Berkeley Center for Consumer Law & Economic Justice

The CFPB was created after predatory lending wiped out $11 TRILLION in household wealth.

Now the Trump Administration is trying to shut it down—letting banks off the hook while consumers lose protections. Read amicus brief by advocates to the full D.C. Circuit pushing back:

bit.ly/46DoEys

Big win for consumers in California.
Courts just ruled that breaking the law is enough to sue — even without proving damages.
That keeps courthouse doors open and stops corporations from dodging accountability. A major step forward for economic justice. bit.ly/4rwh0Ot

​​https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2026/01/ftc-submits-draft-anprm-related-negative-option-plans-omb-review

Big step from the FTC 👏
Reopening the #ClickToCancel rule + launching action on rental junk fees = real relief for consumers tired of hidden fees and subscription traps. We continue to work on behalf of organizations urging the #FTC & #CFPB to #ProtectConsumers: bit.ly/4k86vyg

Under court order, Trump administration to fund beleaguered consumer financial watchdog Citing a court order, the Trump administration said on Friday it will fund the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau with $145 million, a reversal that ends an 11-month battle that pushed the consumer ...

www.reuters.com/world/us/und...

@nteu335.bsky.social

Win for #Consumers & #FederalWorkers. A court ordered CFPB Dir Vought to keep the CFPB funded & he complied. Last year, the Center, @tzedekdc.bsky.social, and @borrowerjustice.bsky.social filed amicus briefs on behalf of 40+ orgs warning that dismantling the agency is unlawful and unconstitutional.

As Senior Fellow at the Center, Sam’s contributions included articles and op-eds, speeches, and testimony to Congress and state legislatures -- always on behalf of improving the lives of everyday consumers. consumerlaw.berkeley.edu/projects-and...

We’re celebrating Sam Levine’s appointment to lead @hellodcwp.bsky.social Dept. of Consumer & Worker Protection! As Senior Fellow, Sam battled junk fees & predatory traps and pushed for economic justice for families. NYC just got a powerhouse consumer champion.

Air Travelers Beware! @saalevine urges DOT to withdraw proposed rule that would add hurdles to policing unfair/deceptive practices—including hidden fees, refund abuses, & surveillance pricing. Comment supported by Julian Sanghvi & David S. Nahmias. bit.ly/DOT753

Check out @srf1802.bsky.social's guest essay in the @nytopinion.nytimes.com about protecting working people and their families from economic abuse: t.co/O7rfi7TUu3

The Federal General Counsel, Law, and Our Democracy at a Crossroads - Michigan Law Review This speech, given by the general counsel of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) on January 7, 2025, examines how federal government lawyers can help ensure that laws are faithfully admini...

Former general counsel of the CFPB, Seth Frotman (@srf1802.bsky.social), examines how federal government lawyers can help ensure that laws are faithfully administered to address contemporary challenges. Read MLR Online's latest publication here: michiganlawreview.org/the-federal-...

Giving Trump unbridled power to fire economic regulators puts everyday Americans at risk. The FTC exists to serve the public—not corporate profit, but a ruling in Trump’s favor will turn it into a weapon against political opponents. More: bit.ly/3Xyo9Ri
#SCOTUS #ConsumerProtection

The Dark Side Of The McDonald's Monopoly Contest This week we cover the often overlooked practice of scammy loyalty programs. They come in many shapes and sizes but are all designed to cost consumers much more than they reward.

From frequent flyer miles to coffee apps — and even the McDonald’s Monopoly contest — the paper exposes how loyalty programs harvest data, exploit consumer behavior, and even use surveillance pricing to drive spending.

Listen to the authors here: www.organizedmoney.fm/p/the-dark-s...

Last week, Center Senior Fellow @saalevine.bsky.social and Stephanie Nguyen, Senior Fellow at the Vanderbilt Policy Accelerator, joined the Organized Money Podcast to discuss their new paper, The Loyalty Trap: How Loyalty Programs Hook Us with Deals, Hack Our Brains, and Hike Our Prices.

Kudos to GW Law students Nam Lam, Maya Clark, Ben Neyer & Carly Choppin, who co-authored the CLASS Network testimony—with support from Adam Teitelbaum, former Director of Consumer Protection at the D.C. AG’s Office.
#LawStudents

Nahmias Director CLASS Network and the Center’s Legal Director urged the Council to protect vulnerable groups—like renters & students—and expand safeguards against fraudulent charities:
“The Council understands the seriousness of the moment we’re in.”
#CLASSNetwork #GWLaw

Levine, Senior Fellow at the Center, warned of harms from “free” services:
“Some of the worst abuses we saw at the FTC came from companies like Facebook, TikTok, and Equifax.”

Stronger Consumer Protections for D.C.
Today, @saalevine.bsky.social & David Nahmias urged the D.C. Council to reform the CPPA to protect residents from deceptive & exploitative practices. #ConsumerProtection #CPPA

Read about the bill here: bit.ly/47deUuy

“You’ve Been Served” — fairly.

Gov. Newsom has signed AB 747 (SPARE Act), authored by
Assemblymember Ash Kalra (D–San José) & developed by UC Berkeley’s Center for Consumer Law & Economic Justice.

It’s the first statewide modernization of service of process in the nation — a win for fairness.

CA steps up as federal #ConsumerProtection is stalled.
Last week, @cagovernornewsom.bsky.social signed SB 825 by Sen. Monique Limón and Tim Grayson into law. This law enhances and clarifies the CA DFPI authority to enforce consumer protection laws.
#ConsumerProtection Read more bit.ly/DFPIbill

Read more about the bill here: consumerlaw.berkeley.edu/news/califor...

Center Senior Fellow @dohamekki testified in support of the bill before the CA Senate Judiciary Committee.

Doha previously served as Acting Assistant Attorney General of the U.S. Department of Justice Antitrust Division— bringing deep expertise to this historic effort.

✅ Ban the use or distribution of an algorithm that compels others to set or adopt a recommended price for the same product or service
✅ Improve the pleading standard for enforcers, companies, and individuals suing for violations under the law

AB 325 modernizes California’s antitrust laws to tackle the growing use of AI and digital tools that secretly coordinate prices. A landmark step to ensure fair competition in a 21st-century economy shaped by algorithms, this law amends CA’s Cartwright Act to:

This week, @governor.ca.gov signed AB 325 (Majority Leader Cecilia Aguiar-Curry) — The Preventing Algorithmic Price Fixing Act — making California the first state in the nation to explicitly outlaw algorithmic collusion that inflates the cost of essentials like housing and groceries.

Modeled after the Federal Trade Commission’s CARS Rule, spearheaded by Berkeley Law alumnus Dan Dwyer (’12) and Center Senior Fellow @saalevine.bsky.social during his time at the FTC, SB 766 continues California’s leadership in promoting fair marketplace rules.

Read about it: bit.ly/46ZC6fs

This week, @governor.ca.gov signed SB 766 — the Combating Auto Retail Scams (CARS) Act— into law. Sponsored by Sen. Ben Allen with support from Professor Ted Mermin, Senior Fellow Sam Levine, and others, SB 766 strengthens protections for Californians buying or leasing vehicles.

@ucberkeleylaw.bsky.social @tzedekdc.bsky.social @borrowerjustice.bsky.social and 38 nonprofits are asking the full federal court of appeals to weigh in.

Read more: bit.ly/CFPB_Amicus #CFPB #ConsumerProtection