial, Ltd., which does business under the name Cash Store.
On March 9, 2020, the Bureau filed a lawsuit in federal district court in the Northern District of Illinois against Fifth Third Bank, National Association.
On February 20, 2020, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, the South Carolina Department of Consumer Affairs, and the State of Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge filed a lawsuit in federal district court in the District of South Carolina against Candy Kern-Fuller, Howard Sutter III, and Upstate Law Group LLC.
On January 30, 2020, the Bureau filed a lawsuit against Citizens Bank, N.A. (Citizens), alleging violations of the Truth and Lending Act (TILA) and its implementing Regulation Z, including TILA provisions passed under the Fair Credit Billing Act (FCBA) and Credit Card Accountability Responsibility and Disclosure Act (CARD Act), as well as violations of the Consumer Financial Protection Act of 2010 (CFPA) due to its violations of TILA and Regulation Z.
On January 9, 2020, the Bureau filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California against Chou Team Realty, LLC, d/b/a Monster Loans, Lend Tech Loans, associated student loan debt-relief companies and individuals.
On November 25, 2019, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau issued a consent order against Edmiston Marketing, LLC, also known as Easy Military Travel; and Brandon Edmiston, the owner and operator of Easy Military Travel.
On November 25, 2019, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau issued a consent order against Edmiston Marketing, LLC, also known as Easy Military Travel; and Brandon Edmiston, the owner and operator of Easy Military Travel.
On November 22, 2019, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau filed a proposed stipulated judgment with Sterling Infosystems, Inc., a consumer reporting agency headquartered in New York.
On October 21, 2019, the Bureau filed a complaint and sought a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction in federal court in the Central District of California against Consumer Advocacy Center Inc., d/b/a Premier Student Loan Center (Premier); True Count Staffing Inc., d/b/a SL Account Management (True Count); Prime Consulting LLC, d/b/a Financial Preparation Services (Prime); Albert Kim; Kaine Wen; and Tuong Nguyen.
On October 1, 2019, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and the South Carolina Department of Consumer Affairs filed a lawsuit in federal district court in the District of South Carolina against Katharine Snyder, Performance Arbitrage Company, Inc., and Life Funding Options, Inc.
On September 25, 2019, the Bureau filed a complaint in federal court in the District of Maryland against Maryland-based debt collectors FCO Holding, Inc. and its subsidiaries, Fair Collections & Outsourcing, Inc., Fair Collections & Outsourcing of New England, Inc., and FCO Worldwide, Inc. (collectively, FCO).
On September 6, 2019, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau filed a complaint in federal court in the Central District of California against Certified Forensic Loan Auditors, LLC, Andrew Lehman, and Michael Carrigan, along with a proposed stipulated final judgment against Michael Carrigan.
On August 28, 2019, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau settled with Asset Recovery Associates, Inc., a debt-collection company headquartered in Illinois.
