ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – Washington’s chief consumer protection official is focused on cracking down on so-called “junk fees” in New Mexico. Consumer Financial Protection Authority Director Rohit Chopra held a closed-door roundtable on Thursday with several Albuquerque groups aimed at helping low-income families. Medical debt was one of the major focuses.
About 18 percent of New Mexicans have some form of debt, averaging about $2,700 per person, according to the CFPB. In many cases, regulators decide that families are in arrears anyway even though they are eligible for debt forgiveness. “What we’ve heard from the locals who joined us today is that all over New Mexico, and indeed across the United States, they’re being hit with lawsuits, wage garnishments, and other collections,” Chopra said. Ta.
He said federal officials are working to gather local stories to take broad action against debt collection.