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2012 Statute



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50-1126.Same; fees charged by registrant; when allowed. (a) No registrant shall impose any fees or other charges on a consumer, or receive any funds or other payments from a consumer or another person on behalf of a consumer:

(1) Except as provided in paragraph (5) of subsection (b), until after the registrant and consumer have executed a debt management services agreement; and

(2) except as allowed under this section, or as permitted by rule and regulation adopted by the commissioner.

(b) A registrant may:

(1) Charge a one-time consultation fee not exceeding $50. The cost of a credit report on a consumer shall be paid from the consultation fee paid by the consumer;

(2) charge and collect monthly the lesser of a total maintenance fee of $20 per month, or $5 per month for each creditor of a consumer that is listed in the debt management services agreement between the registrant and the consumer;

(3) collect from or on behalf of a consumer the funds for disbursement to creditors that the consumer has agreed to pay to the registrant under the debt management services agreement;

(4) accept a voluntary contribution from a consumer for a debt management service provided by the registrant to the consumer if the aggregate amount of the voluntary contribution and any other fees received by the registrant from the consumer does not exceed the total amount the registrant is authorized to charge the consumer under paragraphs (1) and (2) of this subsection;

(5) charge the consumer, if provided to the consumer, a fee, not to exceed $50, for a counseling session, an educational program, or materials and supplies if the consumer does not enter into a debt management services agreement with the registrant; and

(6) accept fee payments from a consumer's creditors for debt management services rendered to a consumer, provided the consumer's creditor does not assess the fee to the consumer.

(c) No registrant shall:

(1) Charge a fee to a consumer, if the consumer enters into a debt management services agreement with the registrant, to:

(A) Prepare a financial analysis or an initial budget plan for the consumer;

(B) counsel a consumer about debt management;

(C) provide a consumer with the consumer education program described in the registrant's application to engage in business as a credit services organization; or

(D) rescind a debt management services agreement.

(2) Require a voluntary contribution from a consumer for any service provided by the registrant to the consumer.

(3) As a condition of entering into a debt management services agreement, require a consumer to purchase for a fee a counseling session, an educational program or materials and supplies.

(d) If a registrant imposes any fee or other charge or receives any funds or other payments not authorized under this section, except as a result of an accidental and bona fide error:

(1) The debt management services agreement shall be void; and

(2) the registrant shall return the amount of the unauthorized fees, charges, funds or payments to the consumer.

History: L. 2004, ch. 22, § 11; July 1.



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