The CFPB's and FTC's Supervision & Enforcement Authority in Auto Finance

The CFPB's and FTC's Supervision & Enforcement Authority

in Auto Finance

Presented by

With

Michael Benoit

Richard Hackett

Lucy Morris

Joel Winston

The CFPB’s Proposed Larger Participant Rule for Automobile Financing

The Proposed Rule

Purpose

The Larger Participant Test

Leasing

Cost of Supervision

Purpose

Level Playing Field 87.4 million outstanding finance and lease transactions

Representing < $900 billion in value

Market fragmented between banks and non-banks

Exert Supervisory Authority over Non-Banks

Bureau mandate Enforce federal consumer financial laws consistently without

regard to a person’s status as a depository institution

Aggregate Annual Originations = 10,000

Originations by nonbank entity and any affiliates during the preceding calendar year: Credit granted for the purpose of purchasing an

automobile, plus Automobile leases, plus Lease and credit refinancings, plus Purchases or acquisitions of leases and purchase

financing

Aggregate Annual Originations = 10,000

Automobile means any self-propelled vehicle primarily used for personal, family, or household purposes for on-road transportation. The term does not include motor homes, recreational vehicles (RVs), golf carts, and motor scooters.

Aggregate Annual Originations

Bureau indicated it did not intend to capture:Title lending, orSecuritization

But: Not clear if title lending isn’t a form of refinancing,

andLanguage of the rule does not sufficiently carve out

securitization SPEs (“invest in ABS”).

Leasing

Two definitions:

Dodd- Frank: extending or brokering leases of personal … property that are the functional equivalent of purchase finance arrangements, if (I) the lease is on a non-operating basis; and (II) the initial term of the lease is at least 90 days.

CEBA §108 (Competitive Equality Banking Act)

Leasing

Parsing the DFA definition:

Initial term of at least 90 days

Non-operating

Accounting definition

Permissible non-banking activities for bank holding companies

The functional equivalent of purchase finance arrangements

Leasing

Is CFPB’s determination that leases are the functional equivalent of purchase finance arrangements sound?

What impact if applied to other scenarios? (TILA, ECOA, creditor’s rights)

Leasing

CEBA §108: Must be:

A full-payout lease and

A net lease.

Leasing

Full-payout lease:Return of full investment in property is

reasonably expected, plus the estimated cost of financing the property over the term

From (1) rentals; (2) estimated tax benefits; and (3) the estimated residual value of the

property at the expiration of the lease term.

Leasing

Net lease: Lessor will not, directly or indirectly, provide or be obligated to provide for:

(1) Servicing, repair, or maintenance;

(2) Parts or accessories;

(3) Loan of replacement or substitute property during servicing;

(4) Lessee insurance costs (except force-placed); or

(5) Renewal of any license or registration for the property (unless necessary to protect lessor interests).

Costs of Supervision

Bureau estimates based on its experience with bank examinations. On site for 9 weeks

2 weeks of preparation

11 weeks of staff time

Assumes 1 full time compliance person and 1/10th of an attorney – total labor cost $27,611 (assumption may not align with reality)

CFPB Enforcement in the Auto Finance Market

Big Picture

• Proposed larger participant rule only impacts the Bureau’s supervisory authority.

• The Bureau has enforcement authority over large bank and nonbank auto finance companies.

• Enforcement can occur independent of Supervision or Rulemaking.

• Expect Bureau to be active in this space.

How CFPB Investigations Originate

• As a result of a Bureau examination.– The “PARR” letter and the decision to pursue

public enforcement action.

• By the Enforcement Office, based on:– Consumer Complaints– Whistleblowers– Media Attention– Referrals from Federal/State Partners– Enforcement Priorities

Civil Investigative Demands

• Investigations typically start with broad CIDs for documents, data, and written responses.

• Compulsory process with tight deadlines.• “Meet and confer” within 10 days of receipt.• CID modification letters.• Petitions to modify or set aside the CID must

be filed within 20 days of receipt.

What to Expect Next

• Several weeks or months without word• Then:

– A closing letter (possible, but not likely yet)– Follow-on CIDs for more materials or

investigational hearings– CIDs to third-parties, like banks and vendors– Bureau interviews of customers and former

employees

What to Expect Next

• Closing letter; or• Notice and opportunity to respond and advise

(NORA).– Written response will be shared internally,

including with Director.

• Pre-complaint settlement negotiations.• Bureau lawsuit if unable to settle.

CFPB Areas of Interest in Auto Finance Market

• Deceptive practices in the marketing of loans and leases.

• Providing accurate information to credit bureaus.

• Treating consumers fairly when collecting debts.

• Discriminatory pricing and dealer markups.

FTC Enforcement in the Auto Finance Market

Federal Trade Commission

• FTC has jurisdiction over all entities “in or affecting commerce, except:– Depository institutions– Common carriers– Non-profits– Business of insurance

Includes non-bank auto finance companies and their principals

FTC – CFPB

• CFPB: exclusive jurisdiction over banks. • FTC: exclusive jurisdiction over non-financial services

companies.• But, large areas of overlap, including non-bank auto finance

companies. • Memorandum of Understanding

- No duplication or inconsistent standards

- Coordination and cooperation

- May “divide and conquer”• Deception and unfairness standards are the same.• But, FTC and CFPB don’t necessarily see the world the same way.

Recent FTC Developments

• Consumer Portfolio Services (5/14). Subprime auto lender and servicer. Alleged illegal practices included:– Loan servicing

• Misrepresenting fees owed• Improper assessment and collection of fees• Improper principal balance increases• Failing to disclose effects of loan extensions• Misrepresenting payment options


• Consumer Portfolio Services (cont). Subprime auto lender and servicer. Alleged illegal practices included:– Debt collection (both FDCPA and first party), including

• Disclosing debts to third parties• Calls to consumers’ places of employment• Harassment• Unauthorized debits• False repossession threats• Manipulating Caller ID

– FCRA Furnisher Rule violations – failing to have reasonable procedures to ensure maximum possible accuracy of data it reported and to resolve consumer disputes.


• Operation Steer Clear (1/14) – 10 cases vs. auto dealer advertising for:– TILA and CLA violations– Low-balling– “Teaser” rates– Balloon payments– “No money down” claims– Hidden fees– Limited availability


• Timonium Chrysler and Ganley Ford West (9/13) – advertised discounts available only on certain models and with certain qualifications.

The “Typicality” Principle

• An unqualified claim about the performance, efficacy, availability, benefits, or features of a product or service imply that consumers “typically” will achieve that result.– Consumer testimonials– “Up to” claims (“rates as low as ….”)

If only a minority of the target audience will achieve the advertised results, the claim must be clearly and conspicuously qualified.

“Clear and Conspicuous” Disclosures

Operation Full Disclosure• FTC reviewed over 1000 magazine and TV ads to identify those

with inadequate disclosures. Follow up to Dot.Com Disclosures.• Sent 60+ warning letters to advertisers that included potentially

misleading statements that they tried to fix with fine print disclosures.– Prices quoted without adequate disclosure of qualifications or

limitations– Accessories offered without adequate disclosure of need to

purchase related items– Unrepresentative consumer testimonials without adequate

disclosure of average results

“Clear and Conspicuous” Disclosures

Operation Full Disclosure (cont)• Clear and conspicuous disclosures should be presented:

– Close to the claim to which it relates (not buried in footnotes or blocks of text)

– In easy-to-read font that is as large as font used to make the claim

– In a shade that stands out against background– In language that consumers will understand– Video disclosures: on screen long enough to be noticed, read

and understood– Oral disclosures: in a cadence that is easy to follow

FTC – Other issues

• Privacy and data security • Debt collection• Fair Credit Reporting Act (furnisher

obligations; risk-based pricing; permissible purpose)

• Telemarketing Sales Rule• Tracking devices

Questions

Rick HackettHudson Cook, LLP22 Free StreetSuite 205Portland, Maine 04101 207-541-9556 [email protected]

Michael BenoitHudson Cook, LLP1020 19th Street, NW7th FloorWashington, DC 20036 202-327-9705 [email protected]

Lucy MorrisHudson Cook, LLP1020 19th Street, NW7th FloorWashington, DC 20036 202-327-9710 [email protected]

Joel WinstonHudson Cook, LLP1020 19th Street, NW7th FloorWashington, DC 20036 202-327-9712 [email protected]

Jack TraceyNAF Association7250 Parkway DriveSuite 510Hanover, MD 21076 410-865-5431 [email protected]

Documents

The CFPB's and FTC's Supervision & Enforcement Authority in Auto Finance