Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 24 Page 25 Page 26 Page 27 Page 28 Page 29 Page 30 Page 31 Page 3222 debt collection During 2015, Goodwin tracked over 30 federal and state enforcement actions related to debt collection and debt settlement, including actions targeting misleading or harassing communications, attempts to collect on or sell uncollectable debts, the charging of up-front debt settlement fees, and the failure to comply with protections extended to military servicemembers. These actions resulted in federal and state agencies securing over $375 million in consent judgments. The CFPB initiated a plurality of these actions, although the OCC, FTC, and state attorneys general also initiated numerous enforcement actions. Goodwin monitored court rulings and the CFPB’s activity as it affected collection practices across different financial sectors. Key cases covering RESPA, the FDCPA and national bank preemption affected debt collection practices this year, as did the consent requirements in the CFPB’s looming pre-paid card regulations.