New York moves to ban surveillance pricing, Nissan lease-buyout refunds go statewide, the FTC freezes a CARES Act mortgage-relief operation, two state attorneys general subpoena FIFA over World Cup tickets, Shutterstock agrees to pay $35 million to settle FTC allegations of hidden auto-renewals, and the CFPB directs Bilt to make customers whole.
This newsletter is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.
An editor's note on this period: federal FCRA, FDCPA, and TCPA enforcement was quiet, and state attorneys general are filling the gap. New York's office alone accounts for three of this edition's six stories, from a passed bill that would ban surveillance pricing, to statewide Nissan lease-buyout refunds, to a joint subpoena of FIFA over World Cup ticket prices. The federal agencies were not idle on the billing side, though: the FTC froze a mortgage-relief operation and settled with Shutterstock for $35 million over allegedly hidden auto-renewals, and the CFPB pressed Bilt to reimburse customers hit with fees after a troubled bank transition.
NY Legislature • Pricing
New York Passes the One Fair Price Act, a Nation-Leading Ban on Surveillance Pricing
On June 4, 2026, the New York Legislature passed the One Fair Price Act (S.8623B/A.9349B), a nation-leading ban on surveillance pricing, announced by Attorney General James on June 5: the practice of using personal data such as browsing history, income, or zip code to charge different people different prices for the same goods or services. The bill now awaits Governor Hochul's signature.
The Act draws a clear line between personalized pricing and ordinary discounting. Loyalty programs, coupons, and senior and veteran discounts are preserved. What the bill targets is the use of a consumer's own data profile to set a price that consumer never sees anyone else pay. If the bill becomes law, the Attorney General will be able to seek civil penalties and restitution. Attorney General James said: "When this bill becomes law, shoppers will be able to trust that the price they are paying is a fair price."
General Information
If you suspect you are seeing a personalized price, screenshot it. Comparing the price you see while logged in against the price shown in an incognito window, on a different device, or to another person makes these claims provable. Without contemporaneous screenshots, personalized pricing can be much harder to document later.
Nissan Lease-Buyout Refunds Go Statewide, No Consumer Action Required
On June 3, 2026, the New York Attorney General announced an agreement with Nissan Motor Acceptance Company covering all 45 remaining New York Nissan dealerships. The agreement follows earlier settlements with 15 dealerships that returned over $4.5 million to more than 3,100 consumers. The conduct at issue, according to the Attorney General's investigation: when consumers exercised their lease-end buyout option, dealers added unwarranted dealership or administrative fees, or simply inflated the price above the contractual buyout amount.
Under the new agreement, NMAC will audit the dealerships and mail refund checks directly to affected consumers, including the extra interest they paid where the inflated amount was financed. Checks will go out on a rolling basis through 2026, and no consumer action is required. Attorney General James said: "New Yorkers should not have to worry about dealers using illegal junk fees to drive up the price."
General Information
If you bought out a Nissan lease in New York, compare the buyout invoice you actually paid against the residual value stated in your lease contract. An unexplained gap between the two is worth a dispute, whether or not a refund check arrives on its own.
FTC Wins Restraining Order Against a CARES Act Mortgage-Relief Operation
On June 3, 2026, the Federal Trade Commission announced a temporary restraining order, entered May 27, 2026, in the Central District of California against National Amendment Assistance and related companies. According to the FTC, since at least 2022 the operation mailed letters telling homeowners they qualified for a "CARES-Act Homeowner Assistance Fund" adjustment to their mortgage. The FTC alleges the companies collected illegal upfront fees, told consumers they had a grace period and could stop paying their mortgage, and delivered nothing.
The order imposes an asset freeze, appoints a receiver, and bans the collection of advance fees. The charges include violations of the FTC Act, the Mortgage Assistance Relief Services (MARS) Rule, and the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act. Christopher Mufarrige, Director of the FTC's Bureau of Consumer Protection, said: "When Americans look for ways to cut costs and lower their monthly bills, they shouldn't have to worry about being targeted by mortgage scammers."
General Information
No legitimate mortgage-relief service may charge a fee before you have a written modification offer from your lender. The upfront fee is the tell. Anyone who also advises you to stop paying your mortgage or to stop talking to your servicer is putting your home at risk for their benefit.
New York and New Jersey Subpoena FIFA Over World Cup Ticket Pricing
On May 27, 2026, the New York and New Jersey Attorneys General subpoenaed FIFA as part of an investigation into World Cup ticket practices. The investigation covers two issues. First, dynamic pricing: press reports cited by the Attorneys General indicate that between October 2025 and April 2026, ticket prices rose on over 90 of the 104 matches, with increases averaging 34 percent. Second, reported post-sale seating reorganization that displaced buyers across all four ticket categories after sales had already begun.
The matter sits squarely in both states' backyards: MetLife Stadium hosts 8 matches, including the July 19 Final. Attorney General James said: "No one should be manipulated into paying sky-high prices for seats, and fans should be able to trust that the tickets they purchase will be the ones they receive." Consumers can file complaints through the Attorney General's online complaint form or by calling 1-800-771-7755.
General Information
Keep the original purchase confirmation showing your seat category. If the seats you receive do not match the category you paid for, that mismatch belongs in a complaint to the Attorney General, and the confirmation is the evidence that makes it stick.
Shutterstock to Pay $35 Million to Settle FTC Allegations Over Auto-Renewals
This one dates to May 13, 2026, slightly before this issue's window, but it is the billing action of the period that matters most to New Yorkers: the FTC filed charges in the Southern District of New York against Shutterstock, a New York company, over its subscription practices. According to the FTC, content packs marketed as no-commitment purchases secretly auto-renewed, the renewal terms and early-cancellation fees were buried, and before 2024 consumers could not complete early cancellation online at all.
Shutterstock will pay $35 million, which will fund refunds to affected consumers. The proposed order requires clear disclosure of renewal terms, express consent before charging, and a simple cancellation mechanism.
General Information
Audit your card statements for small recurring charges; auto-renewals survive on never being noticed. Under the Fair Credit Billing Act, you generally have 60 days from the statement containing the error to dispute a billing error in writing with your card issuer, so a periodic audit is what keeps that window open.
CFPB Directs Bilt to Reimburse Customers After a Botched Bank Transition
On June 2, 2026, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau reported progress in its work to ensure Bilt customers are made whole. According to the Bureau, technical failures during Bilt's move to a new bank partner left customers with overdraft fees, late fees, and insufficient-funds fees related to the transition.
After a meeting with the CFPB, Bilt contacted affected customers and committed to reimbursing fees for more than 500 newly identified customers. The Bureau noted that "within weeks of the meeting, additional consumers were already receiving redress," and it will continue supervising the company until full redress is complete.
General Information
If an app glitch caused an overdraft or a late fee, dispute it in writing with both the app and your bank, and keep the error messages. Screenshots of the failed transaction or outage notice are the difference between a fee reversal and a denial.
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