Lender Also Illegally Exposed Borrowers' Debt Information to Employers, Friends, and Family

Source: www.consumerfinance.gov

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) today took action against TitleMax parent company TMX Finance LLC for luring consumers into costly loan renewals by presenting them with misleading information about the deals' terms and costs. The lender also used unfair debt collection tactics that illegally exposed information about debts to borrowers' employers, friends, and family. The Bureau ordered TMX Finance to stop its unlawful practices and pay a $9 million penalty.

"TMX Finance lured consumers into more expensive loans with information that hid the true costs of the deal," said CFPB Director Richard Cordray. "They then followed up with intrusive visits to homes and workplaces that put consumers' personal information at risk. Today we are making it clear that these actions were unacceptable and illegal."

Specifically, the Bureau found that TMX Finance:

• Presented consumers with misleading information about loan terms
• Exposed information about consumers' debts to co-workers, neighbors, and family members

TMX Finance is required to:

• Stop abusive loan-repayment policies
• Stop intrusive visits to consumers' homes or workplaces
• Pay a $9 million penalty