1. Click here to advance to the next slide.

3. Read to Learn
Discuss state and federal regulation of credit.
Describe federal laws that protect consumers.

4. The Main Idea
Federal and state governments both provide assistance and protection to consumers who use credit. Laws indicate the rights and responsibilities of consumers as debtors and of businesses as creditors.

5. Key Concepts
State and Federal Regulation of Credit
Federal Credit Laws

6. Key Terms
usury law
a law restricting the amount of interest that can be charged for credit
credit report
a record of an individual’s past borrowing and repayments

7. Key Terms
collection agent
a person or business that collects payments for overdue bills

8. State and Federal Regulation of Credit
To protect consumers, both federal and state governments control and regulate the credit industry.

9. State and Federal Regulation of Credit
A usury law protects people who borrow money.
usury law
a law restricting the amount of interest that can be charged for credit

10. State and Federal Regulation of Credit
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) enforces laws and helps consumers with credit problems and complaints.

11. Debtors and Creditors
A creditor is an entity to which money is owed. A debtor is a person or business that owes money. Businesses and people can be both creditors and debtors.

12. State and Federal Regulation of Credit
Figure 27.1

13. Federal Credit Laws
Federal credit laws set rules concerning:
The credit application process
Credit history
Privacy
Debt collection

14. Graphic Organizer Consumer Credit Protection Act
Fair Debt Collection Practices Act
Equal Credit Opportunity Act
Federal Credit Laws
Fair Credit Billing Act
Fair Credit Reporting Act

15. Consumer Credit Protection Act
The Consumer Credit Protection Act requires creditors to inform lenders regarding
the cost of credit
the annual percentage rate (APR)
the credit terms and conditions

16. Consumer Credit Protection Act
Graphic Organizer
Consumer Credit Protection Act
Your payments for unauthorized purchases are limited to $50.
Companies are not allowed to send a credit card to a consumer who did not request it.
Advertisements for credit must give a fair and reasonably comprehensive indication of the true cost of credit.
Ads for credit must note the number of payments, the payment amount, and the period of payments if the amount of the down payment is given.

17. Equal Credit Protection Act
No person can be denied credit on the basis of any of the following:
Marital status
Gender
Age
Ethnicity
Religion
Receipt of public assistance

18. Equal Credit Protection Act
The law allows only three reasons for denying credit:
Low income
Large debts
Poor payment record

19. Fair Credit Reporting Act
The Fair Credit Reporting Act gives you the legal right to know what is in your credit report.
credit report
a record of an individual’s past borrowing and repayments

20. Fair Credit Reporting Act
In the United States, most credit report information is collected and kept by the following credit bureaus:
Experian®
Equifax®
TransUnion®

21. Fair Credit Reporting Act
Consumers should order their credit report and check it annually for mistakes.

22. OCC
The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) charters, regulates, and supervises national banks that issue credit cards, such as Bank of America.

23. You are a business owner deciding between two credit card machine companies. One company charges slightly more for its service, but the majority of customers use credit cards issued by the second company.
Decision Making Would learning that the lower cost provider offers a discount for giving it detailed information about the purchases your customers make affect your decision?

24. Answer
Tell students that the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) requires lenders to notify borrowers of their privacy policy but does not forbid collecting information about consumer purchases.

25. Fair Credit Billing Act
The Fair Credit Billing Act is a federal law that requires creditors to correct billing mistakes that are brought to their attention.
Consumers must notify creditors in writing to get an error corrected.

26. Fair Credit Billing Act
The Fair Credit Billing Act permits consumers to stop a credit payment for an item that is damaged or defective.

27. Fair Debt Collection Practices Act
The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) is a federal law that serves to regulate collection agencies.

28. Fair Debt Collection Practices Act
FDCPA prevents deception, harassment, and other unfair collection practices by collection agents.
collection agent
a person or business that collects payments for overdue bills

29. Identify some government laws that protect consumers.
Consumer Credit Protection Act, the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, the Fair Credit Reporting Act, the Fair Credit Billing Act, and the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act

30. What three things are creditors required to tell consumers under the Consumer Credit Protection Act?
to inform consumers of the cost of credit, the annual percentage rate, and the credit terms and conditions

31. What are the only three reasons a person can be denied credit according to the Equal Credit Opportunity Act?
low income, debts, and late payments

32. End of