Some Moves to Protect Yourself during the Dismantling of the CFPB

Many moves, many tips.

By this administration shutting down the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, the CFPB, everyone is now more at risk of fraud by financial institutions, including those that manage cards, banks, and loans.

The CFPB is an independent agency that was created after the 2007-2008 economic crisis, a crisis that was caused by financial institutions and companies. The CFPB was meant to help regulate and keep them in check. That institution is being dismantled, so what should you do now? (Note that I am not a financial advisor. I’m just sharing some lessons I’ve learned in my own life.)

In addition to freezing your credit in all three credit bureaus, which I talk about in past posts, save a snapshot of your current loan bank, credit, and debt balances and terms. I also recommend you take a current snapshot of your credit rates, bank fees, interest rates, APRs, and other fees and rates. Also, keep tabs on fines, overdraft fees, monthly fees, junk fees, and late fees. Watch for any new fees, any charges, and increased rates.

Start carefully reading that fine print. The CFPB, which is supposed to watch over all of that and keep it regulated, is being attacked.

Be discerning about taking out any new loans or opening new lines of credit. Be realistic and crunch the numbers yourself for what you can and cannot afford. This is always the case, but do not depend on the institution that is giving you a loan or giving you credit to determine how much loan or credit you should receive. You should be the one deciding that, not them. They, of course, will try to give you as much credit or as big of a loan as possible. Only take out a loan or use as much credit as you absolutely need.

I predict rewards programs, such as those with credit cards, will become devalued compared to what their worth is in cash, but we will still witness an increase in more of those points and certificates rewards programs being pushed on us. Remember, that is not real money and guarantees that card or company that you are locked in with them.

From now on, negotiate account rates and fees, and do so retroactively if possible. Find rates and accounts that will remain fixed in their fees, charges, and rates. If you can, try to pay down your debt, any balances, if you can't, try to find a place where the interest rate is very low or fixed.

Be vigilant about your finances.

Financial institutions essentially will have nothing to keep them in check.

Now it's up to us to take care of, look out for, and educate each other. But that's how it always should be anyway.