The CFPB and FTC Accuse TransUnion of Illegal Rental Background Check and Credit Reporting Practices

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) and Federal Trade Commission (FTC) have requested a federal court to order penalties for the rental screening subsidiary of TransUnion for violations of the Fair Credit Reporting Act. TransUnion: (a) did not make sure that the rental background checks that landlords use to evaluate renters were accurate, and (b) withheld from renters the names of third parties that provided the inaccurate information. The CFPB and FTC's request is to fine TransUnion $15 million for its illegal behavior, stop illegal tenant screening practices,  and make significant improvements to how it reports evictions. Regarding the financial penalty, $11 million would be paid to consumers and $4 million would go to the CFPB's victims relief fund.

Separately, the CFPB has ordered TransUnion to pay $8 million for lying to thousands of consumers about when it placed or removed security freezes and locks on credit reports. TransUnion told consumers the requests were completed when instead the requests joined its multi-year backlog. It also did not keep active-duty members of the military from pre-screened solicitation lists – which protects servicemembers from identity theft. 

The 2018 Fair Credit Reporting Act required TransUnion and other credit reporting companies to offer free security freezes to the public and enhanced protections for active-duty members of the military. This Act also requires that companies respond timely to consumer requests to place or remove security freezes – which with credit locks helps prevent potential identity theft by blocking many third parties from accessing consumers’ credit reports.

TransUnion had annual revenue in excess of $3.7 billion in 2022, and collects information on over 200 million Americans, including information on their payment histories, debt loads, maximum credit limits, current creditors, and related credit relationships. It provides security freezes and security locks of individuals’ consumer reports. TransUnion previously had been accused of improprieties by the CFPB. Those and the current enforcement action stemmed from CFPB's investigations and reports.

Read today’s CFPB and FTC joint complaint and proposed order.

Read today’s CFPB order.

Learn more about credit reports and scores.

Read the CFPB’s 2023 report on consumer complaints about TransUnion and the other two nationwide consumer reporting companies.

Read the remarks of Eric Halperin, the CFPB’s Assistant Director of Enforcement, on today’s actions.

Consumers can submit complaints about financial products and services by visiting the CFPB’s website or by calling (855) 411-CFPB (2372).

Read the October 12, 2023 CFPB article.

 FAIR HOUSING E-NEWS

October, 2023

 

Welcome to this edition of Fair Housing E-News! This newsletter is produced by the GBCHRB as a public service. More info/resources: http://www.gbchrb.org. Just a few of the headlines are:

Baltimore Civil Rights Week 2023 is October 30-November 3^rd. Civil Rights Week 2023 is held by the Baltimore City Office of Equity and Civil Rights (OECR). Civil Rights Week 2023 Sponsorship Packages.

 Project Begun to Increase Accessibility of Baltimore-Area Houses of Worship. To help religious leaders make their houses of worship more welcoming to people with disabilities and their families, the Kennedy Krieger Institute’s Maryland Center for Developmental Disabilities has started its Faith Community Learning Collaborative. : Read the September 11, 2023 Baltimore Sun article.

 Massachusetts Study of Housing Mobility Program Finds Positive Results. Read the Full Report and Executive Summary.

Study Links Historic Redlining to Worse Cardiovascular Health for Veterans. Read the July16, 2023 Washington Post article.

2022 Saw the Highest Rate of Recorded Antisemitic Incidents in the US and Maryland Sees Antisemitic Graffiti and Noxious High School Behavior. Read the October 13, 2023 CNN article. Read the September 20, 2023 CBS News report. Read the September 20, 2023 WBALTV article.

 Florida Bank that Denied Loans to Blacks, Hispanics to Pay $9 Million. Read the October 19, 2023 Washington Post article.

To read this issue of Fair Housing E-News: fhnews2023oct.pdf.

Contact the GBCHRB for free Fair Housing training.

GBCHRB 

P. O. Box 66180

Baltimore, Maryland 21239-6180

http://www.gbchrb.org

443.347.3701 

On October 26th, Maryland Begins Property Appraisal & Evaluation Equity Investigation

 

PUBLIC NOTICE: Task Force On Property Appraisal and Valuation Equity to Hold Public Meeting NEW CARROLLTON, MD (October 24, 2023) – As mandated by the passage of HB1097 in 2022, the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development is establishing the Task Force on Property Appraisal and Valuation Equity. The Task Force will: Beginning October 26, 2023, meet monthly through June of 2024 Address the persistent misvaluation and undervaluation of property owned by minorities by: studying strategies and actions that will:  help ensure that governmental oversight and industry standards and practices further valuation equity;  increase training of appraisers to combat valuation bias;  remove barriers to entry into the appraisal profession by minorities;  assist in the development of a model for a meaningful reconsideration of value process; and  reduce or eliminate bias related to automated valuation models and alternative property valuation methods; and  identifying legislative or other policy recommendations that will provide a comprehensive and coordinated approach for reducing bias in valuations, through enforcement, compliance, or other methods Report its findings and recommendations to the Governor and General Assembly. DHCD will hold the first Task Force meeting on October 26, 2023 at 4:00 p.m.  This meeting is virtual, and the public can watch live at the link or join through the phone number listed below.  Video call link: https://meet.google.com/cpo-afwn-unr Or dial: ‪(US) +1 352-453-0792‬ PIN: ‪243 551 371‬#

Baltimore Makes It Easier for Tenants to Purchase Their Own Housing

Baltimore Mayor Brandon M. Scott has signed into law "The Councilmember Mary Pat Clarke Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act," which aims to restore renters' ability to engage directly with their landlords who may be looking to sell their rental properties and provide easier pathways for renters to move to homeownership. 

The bill was inspired by the continuous advocacy and previous legislation led by former Council President Mary Pat Clarke. As a Councilwoman representing Northeast Baltimore, she worked with St. Ambrose Housing Aid Center founders Vinnie Quayle and Frank Fisher on the original 'Tenant Right of First Refusal' legislation, which was the first legislation in the country designed to give tenants the opportunity to purchase the homes in which they live when the owner was ready to sell. Exemptions added by later legislation made former Council President Clarke's bill all but obsolete.

The Councilmember Mary Pat Clarke Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act repeals the exemptions that gutted the original legislation, and reestablishes that if an owner/landlord wants to sell their property, they must first provide their current tenant opportunity to pursue a purchase. With some exceptions, the tenant would have 14 days to make a decision to sign a letter of intent to purchase and enter a contract, or the owner can move forward in the process of selling the property to any potential buyer. The legislation also implements a number of reporting and data requirements. 

The bill will make a significant impact for numerous families across Baltimore by eliminating substantial barriers to homeownership and prioritizing renters pursuing homeownership in Baltimore's housing market.

*****

Source: City of Baltimore Daily Digest Bulletin, October 17, 2023.

Free Forum on "Employment: Disability, Reasonable Accommodations and the Law"

MCCR Forum: Employment: Disability, Reasonable Accommodations and the Law

Maryland Commission on Civil Rights sent this bulletin at 10/17/2023 09:10 AM EDT

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page. Join us at our virtual forum that covers a review of applicable disability-related laws and reasonable accommodations. The training also provides relevant statistics and discusses appropriate etiquette, behavior and language when interacting with persons with disabilities. To register, click on the picture above or click HERE. Victim of Discrimination? Training & Partnerships HOME      ABOUT MCCR      SERVICES      PUBLICATIONS      EVENTS      PRESS      CONTACT US

Stay Connected with the Maryland Commission on Civil Rights

46th Anniversary of Community Reinvestment Act (CRA)

 Important Law Against Lending Discrimination Celebrated

The following is from an October 12, 2023 email blast from the National Community Reinvestment Coalition (NCRC) which works to lessen mortgage lending discrimination.

Tomorrow, October 12, the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) turns 46! As we excitedly await the new federal rule that is both long overdue and essential, we reflect upon what CRA has done in the last four decades, and what it could do for underserved communities all across America with the proper updates and modernization.  Join us tomorrow, all day across all social media platforms, as we acknowledge and celebrate the Community Reinvestment Act. Here are some sample messages and graphic to encourage your participation.

CRA Birthday Toolkit

CRA requires banks to meet the credit needs of all communities, including LMI areas, consistent with the safety and soundness of the banks’ operations. The law created a framework wherein community organizations, banking regulatory agencies and financial institutions interact in assessing how well a financial institution is meeting the needs of disadvantaged communities. This framework has proven critical in promoting greater investment and service in areas that banks might otherwise disregard.    NCRC and our members have used the CRA to negotiate community benefits agreements (CBAs) with 21 different banks, totaling over $574 billion in loans and investments for affordable housing, small businesses, economic development and bank branches in low- and moderate-income neighborhoods and communities of color.   Let’s celebrate CRA and encourage the banking regulators to release the rule we have all been waiting for!   Thanks for all that you do, Team NCRC

Copyright © 2023 NCRC, All rights reserved. Manage Preferences/Unsubscribe

National Community Reinvestment Coalition 740 15th St NW, Suite 400 Washington,DC 20005

Massachusetts Study of Housing Mobility Program Finds Positive Results

 "Supporting Neighborhood Opportunity in Massachusetts: A Study of Housing Mobility Program Outcomes (June 2023)"

The Supporting Neighborhood Opportunity in Massachusetts ("SNO Mass") program is a statewide housing mobility program, developed by the Massachusetts Executive Office of Housing and Liveable Communities (EOHLC)1 in 2019 for families with rental subsidies through EOHLC’s federally funded Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Program. SNO Mass offers housing counseling, financial assistance, and landlord incentives to expand housing choice and assist interested families in moving to “high opportunity” neighborhoods. To some extent, the HCV Program is a successor to HUD's Moving to Opportunity Program.

As of July 2023, 125 Massachusetts families (with a total of 270 children) have moved to higher-opportunity neighborhoods as a result of SNO Mass. Interviews with several of these families confirmed that moving has had a largely positive impact on both parents and children. 

Most participants report they are very pleased with their new home and community, and identify specific ways in which their lives and their children’s lives have improved since they moved. While these early results are encouraging, more work is needed to ensure that more families (within and beyond the SNO Mass program) are able to move to high-opportunity neighborhoods. This is a potential model program for other states.

Read the Full Report  and Executive Summary.

*****

Source: Poverty & Race Research Action Council (PRRAC), https://www.prrac.org/supporting-neighborhood-opportunity-in-massachusetts-a-study-of-housing-mobility-program-outcomes/.

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