hardship

California Judge Temporarily Blocks Stringent Reporting Mandate for Money Services, Citing Privacy Concerns and Business Hardship

by

San Diego, CA — A California business owner achieved a temporary win in court this week when a federal judge delayed the enforcement of a new financial reporting rule that had dramatically increased her company’s workload and sparked a debate on privacy rights. The rule, introduced by the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), required detailed reporting of any transaction over $200, a significant drop from the previous $10,000 threshold. Implemented last week, this requirement was part of a geographic targeting order aimed at combating money laundering and cartel activity primarily along the U.S.-Mexico border. The … Read more

National Australia Bank Accused by ASIC of Neglecting Financial Hardship Claims Amid Rising Living Costs

by

Sydney, Australia — The National Australia Bank (NAB) is currently embroiled in legal troubles as it faces accusations from the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) for reportedly neglecting customers in dire financial straits. The regulatory agency has initiated a lawsuit against NAB and its subsidiary AFSH Nominees, citing failure to adhere to mandated timelines for responding to financial hardship requests. According to the ASIC, from 2018 to 2023, there were 345 instances where NAB did not fulfill its obligation to address customer hardship notices within the required 21-day period. These delays potentially exacerbated the … Read more

New York Cannabis Farmers Sue State Agency, Claiming Bias and Financial Hardship in Licensing Rollout

by

ALBANY, N.Y. — In New York, a coalition of small cannabis farmers has initiated a lawsuit against the state’s Office of Cannabis Management (OCM), claiming that the agency’s approach to rolling out recreational cannabis is compromising their livelihoods. The lawsuit, which was lodged in Onondaga County Supreme Court this Monday, underscores a crisis in the nascent industry where promises of fairness seem unfulfilled. The group, identified as the Cannabis Farmers Alliance, argues that OCM has failed to adhere to legislative guidelines meant to create an equitable playing field, thereby placing small-scale owners at a disadvantage. … Read more

Bank of America Faces Lawsuit for Failing to Refund Overdraft Fees During COVID-19 Hardship

by

Oakland, California – Bank of America is facing a lawsuit after allegedly failing to honor its commitment to provide refunds for overdraft fees to customers suffering financial hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic. U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers ruled in favor of the plaintiffs, stating that they had valid claims that the bank deceived them with false promises of assistance. The bank had quietly discontinued its “Client Assistance Program” on August 31, 2020, despite continuing to promote relief from overdraft and insufficient fund fees on its website and mobile app. The program was initially … Read more