El Consumer
Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), cuya creación e iniciativas he hecho
referencia en anteriores ocasiones, es el órgano encargado de la tutela de los
intereses financieros de los consumidores estadounidenses. A través de su
página web anunció su intención de
proponer una futura
regulación de las tarjetas de prepago (también conocidas como tarjetas
recargables o “monedero electrónico”).
Se trata de un producto que acredita un considerable crecimiento en los últimos
años en el mercado norteamericano:
“Prepaid
cards look in many ways just like a debit card linked to a bank account. While
these cards share similarities, there are important differences between them.
Today, we’re beginning the process of considering what rules should apply to
general purpose reloadable (GPR) cards, a rapidly growing segment of prepaid
cards. From this point on, we will use “prepaid card” to refer to this type of
product.
More than 7 million consumers use prepaid cards. The
prepaid card market is growing rapidly, with the total dollar value of funds
loaded to prepaid cards expected to grow at an average annual rate of 42% from
2010 to 2014”.
Las tarjetas de este tipo presentaban un similar
crecimiento en España, aunque de acuerdo con la estadística que
ofrece el Banco de España, en los últimos años se ha producido una disminución
de su uso.
Volviendo a Estados Unidos, se observa que a pesar de su
constante y relevante expansión, este tipo de tarjetas queda fuera de las normas actuales de tutela de la
clientela bancaria:
“This is a product that many consumers use and rely on, perhaps not
realizing that prepaid cards are not subject to federal rules that protect
consumers who use similar types of products, such as bank account debit cards.
As the market continues to grow, we want to learn more about the costs,
benefits, and risks so that we can determine what protections are needed and
what consumers need to know to make the best decisions for themselves”.
Según explica el citado organismo, su propósito es
elaborar una nueva normativa, para lo que solicita por medio de la consulta
pública las opiniones de los interesados sobre distintas cuestiones. Éstas,
junto con los demás elementos que concretan esta iniciativa, pueden consultarse
íntegramente aquí.
Transcribo el
párrafo introductorio:
“The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB or the
Bureau) is seeking comment, data, and information from the public about general
purpose reloadable (GPR) prepaid cards (GPR cards). GPR cards are a prepaid
financial product that have been increasing in popularity and that some
consumers now use in a manner similar to a debit card that is linked to a
traditional checking account. The Bureau is particularly interested in learning
more about this product, including its costs, benefits, and risks to consumers.
The Bureau intends to issue a proposal to extend the Regulation E protections
to GPR cards. Your comments, in conjunction with other outreach and
analysis, will help the Bureau better understand and evaluate any potential
consumer protection issues raised by the current design, marketing, and use of
this product. This advance notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPR) asks ten broad
questions about GPR cards”.
Madrid, 5 de junio de 2012