Citing CFPB Cutbacks, Pennsylvania Governor Is Beefing Up Consumer Protection Efforts

Citing cutbacks at the federal level, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro has launched a new centralized consumer protection hotline, website, and email address to make it easier for state residents to report allegations of scams and resolve financial and insurance issues.

Officials said the effort is part of the Shapiro administration’s initiative to fill a void left by weakened federal consumer protection. As evidence of that void, they cited the CFPB’s actions to stop employees from working and alluded to other unspecified actions by the Trump administration making it “clear that [the federal government] intends to leave this work to the states if it is going to happen at all.” 

“Now, as federal oversight and efforts to protect consumers — especially from the CFPB — decline, the Shapiro administration is stepping up with new tools, expanded enforcement, and stronger coordination,” they said, in announcing the new services.

“Here in Pennsylvania, we have some of the strongest consumer protection laws in the country,” Shapiro said. “That means agencies like the Pennsylvania Insurance Department and the Department of Banking and Securities have the power to stand up for consumers when they get ripped off or scammed.”

The Shapiro administration said it is expanding Pennsylvania’s use of the enforcement authority granted to states under the Dodd-Frank Act, allowing state regulators to enforce federal consumer protection laws when federal agencies fail to act. This includes:

• Investigating allegations of predatory lending, student loan servicing issues, insurance fraud claims, and allegations of deceptive financial practices.
• Coordinating enforcement and investigations among agencies.
• Educating consumers through outreach and free public programming.

State residents may call 1-866-PACOMPLAINT, visit pa.gov/consumer, or email consumer@pa.gov  to report financial, insurance, and consumer concerns.

Ballard Spahr has a dedicated State Attorneys General Consumer Finance Response Team that helps banks and other financial institutions understand and adapt to the evolving regulatory environment and mitigate risks in an era of heightened state-level enforcement.

Our lawyers also advise businesses and organizations to keep them well-prepared to meet current conditions and be ready for what lies ahead. If you have received a civil investigative demand (CID), subpoena, or inquiry from a state attorney general, or if you need guidance on state regulatory compliance, our team is available to assist. Please contact us to discuss your specific situation.

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