The FTC, AMCs, GSEs and the Looting of Labor

[Mejappz]

The FTC just dropped a memo that could be a game-changer for appraisers and other independent workers. On February 26, 2025, FTC Chairman Andrew Ferguson announced a new Labor Markets Task Force aimed at cracking down on unfair, deceptive, and anticompetitive labor practices. Until now, the FTC mainly focused on protecting consumers, but they’re now making it clear: protecting workers—including those who are self-employed—is just as important.


The memo highlights all kinds of shady behavior hurting people across industries—like wage-fixing, no-poach agreements, noncompetes, misleading job ads, and pointless licensing barriers. Sound familiar? Because if you’ve been an appraiser dealing with Appraisal Management Companies (AMCs), you’ve probably seen exactly this kind of stuff. Between suppressed fees, one-sided contracts, and restrictions that limit your ability to work freely, it’s hard not to feel like labor looting is alive and well in our profession. And now, finally, the FTC is showing signs it’s ready to take that seriously.


Here’s the interesting twist: a lot of folks on this forum cheered when the FTC went after Louisiana’s appraisal board a few years back, thinking it was all about promoting competition. But now it looks like the FTC is quietly admitting that workers—including appraisers—have been left out in the cold. This new memo flips the script, acknowledging that protecting labor markets is just as important as protecting consumer ones. Maybe they’re starting to realize that crushing appraisers in the name of “competition” actually hurt the people doing the work.


So, yeah—this could be a turning point. The FTC is pulling together teams from all its departments to share info, investigate abuse, and even push for policy changes. If you’ve been frustrated by the way AMCs operate and how little control appraisers have over their own work, this might finally be the opening we’ve been waiting for.

https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/ftc_gov/pdf/memorandum-chairman-ferguson-re-labor-task-force-2025-02-26.pdf

 

[djd09]

the gse's write laws for the appraiser and our waivering competition...wtf

 

[Mejappz]

 

[djd09]

there is a reason they don't uad fees...eh, partners?

 

[George Hatch]

Fee appraisers are self-employed. It's not obvious that they can even be called a gig worker when considering their tax/benefits status.

I called a handyman in yesterday to do some stucco over an electrical panel upgrade. I did not withhold any taxes or benefits from my payment. I cannot imagine that "gig worker" would be an accurate description of our business relationship.

Do Uber drivers commonly operate under a separate DBA?

 

[Mejappz]

there is a reason they don't uad fees...eh, partners?

Look at this. This is standard operating procedure at most AMCs egged on by the GSEs.

 

[Mejappz]

Lol

The FTC memo explicitly includes the self-employed—they use broad, inclusive language like “sellers of labor,” not “employees.” In fact, several of the specific practices they’re targeting are things that mostly hurt independent contractors and small business owners, not traditional W-2 workers.

Straight from the memo:

“Many Americans enter the economy not only as buyers of goods, but also as sellers of labor… for most workers—from nurses to plumbers to lawyers to servers—the ability to command a reasonable wage... is an individual’s single most valuable commodity.”

That’s clearly covering independent professionals. Appraisers, plumbers, lawyers—those aren’t 9-to-5 jobs for everyone. Many of them work as 1099s or small business owners.

Plus, look at what the FTC is calling out:

• “Deceptive business opportunities” – that's about people buying into businesses based on false earnings claims. It hits self-employed folks hard.
• “Misleading franchise offerings” – again, this affects independent operators, not W-2 workers.
• “Occupational licensing barriers” – directly hits licensed pros like us who often work independently.
• And they even mention gig economy workers, which includes anyone doing platform-based or contract work.

So the FTC’s new direction is very much about protecting both W-2 employees and self-employed professionals. Trying to frame this as “just for employees” ignores half the memo.

Also kinda ironic that some of the same people who cheered the FTC when they sided with AMCs against Louisiana’s appraisal board are now ignoring that the FTC is basically admitting that move helped fuel exactly the kind of labor abuse they’re now targeting.

 

[Mejappz]

When capital is allowed to concentrate unchecked, and the powerful start looting labor instead of creating value, it doesn’t end with more capitalism—it triggers the backlash that leads to socialism. Then socialism tries to control the damage through central planning, which often slides into communism. And from there, it’s only a short trip to tyranny. History shows this pattern again and again. I love being right about everything.

 

[George Hatch]

The FTC memo explicitly includes the self-employed

I didn't catch the "explicit" reference to "self-employed". Perhaps you can provide the "explicit" to which you are referring. Then you can be right about that.

The mechanic who fixes my car and the RE broker who sells my home for me and the handyman I just paid for my stucco repair are all "sellers of labor" but they're not my employees in any way, shape or form.

 

[djd09]

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