Consumer Financial Protection Bureau v. CFLA

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, also known as the CFPB, is a government agency responsible for enforcing laws that protect consumers.

CFPB sued CFLA and its owners for charging illegal advance fees in violation of the Consumer Financial Protection Act to consumers who were seeking to renegotiate, settle, reduce, or alter the terms of their mortgages. Other entities that are not named Defendants, but were involved in the matter, include Beth Jacobson, Canyon Capital, Domenick Law, Endeavour Resources Group, Fraud Stoppers, GNS Industries, and Joshua Wajda.

The deadline to file a claim in this matter was January 16, 2023.

Receiving a refund from the CFPB does not prevent you from pursuing other legal claims, if any, against any individual or entity named in the CFPB’s lawsuit. While neither Epiq nor CFPB can give you individual legal advice, you can speak with an attorney who can provide legal advice specific to your situation.

Some additional information, including the final court order, is available on the Important Documents page of this website or by visiting the CFPB website at www.consumerfinance.gov/enforcement/payments-harmed-consumers/payments-by-case, and clicking on the link that says, “Certified Forensic Loan Auditors et al.”

The CFPB stands for the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 established the CFPB.

Congress established the CFPB to protect consumers by carrying out federal consumer financial laws. Among other things, the CFPB

• Writes rules, supervises companies, and enforces federal consumer financial protection laws;
• Restricts unfair, deceptive, or abusive acts or practices;
• Takes consumer complaints;
• Promotes financial education;
• Researches consumer behavior;
• Monitors financial markets for new risks to consumers; and
• Enforces laws that outlaw discrimination and other unfair treatment in consumer finance.

To learn more, visit www.consumerfinance.gov.

Epiq Class Action & Claims Solutions is the third-party administrator that CFPB has contracted with to answer questions regarding this case and to administer this website.

No, this is not a scam. If you wish, you can verify that Epiq is contracted with CFPB by calling CFPB directly at 1-855-411-2372, or visiting the CFPB website at: www.consumerfinance.gov/enforcement/payments-harmed-consumers/payments-by-case and clicking on the link that says, “Certified Forensic Loan Auditors et al.”

The information we are requesting is being collected to determine your eligibility for a redress payment to compensate you for harm suffered from a violation of a Federal consumer financial law that was the subject of a Bureau enforcement action.

Information collected will be treated in accordance with CFPB’s published System of Records Notice (SORN), CFPB.025 – Civil Penalty and Bureau-Administered Redress Program Records.

This information may be used by and disclosed to employees, contractors, agents, and others authorized by the CFPB to receive this information to assist in providing your redress. It may also be disclosed

• To a court, magistrate, or administrative tribunal in the course of a proceeding;
• For enforcement, statutory, and regulatory purposes;
• To another federal or state agency or regulatory authority;
• To a member of Congress; to the Department of Justice, a court, an adjudicative body or administrative tribunal, or a party in litigation; and
• Pursuant to the Routine Uses described in the SORN.

The collection of this information is authorized by Pub. L. 111-203, Title X, Sections 1017(d) (Civil Penalty Fund) and/or 1055(a) (Redress), codified at 12 U.S.C. §§ 5497(d), 5565(a).

You are not required to submit or provide any identifying information; however, not doing so may delay processing or be a basis for rejection of your claim.

According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, an agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a valid OMB control number. The OMB control number for this collection is 3170-0024. It expires on May 31, 2025. The time required to complete this information collection is estimated to average approximately 30 minutes per response. Responding to this collection of information is voluntary. Comments regarding this collection of information, including the estimated response time, suggestions for improving the usefulness of the information, or suggestions for reducing the burden to respond to this collection should be submitted to Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection (Attention: PRA Office), 1700 G Street NW, Washington, DC 20552, or by email to CFPB_PRA@cfpb.gov.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, or CFPB, never requires consumers to pay money up front or provide additional information before consumers can cash refund checks that CFPB has issued.

If anyone claims that they can get you a refund but asks you for money, it could be a scam. Please contact CFPB right away if this happens to you or if you have other questions about this matter.

Please send a signed letter requesting that we reissue your check. Please include your full name and current mailing address along with a signature to:

CFPB v. CFLA
Civil Penalty Fund Third-Party Administrator
P.O. Box 6909
Portland, OR 97228-6909

If your check was damaged or has expired, please include the check with your signed request to reissue it.

If your check has expired and you do not need us to update the name and/or address on the check, you may email your reissue request to info@cfpb-CFLA.org or send a request on the Contact Us page of this website.

The letter details reasons we were unable to refund all payments you made to the Defendant, CFLA. For most items, you can fix the problem by sending us additional information and documentation by the Response Deadline printed on the letter.

To qualify for a refund, each payment must be supported by documentation proving the payment date and amount, and that you made the payment to the Defendant. Types of documentation you can use to prove you made a payment may include copies of the following:

• Cancelled check;
• Receipt from the Defendant;
• Receipt for a money order or eCheck;
• Credit card statement or bank statement; or
• Invoice showing the payment was made or the remaining balance is zero.

Please make sure the documents include the payment date and amount, and identify the Defendant, or someone acting on their behalf. Documents you prepared yourself or invoices with “Paid” handwritten on them, are not enough proof to qualify payments for a refund. We cannot say whether a specific document is sufficient proof until you send us the document for review.

Please note that information you submit is treated in accordance with the Privacy Act. The Privacy Act covers ways in which your information might be shared for state or Federal government purposes. Please see FAQ 7 to read the relevant portion of the Privacy Act.

You may contact Epiq in writing at:

CFPB v. CFLA
Civil Penalty Fund Third-Party Administrator
P.O. Box 6909
Portland, OR 97228-6909

Do not send any information to CFPB.

Please note that information you submit is treated in accordance with the Privacy Act. You can view the Privacy Act in FAQ 7.