Consumer Protection Laws Dino Tsibouris (614)

Gramm-Leach-Bliley Consumer financial information privacy law GLB Act Applies to financial institutions – any businesses significantly engaged in financial activities such as lending

Gramm-Leach-Bliley The FTC ruled that GLB applies to higher education if it offers financial aid Imposes duties beyond FERPA GLB Act led to creation of the Privacy Rule and the Security Rule

Gramm-Leach-Bliley Protects information about: – Anyone who receives a financial service from the school and provides non-public financial information about themselves – Includes students, parents, faculty, staff and other third parties with whom the university interacts

Gramm-Leach-Bliley GLB Privacy Rule Must give notice of privacy practices/right to opt-out of sharing of information with third parties FERPA compliance deemed GLB Privacy Rule compliance Any institution of higher education that complies with the Federal Educational Rights and Privacy Act ("FERPA"), 20 U.S.C. 1232g, and its implementing regulations, 34 CFR part 99, and that is also a financial institution subject to the requirements of this part, shall be deemed to be in compliance with this part if it is in compliance with FERPA CFR 313.1

Gramm-Leach-Bliley GLB Security Rule Rules on Safeguarding Customer Information 67 Fed. Reg (May 23, 2002) No exemption for educational institutions Must develop/maintain an information security program

Gramm-Leach-Bliley Information Security Plan should: – Identify and assess risk to customer information – Design/implement written safeguard program – Respond to incidents – Proactively respond to vulnerabilities – Monitor/adjust – Require vendors to comply

Gramm-Leach-Bliley Information to protect: – Social security numbers – Credit card numbers – Bank account numbers – Account balances – Credit history or rating – Tax return information

The Equal Credit Opportunity Act 15 USC § 1691 Prohibits credit discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, marital status, age, or because you get public assistance

The Equal Credit Opportunity Act 1691a(e)Creditor means any person who regularly extends, renews, or continues credit; any person who regularly arranges for the extension, renewal, or continuation of credit; or any assignee of an original creditor who participates in the decision to extend, renew, or continue credit

The Equal Credit Opportunity Act 1691(a) Activities constituting discrimination Unlawful for any creditor to discriminate against any applicant 1.on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex or marital status, or age (provided the applicant has the capacity to contract); 2.because all or part of the applicants income derives from any public assistance program; or 3.because the applicant has in good faith exercised any right under this chapter.

The Equal Credit Opportunity Act 1691(b) Activities not constituting discrimination – Asking about marital status to ascertain the creditors rights and remedies applicable to the particular extension of credit – Asking the applicants age or whether the applicants income derives from any public assistance program for the purpose of determining the amount and probable continuance of income levels, credit history, or other pertinent element of credit- worthiness – Using an empirically derived credit system which considers age if such system is demonstrably and statistically sound – To ask or consider the age of an elderly applicant if it will be used in favor of such applicant

The Equal Credit Opportunity Act When Deciding To Grant You Credit Or When Setting The Terms Of Credit, Creditors May Not... Consider your race, color, religion, national origin, sex, marital status or whether you get public assistance. Consider your age, unless: – youre too young to sign contracts, generally under 18; – its used to determine the meaning of other factors important to creditworthiness. For example, a creditor could use your age to determine if your income might drop because youre about to retire; Consider whether you have a telephone account in your name. A creditor may consider whether you have a phone.

Lender Licensing Many states require a person to obtain a license to make a consumer loan Substantial penalties for failure to comply Limited exceptions to licensure

Small Loan Statutes Ohio Revised Code A person wishing to engage in the business of lending in amounts of five thousand dollars or less and charging a rate greater than eight percent must first be licensed

Small Loan Statutes Ohio Revised Code Person includes individuals, partnerships, associations, trusts, corporations, and all other legal entities

Small Loan Statutes Ohio Revised Code Excludes: – Banks, Second Mortgage Loan Licensees – Insurance companies Any licensee or other person who willfully violates section of the Revised Code shall forfeit to the borrower twice the amount of interest contracted for

Small Loan Statutes Ohio Revised Code limits interest, fees, and charges – Maximum interest rates – Required order of application of payments – No compounding – Many, many more…

Small Loan Statutes Ohio Revised Code limits interest, fees, and charges – Maximum interest rates – Required order of application of payments – No compounding – Many, many more…

Small Loan Statutes Ohio Revised Code Violations: – 5 th degree felony – Administrative fines and civil penalties

Questions & Answers Dino Tsibouris (614)