Earlier this week, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau published a final rule substantially curtailing the ability of financial services providers and consumers to enter into voluntary pre-dispute arbitration clauses.  The final rule, like the proposed rule that preceded it, would i) prevent financial services providers from including arbitration clauses in consumer contracts unless those arbitration clauses expressly permit class actions to proceed in court; and ii) require financial services providers to provide copies of consumer arbitration agreements, claims and decisions to the Bureau for possible publication.  The final rule will become effective 60 days after its publication in the Federal Register, but apply only 180 days after its effective date.