The TSR s New Prohibitions on Certain Payment Methods: Do They Apply to Online Lenders? February 16, 2016
Today s presentation is interactive If you d like to ask a question you may do one of two things: Please type your question into the Chat feature on this webinar OR Unmute yourself by dialing *6 and ask your question.
Today s Presenters Michael Goodman Hudson Cook, LLP mgoodman@hudco.com Tel: 202-327-9704 Andrew Smith Covington & Burling, LLP andrewsmith@cov.com. Stephen Bumgarner Burr & Forman LLP sbumgarn@burr.com Regularly represents lenders in financial services litigation matters in the Southeast Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Tennessee and Mississippi
Telemarketing Sales Rule Amended effective June 13, 2016 will be enforced by FTC and CFPB Prohibits use of certain payment methods in outbound and inbound TM transactions remotely created checks and purchase orders TSR requirements generally what is TM? what is inbound TM? what requirements for inbound TM? Payment method ban and RCC s generally
What is telemarketing? What you think it means and what the Telemarketing Sales Rule says it means may be very different. The TSR says telemarketing is a plan, program, or campaign conduct to induce a purchase by use of one or more interstate telephone call. This covers outbound calls you place to prospects as well as inbound calls that prospects place to you. The TSR covers calls you receive as well as calls that you make. Sales calls placed to prospects who have submitted an inquiry or application to you are telemarketing, even if you are simply returning the consumer s call or responding to an online communication.
What is telemarketing? The line between telemarketing and fulfillment or customer service can be extremely difficult to draw. When I worked on the 2003 TSR amendments as an FTC staff attorney, the hypothetical we used was calls from a doctor s office inviting local seniors to a free hearing screening. We determined that these were sales calls because the ultimate purpose was to market the doctor s services. The doctor was hoping that the free hearing screening would identify some consumers who would benefit from additional services, and the doctor intended to market his or her services to those consumers following from the free hearing screening. This meant that the calls promoting the free screening were conducted to induce a purchase. It could be similarly difficult to know where to draw the line when placing or taking telephone calls to help a consumer complete an application. Answering questions about the application process does not sound like sales, but how easy would it be for that conversation to turn into a sales pitch?
Inbound telemarketing and TSR compliance The most prominent TSR provisions apply only to outbound calls: do-not-call prerecorded message restrictions
Inbound telemarketing and TSR compliance However, several TSR provisions apply equally to inbound calls: Disclosures required before the consumer consents to pay; Prohibited misrepresentations; Express verifiable authorization; Advance fee loan ban; Debt relief service provisions; Express informed consent requirement; New payment method bans; Recordkeeping.
Inbound telemarketing and TSR compliance These provisions are subject to certain activity-based exemptions: Calls followed by a face-to-face sales presentation; Inbound calls that were not prompted by any marketing efforts; Inbound calls in response to general media advertising; Inbound calls in response to certain targeted forms of advertising.
Inbound telemarketing and TSR compliance Several of these exemptions are PARTIAL, not full The new payment method bans are carved out of almost every exemption. This means that the new payment method bans generally apply even when the call is otherwise exempt from the TSR.
TSR November 2015 Amendments Bans the use of four types of payment methods in connection with telemarketing: Remotely Created Checks (RCCs) Remotely Created Payment Orders (RCPOs) Cash Reload Mechanisms Cash-to-Cash Money Transfers
These four types of payments disliked: FTC use of these payment methods in telemarketing transactions constitutes an abusive practice. FTC use of these payment methods has resulted in rampant abuse leading to substantial harm to consumers. Gaps in financial system make it difficult to detect and stop improper use of these payment methods. Numerous law enforcers have called for a prohibition on the use of all four.
Remotely Created Checks RCC is a type of check which is created by the payee using the consumer s personal and financial account information and which is not signed by the payor. RCC is deposited into the check clearing system like any other check. RCC usually bears a statement indicating that the account holder authorized the check.
Remotely Created Payment Orders RCPO is an electronic version of an RCC. Electronic image looks and functions like an RCC but never exists in paper form.
Cash-to-Cash Money Transfer Cash-to-cash money transfer is a specific type of money transfer in which a consumer brings cash/currency to a money transfer provider that transfers the value to another person who can pick up the cash in person. Viewed as abusive because: Fast way to anonymously and irrevocably extract money from consumer; and Once picked up, no recourse for the consumer to obtain a refund.
Cash Reload Mechanisms Virtual deposit slip for consumers to load funds onto a GPR card without a bank intermediary. Consumer pays cash (plus small fee) to a retailer that sells cash reload mechanisms.
CFPB Enforcement Action Against Non-Bank Short-Term, Small-Dollar Lender Pertinent part CFPB alleged that the Company unfairly used RCCs to debit consumers bank accounts after consumers revoked authorization for automatic withdrawals. Unlawful practice alleged by CFPB as to RCCs: Company s contracts with consumers included provision allowing the Company to use RCCs if consumer canceled his/her authorization for ACH withdrawals. Claim that Company used contract provision to take consumers funds when they believed did not owe money to the Company.
CFPB s Claims Against Non- Bank Small-Dollar Lender Truth-in-Lending Act Electronic Fund Transfer Act Dodd-Frank Unfair and Deceptive Acts and Practices ( UDAAP )
What are some options? No RCC s, RCPO s, money transfer, cash reload mechanism No in-bound calls prior to funding Careful control over your call center training, scripts, supervision, compensation, discipline
Today s Presenters Michael Goodman Hudson Cook, LLP mgoodman@hudco.com Tel: 202-327-9704 Andrew Smith Covington & Burling, LLP andrewsmith@cov.com Stephen Bumgarner Burr & Forman LLP sbumgarn@burr.com Regularly represents lenders in financial services litigation matters in the Southeast Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Tennessee and Mississippi
Today s presentation is interactive If you d like to ask a question you may do one of two things: Please type your question into the Chat feature on this webinar OR Unmute yourself by dialing *6 and ask your question.