美国国家公共电台 NPR--Biden administration is asking state leaders to help fight junk fees

Biden administration is asking state leaders to help fight junk fees

Transcript¹

NPR's Steve Inskeep speaks with Rohit Chopra, director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, about efforts to fight surprise or hidden charges known as junk fees.

STEVE INSKEEP, HOST:

The Biden administration is asking state leaders to help fight so-called junk fees, extra charges people pay on everything from internet bills to airline tickets. Let's discuss this with Rohit Chopra, who is director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Welcome to the program.

ROHIT CHOPRA: Thank you so much.

INSKEEP: Why is now the time to address this?

CHOPRA: Well, I think we've seen it, how junk fees are really creeping across the economy. I think we've all experienced them, where we're charged for a service that we never even wanted. Or it's charged at a level that is way beyond the cost to provide. And the net effect is it makes competition worse off, harder to comparison shop. And it really chips away at family budgets.

INSKEEP: Who's a specific offender² you'd call out?

CHOPRA: Well, I think across industries we see big problems. The CFPB polices financial firms. And we have uncovered even illegal junk fees at major institutions, including Wells Fargo. And it's billions and billions of dollars. And we really are pushing for reforms so that pricing and all the key terms are up front, and people can avoid these fees in a fair and transparent³ manner.

INSKEEP: I think if we had Wells Fargo or some other company here, they probably wouldn't call them junk fees. They'd call them a service charge. They would have reasons that they think it is justified⁴. Are you arguing that this is just pure profit that they peel off of consumers who can't quite tell it's even happening?

CHOPRA: Well, here's the thing. I think many people know about so-called overdraft⁵ fees.

INSKEEP: Sure.

CHOPRA: And, you know, what we have found in certain situations is that the order of transactions is switched around so that instead of one overdraft fee, you get three or four. We find in the credit card industry that they're building a business model, in some cases, of late fees. You know, it should be that you borrow, they charge interest. But we have found there's $12 billion of late fees assessed every year. So what we're trying to do is make sure that people are paying for a legitimate⁶ service and that penalties are reasonable in accordance with existing law.

INSKEEP: So I think you're telling me that you have identified companies that you believe are not only charging people extra but telling them, it's your fault. You screwed up. You had an overdraft. But really, it's creative accounting⁷ on the bank's part.

CHOPRA: Well, there's all sorts of things we've uncovered. Yesterday, we released a report about fees across the financial sector⁸ - auto⁹, mortgage, student. Many times, a fee is charged for a service that was never even provided. And many times, a consumer can't even see what is happening behind the scenes. So at the end of the day, we think a competitive market is one where you can see the real costs up front. And you can compare. So many people, whether it's airline tickets, concert tickets, see these fees tacked¹⁰ on late in the process. And that's not the sign of a competitive market.

INSKEEP: In a few seconds, why would you be asking states to address this instead of the federal government doing it?

CHOPRA: Well, the federal government is. But I see this as an all-hands-on-deck way to make sure that consumers are protected and that our laws are working fairly. So state attorneys general, state lawmakers, all of us can work to go after this.

INSKEEP: Rohit Chopra is director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Thanks so much.

CHOPRA: Thank you for having me.

1 transcript   

n.抄本，誊本，副本，肄业证书

参考例句：

• A transcript of the tapes was presented as evidence in court.一份录音带的文字本作为证据被呈交法庭。
• They wouldn't let me have a transcript of the interview.他们拒绝给我一份采访的文字整理稿。

2 offender   

n.冒犯者，违反者，犯罪者

参考例句：

• They all sued out a pardon for an offender.他们请求法院赦免一名罪犯。
• The authorities often know that sex offenders will attack again when they are released.当局一般都知道性犯罪者在获释后往往会再次犯案。

3 transparent   

adj.明显的，无疑的；透明的

参考例句：

• The water is so transparent that we can see the fishes swimming.水清澈透明，可以看到鱼儿游来游去。
• The window glass is transparent.窗玻璃是透明的。

4 justified   

a.正当的，有理的

参考例句：

• She felt fully justified in asking for her money back. 她认为有充分的理由要求退款。
• The prisoner has certainly justified his claims by his actions. 那个囚犯确实已用自己的行动表明他的要求是正当的。

5 overdraft   

n.透支，透支额

参考例句：

• Her bank warned that unless she repaid the overdraft she could face legal action.银行警告她如果不偿还透支钱款，她将面临诉讼。
• An overdraft results when a note discounted at a bank is not met when due.银行贴现的支票到期而未能支付就成为透支。

6 legitimate   

adj.合法的，合理的，合乎逻辑的；v.使合法

参考例句：

• Sickness is a legitimate reason for asking for leave.生病是请假的一个正当的理由。
• That's a perfectly legitimate fear.怀有这种恐惧完全在情理之中。

7 accounting   

n.会计，会计学，借贷对照表

参考例句：

• A job fell vacant in the accounting department.财会部出现了一个空缺。
• There's an accounting error in this entry.这笔账目里有差错。

8 sector   

n.部门，部分；防御地段，防区；扇形

参考例句：

• The export sector will aid the economic recovery. 出口产业将促进经济复苏。
• The enemy have attacked the British sector.敌人已进攻英国防区。

9 auto   

n.(=automobile)(口语)汽车

参考例句：

• Don't park your auto here.别把你的汽车停在这儿。
• The auto industry has brought many people to Detroit.汽车工业把许多人吸引到了底特律。

10 tacked   

用平头钉钉( tack的过去式和过去分词 )； 附加，增补； 帆船抢风行驶，用粗线脚缝

参考例句：

• He tacked the sheets of paper on as carefully as possible. 他尽量小心地把纸张钉上去。
• The seamstress tacked the two pieces of cloth. 女裁缝把那两块布粗缝了起来。