Search Results: State AGs

Debt Settlement Company Enters into $1 Million Consent Judgment with Massachusetts AG

On August 31, 2021, the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office (Massachusetts AG) announced that it reached a settlement with a Massachusetts-based debt settlement company to resolve allegations that the company violated the Massachusetts Consumer Protection Act.  The settlement resolves a lawsuit originally filed by the Massachusetts AG in 2018.  In the complaint, the Massachusetts AG alleged that the…

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Washington AG Reaches Settlement with Debt Collector to Resolve Lawsuit Concerning Its Alleged Failure to Offer Garnishment Exemptions and Collection of Unlawful Fees

On June 8, 2020 the Washington Attorney General’s office (Washington AG) announced that a consent order had been reached with a Colorado-based debt collection agency that would require the agency to pay $475,000 to approximately 5,000 Washington consumers to resolve a lawsuit originally filed in April 2020 in Washington state…

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Massachusetts AG Reaches Settlement with Bank to Provide Student Loan Debt Relief

On May 28, 2021, Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healy (Massachusetts​ AG) announced a settlement with a bank, acting as an agent for lenders, which requires the bank to permanently discharge debts and return payments made by certain former students of a regional for-profit university.  The settlement requires the bank to refund over $30,000 in recent loan repayments made by certain Massachusetts borrowers…

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Massachusetts AG Announces Settlement with Auto Lender for Alleged Unfair and Deceptive Acts and Practices

O​n May 27, 2021, the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office (AG) announced that it had reached a settlement with a subprime auto lender resolving alleged violations of the state’s unfair and deceptive acts and practices law. The Massachusetts AG alleged that the auto lender, in connection with its purchase of auto retail installment sales contracts from…

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Minnesota AG Announces Settlement with Student Loan Debt Relief Company

On April 13, 2021, the Minnesota Attorney General Office (Minnesota AG) announced that it reached a settlement with a California-based student-loan debt-relief company resolving alleged violations of Minnesota’s Debt Services Settlement Act, Prevention of Consumer Fraud Act, Minn. Stat. § 325F.69, et seq.,​ and Uniform Deceptive Trade Practices Act, Minn. Stat. § 325D.43, et seq. The Minnesota…

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Pennsylvania AG Settles with Student Loan Debt Buyer for $2.6 Million

Piggy Bank with a Graduation Cap

On April 6, 2021, the Pennsylvania Attorney General (Pennsylvania AG) announced that it reached an agreement with a Texas-based debt buyer concerning a portfolio of student loan debt it purchased from a now-defunct for-profit college. According to the Pennsylvania AG, the debt purchaser purchased the portfolio of loans after the for-profit college abruptly closed in December 2018 due to…

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Washington State Court Rules that Student Loan Servicer Violated the Washington Consumer Protection Act

On March 5, 2021, the Washington Attorney General’s Office (AG) announced that a Washington State court ruled against a student loan servicer, finding that the servicer violated the Washington Consumer Protection Act by engaging in unfair and deceptive conduct related to its representations related to a “co-signer release” program. The partial summary judgment order…

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Pennsylvania AG Sues Five Companies Involved in Alleged Mortgage Modification Scam

On July 26, 2018, the Attorney General for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania announced a lawsuit against five Pennsylvania mortgage foreclosure companies and two company owners for cheating consumers into signing contracts to have their mortgage loans modified—but never delivering the services paid for—in violation of Pennsylvania’s Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer…

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Massachusetts AG Settles Claims Against Federal Student Loan Servicer

On February 10, 2021, the Massachusetts Attorney General (Massachusetts AG) announced that it reached a settlement with a national federal student loan servicer, resolving allegations that the entity engaged in deceptive acts or practices in violation of state law related to its student loan servicing practices.  In particular, the Massachusetts​ AG alleged…

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CFPB Investigating Digital-Payment Company's Collection Practices

​On February 5, 2021, a digital-payment company disclosed in a filing with the Securities Exchange Commission (SEC) that they received​ a Civil Investigative Demand (CID) from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) on January 21, 2021.  The CID requests documents and answers to written questions concerning allegedly unauthorized funds transfers and collections processes relating to one of the company’s products. …

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Delaware AG Files Lawsuit Against Debt-Management Services Company

On February 8, 2021, the Delaware Attorney General (Delaware AG) announced that it filed an administrative lawsuit against a California-based debt-management services company for allegedly violating the Delaware Uniform Debt-Management Services Act, the Delaware Consumer Fraud Act, and the Delaware Deceptive Trade Practices Act. According to the Delaware AG, ​​the debt-management company used misleading advertising to target elderly and…

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Minnesota AG Settles with Student Loan Debt-Relief Company for Allegedly Unlawful Fee Collection

On January 14, 2021, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison (Minnesota AG​​) announced that his office reached a settlement with a California-based student loan debt-relief company that allegedly collected unlawful fees from customers and made misrepresentations to them regarding its ability to forgive student loans. According to the Minnesota AG, the company allegedly made false promises to…

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Pennsylvania AG Halts Operations of Student Loan Forgiveness Company

​On December​ 16, 2020, the Pennsylvania Attorney General (Pennsylvania AG) announced ​a settlement with a California-based student loan forgiveness company for alleged violations of state consumer protection laws.  According to the Pennslyvania AG, the company used false advertising tactics and posted fraudulent customer reviews on the Better Business Bureau website.  Further, the company…

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Maryland AG Settles with Student Loan Debt Buyer for $2.6M

On November 16, 2020, the Maryland Attorney General (Maryland AG) announced a settlement with a Texas-based debt buyer regarding a portfolio of student loan debt the buyer purchased from a court-appointed receiver following the closure of a for-profit college. The $2,622,877 settlement immediately discharges any outstanding loans and refunds 75%…

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NJ Attorney General Sues National Student Loan Servicer For Deceptive Practices

On October 20, 2020, New Jersey Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal (“NJ AG”) and the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs announced that they had filed suit in New Jersey state court against a national student loan servicer for alleged unconscionable commercial practices and deception and misrepresentations made to thousands of New…

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Massachusetts AG Obtains Judgment Against Student Loan Debt Relief Company

On October 7, 2020, the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office (Massachusetts AG) announced a judgment obtained against a student loan debt relief company in Suffolk Superior Court for allegedly unlawful and predatory business practices. According to the AG, the company charged unlawful upfront and continuing fees to consumers, misrepresented the scope…

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Virginia AG Reaches Settlement with Internet Lender Concerning Short-Term Loans

​On September 29, 2020, the Attorney General for the Commonwealth of Virginia (Virginia AG) announced a settlement with a Nashville-based open-end credit plan​ internet lender, resolving allegations that the lender violated Virginia laws in offering short-term loans.  This settlement results from the Virginia AG’s allegations that the lender’s contracts with its consumers violated the Virginia Consumer Protection Act…

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NY Attorney General Settles with Debt Collection Company Over Allegedly Unlawful Student Loan Debt Collection Practices

On September 14, 2020, New York Attorney General Letitia James announced that she secured protections for thousands of student borrowers who defaulted on student loans and who were allegedly subject to misleading and unlawful actions by one of the nation’s largest debt collectors.  The settlement agreement resolves an investigation of…

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