by Mark Anderson - Sacramento Business Journal

With the new year, California's financial regulator has new tools and abilities to protect consumers from unlawful, deceptive and abusive practices in more financial industries.

The Department of Financial Protection and Innovation, the new name for the Department of Business Oversight, has the ability to investigate and prosecute previously unregulated financial products and services, including debt collectors, credit repair companies, consumer credit reporting agencies, debt relief companies, rent-to-own contractors and private school financing companies.