What does the Equal Credit Opportunity Act protect against?

The Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA) is designed to protect consumers from discrimination in credit transactions. This law prohibits lenders from discriminating against applicants based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, marital status, age, or because they receive public assistance. The primary aim is to ensure that all individuals have equal access to credit, regardless of these characteristics.

In contrast, the other choices focus on different aspects of credit practices that are not within the specific purview of the ECOA. High interest rates on loans can often be influenced by market conditions or individual creditworthiness rather than discrimination. Unfair credit scoring practices are addressed under different regulations and laws that focus on credit reporting agencies and how they assess creditworthiness. Unsolicited credit offers are also regulated but are outside the scope of the ECOA, which does not specifically tackle this issue. Thus, the correct answer emphasizes the ECOA's role in combating discrimination within the lending process.