CFPB Modifies Consumer Complaint System

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has announced significant changes to its consumer complaint system. Effective August 14, 2026, the CFPB will cease the discretionary publication of consumer complaint narratives and visualizations on its public portal [CFPB Newsroom]. This decision follows an earlier announcement on June 24, 2026, where the Bureau stated its intent to correct flaws and restore integrity and utility to the system, which it described as having issues that limited its effectiveness in addressing complaints and the practical utility of its information [CFPB Newsroom].

Data Reporting and Consumer Protection Actions

The CFPB, in collaboration with other agencies, also announced a joint final rule on June 25, 2026, for adopting uniform standards for reporting financial data [CFPB Newsroom]. Earlier in March, the Bureau made 2025 Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA) data on mortgage lending publicly available [CFPB Newsroom]. Separately, the CFPB worked to ensure consumers affected by Bilt's transition to a new bank partner were made whole, meeting with Bilt officials to understand issues and ensure remedies for affected customers [CFPB Newsroom].

FTC Advises Caution on QR Codes and Online Dealerships

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) recently issued consumer alerts about emerging scam tactics. On September 3, 2026, the FTC warned consumers to exercise caution before scanning QR codes, noting that scammers are increasingly using them in various fraudulent schemes, including parking payment scams [FTC Consumer Alerts]. Additionally, on September 1, 2026, the FTC alerted the public to scammers spoofing car dealership websites. This tactic aims to deceive consumers during the car-buying process, highlighting the importance of verifying website legitimacy before conducting transactions [FTC Consumer Alerts]. The FTC encourages individuals who encounter scams to report them, emphasizing that reporting helps protect others and provides valuable data for enforcement actions [FTC Consumer Alerts].