THE CFPB STEPS BACK — Who Will Protect You?
Every day in the U.S., consumers face serious financial issues, including credit report errors that can ruin loan applications, unauthorized charges that drain bank accounts, and relentless harassment by debt collectors. These problems are common, but pushing back against banks, credit bureaus, or large financial platforms is anything but easy.
For more than a decade, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) was the federal agency responsible for protecting consumers in these situations. However, in June 2025, the CFPB’s chief enforcement officer resigned, warning that the agency has “abandoned meaningful enforcement.”
If the federal government won’t protect your rights, who will?
What Is the CFPB and What Does It Do?
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) was created in 2011 to safeguard consumers from financial abuse and misconduct. It oversees nearly every type of financial service that individuals use, including:
Credit cards, personal loans, and mortgages
Bank accounts and overdraft policies
Credit reporting agencies (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion)
Debt collectors and payday lenders
Peer-to-peer and app-based payment services (e.g., Cash App, PayPal, Zelle)
Its core duties include:
Investigating violations of consumer financial laws
Penalizing companies that engage in fraud or harassment
Requiring businesses to issue refunds to harmed consumers
Creating rules that ensure a fair financial marketplace
In short, when consumers are harmed, CFPB is supposed to be the watchdog that holds financial companies accountable.
📖 Real Case: CFPB Forces Cash App to Refund Consumers
In 2024, thousands of Cash App users reported unauthorized transactions on their accounts. Despite repeated complaints, the app’s parent company, Block, refused to investigate or help victims. Many users were told to “take it up with their bank.”
That’s when the CFPB stepped in. After investigating, the agency:
Ordered Block to pay up to $120 million in refunds to victims
Imposed an additional $55 million civil penalty
Required the company to offer 24/7 customer support and improve its fraud response system
Consumers didn’t need to sue, file paperwork, or hire lawyers—the CFPB handled everything. That’s the power of strong federal enforcement. But now, that protection is slipping away.
How Are Consumer Protection Attorneys Different from CFPB?
While the CFPB works in the public interest, it does not represent individual consumers in personal legal disputes. For example, it won’t:
File a lawsuit on your behalf
Send demand letters to credit agencies
Go to court to recover damages for lost time or emotional distress
Negotiate one-on-one settlements for account fraud or harassment
That’s where consumer protection attorneys like R23 Law come in.
We work case by case, using the same laws CFPB enforces (like the FCRA, FDCPA, TCPA, and EFTA), but with a personal approach:
We advocate for you directly
We file real legal actions
We help you fix credit reports, stop harassment, and recover money
The CFPB creates the rules. Attorneys apply them on your behalf.
⚠️ Why Legal Help Matters More Than Ever
With CFPB enforcement weakening, many companies will face less scrutiny. Key cases have already been dropped or delayed. Investigations are being halted. And many consumers may find their complaints unanswered.
That means if your account is compromised, your credit report is wrong, or your phone is being bombarded by scam calls, you may be on your own.
Unless you have a lawyer.
🛡️ R23 Law Fights for California Consumers
At R23 Law, our Consumer Protection Attorneys are stepping in where regulators are stepping out. We help individuals throughout California handle:
✅ No out-of-pocket cost
✅ Bilingual support in English and Chinese
✅ Experience with real financial law, not just customer service
Toll-Free: 1 (888) 533-2948
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