• Credit & Domestic Violence
• About Credit Reports/Scores & Building and Repairing Credit
• Community Reinvestment Act
• Court action, laws, and regulations on credit
  • Federal Regulations
  • State Law
• Credit Counseling
• Credit Discrimination
• Credit & Housing
• Data & Reports on Credit
• Predatory & Payday Lending

• Protecting your Identity HTML (2 p.) by National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (2005)
  This website discusses the importance of protecting your identity from abusers. It provides readers specific measures to take to ensure protection of their identity. [More Info]

• Financial Tips for Domestic Violence Victims and Survivors PDF (3 p.) by National Network to End Domestic Violence (April 2006)
  This guide provides financial tips. Topics include monitoring your credit and changing your ATM information. [More Info]

• What Domestic Violence Survivors Should Know About Credit Reports PDF (2 p.) by Women in Need, Inc. and the National Consumer Law Center (May 2005)
  This consumer ed brochure covers why a credit record is important, finding out what is in your credit record, fixing errors in the report, the effect of an abuser’s credit history, building a credit record, and cautions against “credit repair” agencies. [More Info]

• Economic Education Programs for Battered Women: Lessons Learned from Two Settings PDF (25 p.) by Katie Ciorba VonDeLinde & Amy Correia, Building Comprehensive Solutions to Domestic Violence, National Resource Center on Domestic Violence (April 2005)
  This BCSDV paper discusses economic education, sometimes also called, "financial or economic literacy." The discussion describes well-established economic education programs based in domestic violence agencies in Iowa and St. Louis, Missouri. [More Info]

• Fact Sheet 6: How Private is My Credit Report HTM (12 p.) by Privacy Rights Clearinghouse (Revised February 2006)
  This guide covers credit reporting basics. Privacy is key. Topics include describing what is in a credit report, explaining credit scores, access to credit reports, obtaining reports, addressing negative information and errors, and enforcing rights. [More Info]

• Fact Sheet 6(a): Facts on FACTA HTM (17 p.) by Privacy Rights Clearinghouse (Revised December 2005)
  This guide explains how FACTA helps identity theft victims through free credit report provisions, fraud alerts, and truncation of credit cards, debit cards, and SSNs. Statistics and references are included. [More Info]

• Consumer Report Security Freeze Legislation, 2008 Session HTM (11 p.) by National Conference of State Legislatures (June 2008)
  This state-by-state review of 2008 legislative session activity covers security freeze bills and enactments. Advocates might consult this guide for ideas about security freeze provisions that may limit information sharing and enhance confidentiality. [More Info]

• The Truth About Credit Reports and Credit Repair Companies PDF (2 p.) by National Consumer Law Center
  This consumer ed brochure is a “know your rights” document covering credit reports and how to identify and address report errors. Advocates may find this brochure helpful for community education as well as individual advocacy with survivors. [More Info]

• What You Should Know About Your Credit Report PDF (4 p.) by National Consumer Law Center (July 2005)
  This fact sheet provides a quick guide for obtaining free annual credit reports, identifies credit report scams to watch for, and provides more in depth instruction on what to do if information in a credit report is inaccurate or incomplete. [More Info]

• Fact Sheet 6(c): Your Credit Score HTM (9 p.) by Privacy Rights Clearinghouse (2005)
  This guide covers credit scoring basics: who develops the scoring systems, tips on improving scoring, and new rights to credit scores under FACTA. Class and ethnic-based discrimination is included. The guide is helpful for its section on building credit. [More Info]

• Credit Scores are Vital to your Financial Health PDF (6 p.) by Consumer Federation of America and Fair Isaac Corporation (2005)
  This guide details credit scores: what they are, why they matter, what a good score is, items that affect scores, and contact information for obtaining scores. This document is co-written by the company that promotes the FICO scoring system. [More Info]

• What Domestic Violence Survivors Should Know About Credit Reports PDF (2 p.) by Women in Need, Inc. and the National Consumer Law Center (May 2005)
  This consumer ed brochure covers why a credit record is important, finding out what is in your credit record, fixing errors in the report, the effect of an abuser’s credit history, building a credit record, and cautions against “credit repair” agencies. [More Info]

• Analysis of Final CRA Ruling for Mid-Size Banks and Thrifts of All Asset Sizes PDF (6 p.) by National Community Reinvestment Coalition (Summer 2005)
  This analysis covers the mid-July ’05 CRA regulations. The memo describes major changes in the rule: CRA exams for mid-sized banks, the definition of community development, and codification of anti-predatory lending standards. [More Info]

• Beginner CRA Manual PDF (101 p.) by National Community Reinvestment Coalition (September 2007)
  This manual includes: the CRA regulation, evaluating bank performance, CRA sunshine fact sheets, contact information and regulator descriptions, recent CRA ratings, and CRA agreement case studies. There is also a state-by-state review of success stories. [More Info]

Federal Regulations

• 6500 Part 202-Consumer Protection-Equal Credit Opportunity (Regulation B) HTML (2 p.) by FDIC, May 2005
  Prohibiting discrimination in relation to credit based on sex and marital status [More Info]

• 12 C.F.R. §202.1(b) HTML PDF (2 p.) (January 2005)
  (prohibiting creditor practices that discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, marital status, or age (provided the applicant has the capacity to contract)). [More Info]

• 12 C.F.R. § 202.7(a), (d) HTML PDF (2 p.) (January 2005)
  (including the right to apply for credit in one’s own name and disallowing practices requiring an applicant spouse’s co-signature when a person qualifies on their own and is not making a joint application). [More Info]

• 12 C.F.R. § 202.5(c) HTML PDF (3 p.) (January 2005)
  (providing that a creditor can not use information on the other spouse or former spouse of the applicant, except in specific instances of joint use, liability, or reliance on collateral or that spouse’s income). [More Info]

• 12 C.F.R. §§202.10(a), 202.6(b)(6)(i),(iii) HTML (January 2005)
  (providing that creditors must reflect the participation of both spouses where a spouse is permitted or contractually liable for an account). [More Info]

State Law

• Consumer Credit Counseling, 2005 Legislation HTM (4 p.) by National Conference of State Legislatures (2005)
  This NCSL covers a variety of consumer credit counseling bills and enacted legislation in AZ, CA, IL, KY, MD, MA, MT, NJ, NC, OR, PA, SC, TN, TX, VT, VA, and WVA. [More Info]

• Predatory Mortgage Lending: Current State Laws HTM (15 p.) by National Conference of State Legislatures (January 2008)
  This document by the National Conference of State Legislatures provides a state-by-state review of laws concerning predatory mortgage lending. [More Info]

• Credit and Your Consumer Rights HTML (6 p.) by Federal Trade Commission (March 2005)
  This website lays out your rights under the federal consumer laws. [More Info]

• Money Matters: Credit and Equal Credit Opportunity PDF (58 p.) by West Virginia’s Women Commission (2007)
  A comprehensive guide discussing credit issues as they relate to women, includes issues such as consumer protection and bankruptcy. *Note: This guide is specific to West Virginia - other states may vary greatly. [More Info]

• Credit Counseling Crisis Update: Poor Compliance and Weak Enforcement Undermine Laws Governing Credit Counseling Agencies PDF (13 p.) by National Consumer Law Center (November 2004)
  This report examines state credit counseling agency licensing and registration laws. The piece updates a more extensive report issued April 2003 - Credit Counseling in Crisis. [More Info]

• Credit Counseling in Crisis: The Impact on Consumers of Funding Cuts, Higher Fees and Aggressive New Market Entrants PDF (54 p.) by Consumer Federation of America and the National Consumer Law Center (April 2003)
  This report offers a comprehensive review of the credit counseling industry, including: data and statistics, history, analysis, and recommendations. Consumer materials on selecting a credit counseling agency are provided. [More Info]

• Consumer Concerns for Older Americans: Credit Card Debt and Credit Counseling PDF (6 p.) by National Consumer Law Center (August 2004)
  This document provides the “ABCs” of credit counseling, including industry history, a credit counseling agency services, debt management plans, industry abuses, tips for consumers, basic state law variations, and resources. [More Info]

• Consumer Credit Counseling, 2005 Legislation HTM (4 p.) by National Conference of State Legislatures (2005)
  This NCSL covers a variety of consumer credit counseling bills and enacted legislation in AZ, CA, IL, KY, MD, MA, MT, NJ, NC, OR, PA, SC, TN, TX, VT, VA, and WVA. [More Info]

• From Access to Cost: The Changing Nature of Credit Discrimination PDF (2 p.) by Javier Silva (May 2005)
  This document provides a concise overview of credit discrimination including “reverse redlining” – a denial of fair pricing of credit. This piece describes a growing trend of sub-prime lending disparities disproportionately affecting communities of color. [More Info]

• 2004 Fair Lending Disparities: Stubborn and Persistent PDF (37 p.) by National Community Reinvestment Coalition (April 2005)
  This NCRC survey discusses HMDA data from 15 large lending institutions. The executive summary describes chronic fair lending disparities primarily affecting communities of color, women, and low and moderate-income borrowers. [More Info]

• Federal Housing Laws and Domestic Violence PDF (39 p.) by National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty (June 26, 2008)
  This document outlines legislation regarding Fair Housing and Violence against Women and discusses both of their impacts in relation to Domestic Violence. [More Info]

• Housing Discrimination and Domestic Violence PDF (2 p.) by ACLU Women's Rights Project (2009)
  This fact sheet describes sex discrimination in housing and how eviction of domestic violence survivors can be a form of sex discrimination. [More Info]

• The Rights of Domestic Violence Survivors in Public and Subsidized Housing PDF (2 p.) by ACLU (2008)
  This guide discusses survivors’ rights in reference to housing. It includes rules and regulations passed to protect victims’ of domestic violence. [More Info]

• Federal Housing Resource Guide PDF (15 p.) Technical Assistance Collaborative (2001)
  This manual lays out federal housing programs including programs for the elderly and section 8 housing. [More Info]

• A Stacked Deck – How Credit is used to Screen Out Those Most in Need of Federally Subsidized Housing by Maeve Elise Brown, Clearinghouse Review (September-October 2005)
  This primer describes the misuse of credit history/scores keeping people out of federally subsidized housing. Sections include applicant screening, credit scores’ disparate impact on people of color, and rationale for limiting credit report applicability. [More Info]

• Hitting the Wall: Credit as an Impediment to Homeownership PDF (17 p.) by R. Bostice, P. Calem, and S. Wachter, Joint Center for Housing Studies (February 2004)
  This paper describes credit quality trends and compares renters to homeowners. The report is helpful for its research review covering the intersection of credit and homeownership. Education appears critical for credit quality and homeownership. [More Info]

• From Access to Cost: The Changing Nature of Credit Discrimination PDF (2 p.) by Javier Silva (May 2005)
  This document provides a concise overview of credit discrimination including “reverse redlining” – a denial of fair pricing of credit. This piece describes a growing trend of sub-prime lending disparities disproportionately affecting communities of color. [More Info]

• 2004 Fair Lending Disparities: Stubborn and Persistent PDF (37 p.) by National Community Reinvestment Coalition (April 2005)
  This NCRC survey discusses HMDA data from 15 large lending institutions. The executive summary describes chronic fair lending disparities primarily affecting communities of color, women, and low and moderate-income borrowers. [More Info]

• Hitting the Wall: Credit as an Impediment to Homeownership PDF (17 p.) by R. Bostice, P. Calem, and S. Wachter, Joint Center for Housing Studies (February 2004)
  This paper describes credit quality trends and compares renters to homeowners. The report is helpful for its research review covering the intersection of credit and homeownership. Education appears critical for credit quality and homeownership. [More Info]

• Credit Counseling in Crisis: The Impact on Consumers of Funding Cuts, Higher Fees and Aggressive New Market Entrants PDF (54 p.) by Consumer Federation of America and the National Consumer Law Center (April 2003)
  This report offers a comprehensive review of the credit counseling industry, including: data and statistics, history, analysis, and recommendations. Consumer materials on selecting a credit counseling agency are provided. [More Info]

• Payday Lending HTM (6 p.) by National Conference of State Legislatures (January 2009)
  This state-by-state review of 2008 legislative session activity covers payday lending. Advocates might consult this guide for ideas about payday lending legislation that may limit what licensees can do. [More Info]

• Protection Against Predatory Lending PDF (4 p.) by Policy Matters, 2008
  This document provides key state policy measures adopted by states all around the country. This includes predatory mortgage lending prohibitions and payday lending restrictions. [More Info]

• Predatory Mortgage Lending: Robs Homeowners and Devastates Communities PDF (2 p.) by Center for Responsible Lending (2006)
  This basic fact sheet describes different predatory practices including excessive fees, abusive prepayment penalties, kickbacks to brokers, loan “flipping”, unnecessary products, mandatory arbitration, steering, and targeting. [More Info]

• Predatory Lending: The New Face of Economic Injustice HTML (3 p.) by Nikitra S. Bailey, Human Rights, Volume 32, No. 3, American Bar Association (Summer 2005)
  This brief essay describes how economic justice now involves the terms of credit, as opposed to access to credit. The document describes the discriminatory practices of predatory lending and their impact on African Americans and Latinos in particular. [More Info]

• Predatory Mortgage Lending: Current State Laws HTM (15 p.) by National Conference of State Legislatures (January 2008)
  This document by the National Conference of State Legislatures provides a state-by-state review of laws concerning predatory mortgage lending. [More Info]

• Research and Reports on Predatory Mortgage Lending & High-Cost Non-Mortgage Lending HTML (12 p.) by National Consumer Law Center
  This bibliography lists references and resources on predatory mortgage lending. High-cost non-mortgage lending is also covered, including resources on payday lending, refund anticipation loans, rent-to-own, credit cards, and pawnbrokers. [More Info]

• Payday Lending Basics HTML (3 p.) by Center for Responsible Lending (2005)
  This document is an overview on payday lending. Advocates may find this concise question and answer document helpful as a consumer education piece and primer. The document links to additional resources, including background statistics on payday loans. [More Info]

• Predatory Payday Lending Traps Borrowers PDF (2 p.) by Center for Responsible Lending (2005)
  This fact sheet describes the payday lending industry and the targeting of loan shops near military bases and in African-American neighborhoods. It also describes “rent-a-bank” arrangements - allowing payday lenders to circumvent state law prohibitions. [More Info]