Press Releases

WESTMINSTER—U.S. Representatives Brittany Pettersen (CO-07) and Yadira Caraveo (CO-08) brought Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) Director Rohit Chopra to Westminster for a Consumer Protection Resource Fair to help Coloradans with junk fees, credit reporting and medical debt, identity theft, and other financial issues. 

During the event, Reps. Pettersen and Caraveo and Director Chopra were joined by Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser for a conversation moderated by Adams County Commissioner Emma Pinter. There they highlighted the CFPB’s new proposal to ban medical bills from credit reports; how victims of wildfires can protect themselves from financial fraud; and how both the CFPB and the Colorado Attorney General are cracking down on junk fees.

After the panel, attendees were able to get help directly from organizations including the Colorado Securities Commission, Colorado Legal Aid, Jefferson County District Attorney, and the Colorado Attorney General Consumer Protection Division.

Pettersen – who sits on the House Financial Services Committee which helps oversee the work of the CFPB – invited Chopra to visit Colorado so he could hear directly from her constituents.

“Navigating our financial system is already complicated - then add in costly junk fees, constantly evolving scam tactics, and an often-complicated credit reporting system, and it can feel absolutely overwhelming,” said Congresswoman Pettersen. “The CFPB is working to crack down on unfair, abusive, and deceptive practices and ensure everyday Americans aren’t the ones paying the price. I’m glad to have Director Chopra in Westminster today to hear directly from Coloradans about their experiences because hearing their stories is key to this work. I look forward to continuing to work with the CFPB and on the House Financial Services Committee to protect Coloradans’ hard-earned money.”

“I am very grateful to CFPB Director Chopra, Congresswoman Brittany Pettersen, Attorney General Phil Weiser and all of the Coloradans who showed up to our Consumer Protection Resource fair in Westminster,” said Congresswoman Caraveo. “Colorado’s working families got their questions answered and received crucial information to tackle frauds, scams and got the advantaged help they need to navigate financial institutions. It was an insightful day for Coloradans.”

“The CFPB is working to create better financial marketplaces for Coloradans and all Americans – from halting the creep of junk fees in bank accounts, credit cards, and even school lunch programs, to ending coercive credit reporting practices and addressing the burden of medical debt,” said CFPB Director Chopra. “Too often, consumers can feel helpless when dealing with corporate players like Wall Street banks or the big credit reporting companies. The CFPB is there to help Coloradans understand their options and provide help when it’s needed.”  

“We are committed to protecting consumers from scams and ensuring that they aren’t harmed by irresponsible companies who use deceptive, junk fees,” said Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser. “Junk fees are particularly problematic because they are not included in the sticker price, preventing consumers from having a meaningful opportunity to shop around.  We have already taken action on the illegal use of junk fees and will continue to do so.” 

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is an agency dedicated to protecting consumers from unfair, deceptive, or abusive practices by financial institutions. The CFPB enforces consumer financial laws, oversees financial institutions, educates consumers on their rights, addresses complaints, and monitors financial markets to ensure a fair and transparent system. In 2022, the CFPB has launched an initiative to save households billions of dollars a year by reducing exploitative junk fees charged by banks and financial companies.

The agency is also working to stop unfair medical debt collection and coercive credit reporting practices that add to the strain on American families. In June 2024, the CFPB proposed a rule that would remove medical bills from most credit reports, increase privacy protections, help to increase credit scores and loan approvals, and prevent debt collectors from using the credit reporting system to coerce people to pay.

If Coloradans have had a problem with a financial product or service, they may submit a complaint through the CFPB’s website HERE. The CFPB will forward it to the company and work to help get a response.