State Regulators Honor National Consumer Protection Week

CHICAGO – The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) is working with the Federal Trade Commission and state and local governments across the country to help struggling families cope with financial challenges. Its three divisions:  Banking; Financial Institutions; and Professional Regulation work directly with Illinois families that borrow money, own homes, have accounts at Illinois depository institutions or hire the more than one million licensed professionals in the state.  Our mission is to help prevent fraud and unprofessional behavior by regulating thousands of businesses and by providing assistance to Illinois residents who have had unsatisfactory experiences with professional licensees.
 
“We want to make sure Illinois consumers know they have a resource if they believe a licensed business or individual is taking advantage of them,” said Manuel Flores, Acting Secretary of Financial and Professional Regulation. “The consumer protection laws we enforce enable the agency to discipline and deter the bad actors in the industries and professions we regulate.”

As part of our National Consumer Protection Week activities, IDFPR is partnering with Congresswoman Robin Kelly (D-2) to provide a one-stop home ownership expo on March 15, 2014 to help current and prospective homeowners speak directly to lenders about loan modifications. Participants can gain useful advice about mortgage refinancing, foreclosure prevention, legal rights, credit counseling and avoiding scam artists. Homeowners can also obtain private, one-on-one housing counseling with HUD-certified counselors and mortgage companies.

“Owning a home is something most of us strive for,” said Congresswoman Robin Kelly.  “Programs like this housing expo make sure that our neighbors have the resources they need to purchase and keep their family home.”

Before visiting an MRP event listed below, families who already own their homes should collect the documents listed in the Mortgage Relief Project Document Checklist.