Source: https://www.ncua.gov/regulation-supervision/letters-credit-unions-other-guidance/unfair-or-deceptive-credit-practices
Timestamp: 2019-05-26 01:09:18
Document Index: 192405665

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 706', 'art 706', 'art 706', '§ 45', '§ 5531', '§ 1786']

Unfair or Deceptive Credit Practices | National Credit Union Administration
Unfair or Deceptive Credit Practices
14-FCU-03 / August 2014
The National Credit Union Administration (NCUA), along with four other federal regulatory agencies, recently released guidance about the repeal of certain credit practices rules applicable to federal credit unions, banks, and savings associations.1 The enclosed guidance clarifies that, despite the repeal, the agencies still have supervisory and enforcement authority regarding unfair or deceptive acts or practices, which may include the practices prohibited by the former credit practices rules.2
With respect to federal credit unions, this repeal will affect NCUA’s regulations in Part 706 of Title 12 of the Code of Federal Regulations that generally prohibit:
the use of certain provisions3 in consumer credit contracts,
the misrepresentation of the nature or extent of cosigner liability, and
the pyramiding of late fees.
Due to the statutory repeal, the NCUA Board plans to repeal Part 706 at an open meeting later this year. However, the repeal of NCUA’s rules in Part 706 will not mean that the credit practices described in those rules are permissible.
The FTC Act and the Dodd-Frank Act continue to prohibit unfair or deceptive acts or practices.4
If a federal credit union engages in an unfair or deceptive practice described in the soon-to-be repealed credit practices rules, NCUA may determine a statutory violation exists, depending on the facts and circumstances of the particular case.
In addition, NCUA retains enforcement authority to address unsafe and unsound practices by a federal credit union.5
I encourage you to ensure your credit union’s staff receives training about the attached Interagency Guidance Regarding Unfair or Deceptive Credit Practices.
If you have questions concerning the guidance, please contact the NCUA Office of Consumer Protection at 703.518.1140 or ComplianceMail@ncua.gov.
1 The guidance was developed jointly by NCUA, the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency.
2The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (Dodd-Frank Act) repealed the authority of NCUA and certain other federal agencies to issue regulations for federal credit unions, banks, and savings associations that are substantially similar to the Credit Practices Rule of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).
3The following provisions are generally prohibited: confession of judgment or a similar waiver of rights in a consumer contract; waiver of limits on attachments of property; assignments of wages (with specified exceptions); and non-possessory security interests in household goods, other than a purchase-money security interest.
415 U.S.C. § 45 (unfair or deceptive acts or practices); 12 U.S.C. §§ 5531 and 5536 (unfair, deceptive, or abusive acts or practices).
5 12 C.F.R. § 1786(e).
​Interagency Guidance Regarding Unfair or Deceptive Credit Practices (opens new window)