WPF submitted comments to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau regarding its notice of proposed rulemaking regarding Personal Financial Data Rights. This was a particularly important NPRM because it touches on multiple aspects of financial data in our modern era, which means that it touches privacy, identity, poverty, and digital rights ...
We have updated our tips for immediate steps victims (or potential victims) of the Equifax data breach can take. In this updated version of our tips, we have added information for individuals in the UK who want to check and see if they have been affected by the breach, and ...
Note: This post has been updated. We have added our tips for immediate steps victims (or potential victims) of the Equifax data breach can take. In this updated version of our tips, we have added information for individuals in the UK who want to check and see if they have ...
The World Privacy Forum joined the US PIRG, the National Consumer Law Center and other signatories in a joint letter to the US Federal Trade Commission and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau regarding the recent Experian data security breach. The letter asks key questions about the breach, and requests the ...
Today, the FTC announced a court order against a credit repair company that charged consumers advance fees for credit repair services. This has reminded us that credit repair scams are alive and well. The FTC publishes several good consumer guides around credit repair, so does the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. ...
In 2012, the US Federal Trade Commission brought a remarkable case against Equifax for selling consumer financial information -- which included credit scores and late mortgage payment information-- to companies offering services to consumers in financial distress. The World Privacy Forum commented to the FTC on this case, which was important for a number of reasons.
The World Privacy Forum appreciates the opportunity to submit comments to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s (CFPB) proposed policy statement about the CFPB's proactive disclosure of credit card complaint data. The proposed statement appeared in the Federal Register on December 8, 2011 at 76 Federal Register 76628, http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR- 2011-12-08/pdf/2011-31153.pdf and at https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2011/12/08/2011-31153/disclosure-of-certain-credit- card-complaint-data.
Financial privacy - Privacy Act -- The World Privacy Forum filed comments today urging the U.S. Treasury Department to obtain consumers' consent before checking their credit reports. Consumers who participate in the government's Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP) -- an Obama administration program created to help consumers renegotiate their mortgages so they can keep their homes -- must allow the Federal Government to check their credit reports without first obtaining consent. This procedure sets a negative precedent, and is at odds with consumer expectations of privacy. The Treasury gave itself this power in an obscure set of "Routine Uses" in a Privacy Act notice published along with the proposed system of records for the program. The World Privacy Forum has objected to this, and has filed detailed comments with the Treasury about the lack of consumer consent. The public comment period on this program is open until September 4, 2009.
The World Privacy Forum filed comments today urging the U.S. Treasury Department to obtain consumers' consent before checking their credit reports. Consumers who participate in the government's Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP) -- an Obama administration program created to help consumers renegotiate their mortgages so they can keep their homes -- must allow the Federal Government to check their credit reports without first obtaining consent. This procedure sets a negative precedent, and is at odds with consumer expectations of privacy. The Treasury gave itself this power in an obscure set of "Routine Uses" in a Privacy Act notice published along with the proposed system of records for the program. The World Privacy Forum has objected to this, and has filed detailed comments with the Treasury about the lack of consumer consent. The public comment period on this program is open until September 4, 2009.
Financial privacy -- U.S. consumers have the right to order one free credit report per year from each of the three national credit bureaus. The World Privacy Forum's landing page about federally-mandated free Annual Credit Reports and the consumer tips for ordering a free annual credit report have been fully updated.
Security Freeze update | Financial privacy -- As of November 1, 2007, the ability to place a security freeze is available nationwide at the three major credit reporting bureaus. To date, 39 states and the District of Columbia have some form of security freeze law. But now, even in the states that did not pass security freeze legislation, consumers will be able to place a security freeze. A security freeze lets you stop the disclosure of your credit report by a credit bureau. A security freeze can be especially helpful to individuals who are having persistent problems with identity theft. For more information:
Security freeze | identity theft | financial privacy -- A credit freeze (sometimes called a security freeze) lets you stop the disclosure of your credit report by a credit bureau. A credit freeze can be especially helpful to individuals who are having persistent problems with identity theft. If you live in a state with a security freeze law, then you may be able to place a security freeze on your files. This World Privacy Forum resource gives general background on security freezes, lists the states with security freeze laws, and links to more information for each state.
The World Privacy Forum cautions consumers who qualify to order a federally mandated free annual credit report to ensure that they take common-sense computer safety steps before ordering their credit report online.