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Colorado Consumer Credit Code
Title 5 Consumer Credit Code
Article 3 Regulation of Agreements and Practices
PART 1 DISCLOSURES, NOTICES, RECORDS, AND ADVERTISING
PART 2 LIMITATIONS ON AGREEMENTS AND PRACTICES
PART 3 LIMITATION ON CONSUMERS' LIABILITIES
PART 4 HOME SOLICITATION SALES
PART 5 CONSUMER INSURANCE PREMIUM FINANCING
PART 1 DISCLOSURES, NOTICES, RECORDS, AND ADVERTISING
(1) For purposes of this section, a consumer credit transaction includes a transaction secured primarily by an interest in land without regard to the rate of the finance charge if the consumer credit transaction is otherwise a consumer credit transaction.
(2) The creditor shall disclose to the consumer to whom credit is extended with respect to a consumer credit transaction the information, disclosures, and notices required by the federal "Truth in Lending Act", the federal "Consumer Leasing Act", and any regulation thereunder.
(3) The information, disclosures, and notices required by subsection (2) of this section must be provided if the transaction is a consumer credit transaction under this code even though the transaction is one of a class of credit transactions exempted from the federal "Truth in Lending Act", the federal "Consumer Leasing Act", and any regulation thereunder.
The consumer is authorized to pay the original creditor until the consumer receives notification of assignment of rights to payment pursuant to a consumer credit transaction and that payment is to be made to the assignee. A notification that does not reasonably identify the rights assigned is ineffective. If requested by the consumer, the assignee must seasonably furnish reasonable proof that the assignment has been made and unless the assignee does so the consumer may pay the original creditor.
(1) If a creditor makes a change in the terms of a revolving account without complying with this section, any additional cost or charge to the consumer resulting from the change is an excess charge and subject to the remedies available to consumers described in section 5-5-202 and to the administrator described in section 5-6-114.
(2) (a) Except as otherwise provided in paragraph (b) or (c) of this subsection (2), whenever any term of a revolving credit account is changed or the required minimum periodic payment thereon is increased, the creditor shall mail or deliver written notice of the change, at least one billing cycle before the effective date of the change, to each consumer who may be affected by the change.
(b) The notice required by paragraph (a) of this subsection (2) shall be given in advance, but need not be given one billing cycle in advance, if the change has been agreed to by the consumer or if the change is an increase in a finance charge, periodic rate, or other charge permitted under section 5-2-202 as a result of the consumer's delinquency or default.
(c) The notice otherwise required by paragraph (a) of this subsection (2) is not required if the change:
(I) Results from the consumer's delinquency or default but is not of a kind listed in paragraph (b) of this subsection (2);
(II) Results from an agreement related to a court proceeding or arbitration;
(III) Is a reduction of any charge or component thereof; or
(IV) Is a suspension of future credit privileges or termination of a consumer credit transaction.
(3) The notice provisions of subsection (2) of this section shall not apply if:
(a) The consumer, after receiving notice in writing of the specific change, agrees in writing to the change;
(b) The consumer elects to pay an amount designated on a billing statement as including a new charge for a benefit offered to the consumer when the benefit and charge constitutes the change in terms and when the billing statement also states the amount payable if the new charge is excluded;
(c) The change involves no significant cost to the consumer; or
(d) The agreement provides limitations on changing of terms that are more restrictive than the requirements of subsection (2) of this section.
(4) The notice provided for in this section is given to the consumer when mailed to the consumer at the address used by the creditor for sending periodic billing statements.
(1) The creditor shall deliver or mail to the consumer, without request, a written receipt for each payment by coin or currency on an obligation pursuant to a consumer credit transaction. A periodic statement showing a payment received by the creditor complies with this subsection (1).
(2) Upon written request of a consumer, the creditor of a consumer credit transaction, other than one pursuant to a revolving credit account, shall provide a written statement of the dates and amounts of payments made within the twelve months preceding the month in which the request is received and the total amount unpaid as of the end of the period covered by the statement. The statement shall be provided without charge twice during each year of the term of the obligation. If additional statements are requested, the creditor may charge not more than ten dollars for each additional statement.
(3) Within thirty days after a consumer has fulfilled all obligations with respect to a consumer credit transaction, other than one pursuant to a revolving credit account, the creditor shall deliver or mail to the consumer written evidence acknowledging payment in full of all obligations with respect to the transaction and written evidence of release of any security interest and termination of any financing statement held, retained, or acquired.
(1) No natural person, other than the spouse of the consumer, shall be obligated as a cosigner, comaker, guarantor, endorser, surety, or similar party with respect to a consumer credit transaction, unless before or contemporaneously with signing any agreement of obligation or any writing setting forth the terms of the consumer's agreement, the person receives a written notice that contains a completed identification of the debt he or she may have to pay and reasonably informs such person of his or her obligation with respect to it. Such written notice may be set forth in the consumer's agreement of obligation or in a separate writing. For purposes of this section, the word "cosigner", "comaker", "guarantor", "endorser", or "surety" means a natural person who, by agreement and without compensation, renders himself or herself liable for the obligation of another in a consumer credit transaction, and the terms "agreement" and "consumer's agreement" mean the original underlying agreement.
(2) The notice required by this section must be clear and conspicuous notice and comply with the disclosure requirements of 16 CFR 444.3, 12 CFR 227.14, or 12 CFR 535.3.
(3) The notice required by this section need not be given to a seller, lessor, or lender who is obligated to an assignee of his or her rights.
(4) A person entitled to notice pursuant to this section shall also be given a copy of any writing setting forth the terms of the consumer's agreement and of any separate agreement of obligation signed by the person entitled to the notice.
(5) A cosignor is entitled to a notice of right to cure pursuant to sections 5-5-110 (4) and 5-5-111 (3).
(1) With respect to a real estate secured consumer credit transaction payable in installments, other than one pursuant to a revolving credit account, if the creditor credits payments made after the due date as of the date of receipt rather than the date payment was due, the creditor must clearly and conspicuously disclose to the consumer at or before the time that credit is extended the effect of untimely payments using language in substantially the following form:
"The dollar amount of the finance charge disclosed to you for this credit transaction is based upon your payments being received by the creditor on the date payments are due. If your payments are received after the due date, even if received before the date a late fee applies, you may owe additional and substantial money at the end of the credit transaction and there may be little or no reduction of principal. This is due to the accrual of daily interest until a payment is received."
(2) A creditor that makes or arranges for extensions of consumer loans secured by a dwelling and that uses credit scores for that purpose shall, upon request of the consumer, provide to the consumer to whom the credit report relates, as soon as practicable and reasonable, but in a period not to exceed thirty days, a copy of the information specifically required to be disclosed pursuant to section 12-14.3-104.3 (1), C.R.S., in such form as obtained from a consumer reporting agency as defined in section 12-14.3-102 (4), C.R.S. The creditor may charge a reasonable fee for making such information available to the consumer and such charge shall be an additional charge within the meaning of section 5-2-202 and not part of the finance charge.
(3) (a) Nothing in subsection (2) of this section shall require the creditor to:
(I) Explain to the consumer the information specifically required to be disclosed pursuant to section 12-14.3-104.3 (1), C.R.S.;
(II) Disclose any information other than the information required pursuant to subsection (2) of this section;
(III) Disclose any credit score or related information obtained by the creditor after the transaction occurs; or
(IV) Provide more than one disclosure to any one consumer per credit transaction.
(b) The creditor's obligation pursuant to subsection (2) of this section and this subsection (3) shall be limited to providing a copy of the information that was received from a consumer reporting agency, as defined in section 12-14.3-102 (4), C.R.S. A creditor who uses a credit score has no liability under this subsection (3) or subsection (2) of this section for the content of the credit score information received from a consumer reporting agency or from the omission of any information within the report provided by the consumer reporting agency.
If the property that secures a consumer credit sale includes a motor vehicle and the written agreement does not provide for automobile liability insurance, the following clause shall be in the written agreement in capital letters and bold-face type: "THIS CONTRACT DOES NOT PROVIDE FOR AUTOMOBILE LIABILITY INSURANCE, AND SAID BUYER ALSO STATES THAT HE OR SHE HAS/HAS NOT (strike words not applicable) IN EFFECT AN AUTOMOBILE LIABILITY POLICY AS DEFINED IN SECTION 42-7-103 (2), COLORADO REVISED STATUTES, ON THE MOTOR VEHICLE SOLD BY THIS CONTRACT."
No consumer credit transaction shall be valid or enforceable in this state unless its terms are contained in a written agreement and a copy is provided to the consumer at or before the time credit is extended. A creditor may provide the copy to the consumer in a form other than paper upon the consumer's written authorization.
Every creditor shall maintain records in conformity with this code, rules adopted thereunder, and generally accepted accounting principles and practices in a manner that will establish that the creditor is complying with the provisions of this code. The record-keeping system of a creditor shall be sufficient if the creditor makes the required information reasonably available. The records pertaining to any credit transaction need not be preserved for more than four years after making the final entry relating to the transaction, but, in the case of a revolving credit account, the four years is measured from the date of each entry.
(1) A creditor may not advertise, print, display, publish, distribute, broadcast, transmit or cause to be advertised, printed, displayed, published, distributed, broadcast, or transmitted in any manner any false, misleading, or deceptive statement or representation with regard to the rates, terms, or conditions of credit of a consumer credit transaction.
(2) This section imposes no liability on the owner or personnel, as such, of any medium in which an advertisement appears or through which it is disseminated.
(3) Advertising that complies with the federal "Truth in Lending Act" and the federal "Consumer Leasing Act" does not violate this section.
Any provision in a contract that prohibits the disclosure of a credit score by a consumer reporting agency or a person who makes or arranges loans secured by a dwelling is void. For the purposes of this section, "dwelling" means a residential structure that contains one to four units, whether or not that structure is attached to real property. The term includes an individual condominium unit, cooperative unit, mobile home, or trailer, if it is used as a residence.
PART 2 LIMITATIONS ON AGREEMENTS AND PRACTICES
(1) With respect to a consumer credit sale, a creditor may take a security interest in the property sold. In addition, a creditor may take a security interest in goods upon which services are performed or to which goods sold are annexed, or in land to which the goods are affixed or that is maintained, repaired, or improved as a result of the sale of the goods or services, if in the case of a security interest in land the debt secured is three thousand dollars or more, or in the case of a security interest in goods the debt secured is one thousand dollars or more. Except as provided with respect to cross-collateral described in section 5-3-202, a creditor may not otherwise take a security interest in property of the consumer to secure the debt arising from a consumer credit sale.
(2) With respect to a consumer lease, a creditor may not take a security interest in property of the consumer to secure the debt arising from the lease. This subsection (2) does not apply to a security deposit for a consumer lease.
(3) A security interest taken in violation of this section is void.
(1) In addition to contracting for a security interest pursuant to the provisions on security in sales or leases contained in section 5-3-201, a seller in a consumer credit sale may secure the debt arising from the sale by contracting for a security interest in other property if as a result of a prior sale the seller has an existing security interest in the other property. The seller may also contract for a security interest in the property sold in the subsequent sale as security for the previous debt.
(2) If the seller contracts for a security interest in other property pursuant to this section, the rate of finance charge thereafter on the aggregate unpaid balances so secured may not exceed that permitted if the balances so secured were consolidated pursuant to the provisions on consolidation involving a refinancing contained in section 5-2-205 (1). The seller has a reasonable time after so contracting to make any adjustments required by this section. "Seller" in this section does not include an assignee not related to the original seller.
(1) If debts arising from two or more consumer credit sales, other than sales pursuant to a revolving credit account, are secured by cross-collateral or consolidated into one debt payable on a single schedule of payments and the debt is secured by security interests taken with respect to one or more of the sales, payments received by the seller after the taking of the cross-collateral or the consolidation are deemed, for the purpose of determining the amount of the debt secured by the various security interests, to have been applied first to the payment of the debts arising from the sales first made. To the extent debts are paid according to this section, security interests in items of property terminate as the debts originally incurred with respect to each item are paid.
(2) Payments received by the seller upon a revolving credit account are deemed, for the purpose of determining the amount of the debt secured by the various security interests, to have been applied first to the payment of finance charges in the order of their entry to the account and then to the payment of debts in the order in which the entries to the account showing the debts were made.
(3) If the debts consolidated arose from two or more sales made on the same day, payments received by the seller are deemed, for the purpose of determining the amount of the debt secured by the various security interests, to have been applied first to the payment of the smallest debt.
(1) With respect to a consumer loan in which the amount financed is three thousand dollars or less, a lender may not contract for an interest in land as security. A security interest taken in violation of this section is void.
(2) For the purposes of this section, on revolving credit accounts, the amount financed shall be determined by the limit in the amount of credit made available to or for the account of the consumer if that limit is established by an express written agreement by the lender and if the lender does not retain the right to unilaterally reduce that credit limit, except in the event of default.
A creditor may not use multiple agreements with respect to a single consumer credit transaction for the purpose of obtaining a higher finance charge than would otherwise be permitted by this code or to avoid disclosure of an annual percentage rate pursuant to the provisions on disclosure and advertising. Dividing a single consumer credit transaction between a husband and wife shall be presumed to be a violation of this section. The excess amount of finance charge provided for in agreements in violation of this section is an excess charge for the purposes of the provisions on the effect of violations on rights of parties contained in section 5-5-201 and the provisions on civil actions by the administrator contained in section 5-6-114.
(1) A creditor may not take an assignment of earnings of the consumer for payment or as security for payment of a debt arising out of a consumer credit transaction. An assignment of earnings in violation of this section is unenforceable by the assignee of the earnings and revocable by the consumer.
(2) A sale of unpaid earnings made in consideration of the payment of money to or for the account of the seller of the earnings is deemed to be a loan to him or her secured by an assignment of earnings.
A consumer may not authorize any person to confess judgment on a claim arising out of a consumer credit transaction. An authorization in violation of this section is void.
With respect to a consumer credit transaction other than one pursuant to a revolving credit account, if any scheduled payment is more than twice as large as the average of all other regularly scheduled payments, the consumer has the right to refinance the amount of that payment at the time it is due at the creditor's prevailing rates for such type of transaction if the consumer meets the creditor's normal credit standards and if the creditor is, at that time, in the business of making such transactions. The creditor shall disclose this right in writing to the consumer at the time the transaction is entered into. These provisions do not apply to the extent that the payment schedule is adjusted to the seasonal or irregular income of the consumer. This section shall not apply to a transaction of a class defined by rule of the administrator promulgated in accordance with article 4 of title 24, C.R.S., as not requiring for the protection of the consumer his or her right to refinance as provided in this section.
With respect to a consumer credit sale or consumer lease, the seller or lessor may not give or offer to give a rebate or discount or otherwise pay or offer to pay value to the consumer as an inducement for a sale or lease in consideration of the consumer giving to the seller or lessor the names of prospective purchasers or lessees, or otherwise aiding the seller or lessor in making a sale or lease to another person, if the earning of the rebate, discount, or other value is contingent upon the occurrence of an event subsequent to the time the consumer agrees to buy or lease. If a consumer is induced by a violation of this section to enter into a consumer credit sale or consumer lease, the agreement is unenforceable by the seller or lessor and the consumer, at his or her option, may rescind the agreement or retain the goods delivered and the benefit of any services performed without any obligation to pay for them.
No consumer credit transaction regulated by this code shall be denied any person, nor shall terms and conditions be made more stringent, on the basis of discrimination, solely because of race, creed, religion, color, sex, marital status, national origin, or ancestry. This section shall not apply to any consumer credit transaction made or denied by a seller, lessor, or lender whose total original unpaid balances arising from consumer credit transactions for the previous calendar year are less than one million dollars.
PART 3 LIMITATION ON CONSUMERS' LIABILITIES
The obligation of a lessee upon expiration of a consumer lease, may not exceed twice the average payment allocable to a monthly period under the lease. This limitation does not apply to charges for damages to the leased property or for other default.
Except for reasonable expenses incurred in realizing on a security interest, the agreement with respect to a consumer credit transaction may not provide for charges as a result of default by the consumer other than those authorized by this code. A provision in violation of this section is unenforceable.
(1) With respect to a consumer credit sale or consumer lease, an assignee of the rights of the seller or lessor is subject to all claims and defenses of the buyer against the seller or lessor arising from the sale or lease of goods or services, notwithstanding that the assignee is a holder in due course of a negotiable instrument issued in connection with the consumer credit sale or consumer lease.
(2) A claim or defense of a consumer specified in subsection (1) of this section may be asserted against the assignee under this section only to the extent of the amount owing to the assignee with respect to the sale or lease of the goods or services as to which the claim or defense arose at the time the assignee has written notice of the claim or defense.
(3) For the purpose of determining the amount owing to the assignee with respect to the sale or lease:
(a) Payments received by the assignee after the consolidation of two or more consumer credit sales, except pursuant to a revolving credit account, are deemed to have been first applied to the payment of the sales first made; if the sales consolidated arose from sales made on the same day, payments are deemed to have been first applied to the smallest sale; and
(b) Payments received upon a revolving credit account are deemed to have been first applied to the payment of finance charges in the order of their entry to the account and then to the payment of debts in the order in which the entries of the debts are made to the account.
(4) An agreement may not limit or waive the claims or defenses of a consumer under this section.
The use of a revolving credit account by a consumer, or by any person authorized by the consumer, constitutes the consumer's acceptance of the creditor's offer of credit and creates a binding contract on the creditor's terms then in effect. Such terms may be modified in the future as agreed by the parties and subject to the requirements of this article, including, but not limited to, the notice requirements of section 5-3-103.
If a deposit, reservation fee, or other advance payment is to be charged to a revolving credit account for lodging or motor vehicle rental services to be provided in the future in this state, the seller shall not charge such advance payment to the consumer's account without first notifying the consumer, either orally or in writing, and giving the consumer the opportunity to reject the services.
PART 4 HOME SOLICITATION SALES
"Home solicitation sale" means a consumer credit sale of goods or services in which the seller or a person acting for the seller personally solicits the sale and the buyer's agreement or offer to purchase is given to the seller or a person acting for the seller at a residence. It does not include a sale made pursuant to a preexisting revolving credit account, a sale made pursuant to prior negotiations between the parties at a business establishment at a fixed location where goods or services are offered or exhibited for sale, a transaction conducted and consummated entirely by mail or telephone, or a sale that is subject to the provisions of the federal "Truth in Lending Act" on the consumer's right to rescind certain transactions.
(1) Except as provided in subsection (5) of this section, in addition to any right otherwise to revoke an offer, the buyer has the right to cancel a home solicitation sale until midnight of the third business day after the day on which the buyer signs an agreement or offer to purchase that complies with this part 4.
(2) Cancellation occurs when the buyer gives written notice of cancellation to the seller at the address stated in the agreement or offer to purchase.
(3) Notice of cancellation, if given by mail, is given when it is deposited in a mail box properly addressed and postage prepaid.
(4) Notice of cancellation given by the buyer need not take a particular form and is sufficient if it indicates by any form of written expression the intention of the buyer not to be bound by the home solicitation sale.
(5) The buyer may not cancel a home solicitation sale if, by separate dated and signed statement that is not as to its material provisions a printed form and describes an emergency requiring immediate remedy, the buyer requests the seller to provide goods or services without delay in order to safeguard the health, safety, or welfare of natural persons or to prevent damage to property the buyer owns or for which the buyer is responsible, and:
(a) The seller in good faith makes a substantial beginning of performance of the contract before the buyer gives notice of cancellation; and
(b) In the case of goods, the goods cannot be returned to the seller in substantially as good condition as when received by the buyer.
(1) In a home solicitation sale, unless the buyer requests the seller to provide goods or services without delay in an emergency, the seller must present to the buyer, and obtain his signature to, a written agreement or offer to purchase that designates as the date of the transaction the date on which the buyer actually signs and contains a statement of the buyer's rights that complies with subsection (2) of this section. A copy of any writing required by this subsection (1) to be signed by the buyer, completed at least as to the date of the transaction and the name and mailing address of the seller, shall be given to the buyer at the time the buyer signs the writing.
(2) The statement shall comply with any notice of cancellation or a similar requirement of any trade regulation rule of the federal trade commission that by its terms applies to the home solicitation sale.
(3) Until the seller has complied with this section, the buyer may cancel the home solicitation sale by notifying the seller in any manner and by any means of the buyer's intention to cancel; except that the buyer's right of cancellation shall expire three years after the date of the consummation of the home solicitation sale, notwithstanding the fact that the seller has not complied with this part 4.
(1) Within ten days after a notice of cancellation has been received by the seller or an offer to purchase has been otherwise revoked, the seller shall tender to the buyer any payments made by the buyer, any note or other evidence of indebtedness, and any goods traded in. A provision permitting the seller to keep all or any part of any goods traded in, payment, note, or other evidence of indebtedness is in violation of this section and unenforceable.
(2) If the down payment includes goods traded in, the goods shall be tendered in substantially as good condition as when received by the seller. If the seller fails to tender the goods as provided by this section, the buyer may elect to recover an amount equal to the trade-in allowance stated in the agreement.
(3) Until the seller has complied with the obligations imposed by this section, the buyer may retain possession of goods delivered to the buyer by the seller and has a lien on the goods in the buyer's possession or control for any recovery to which the buyer is entitled.
(1) Except as provided by the provisions on retention of goods by the buyer contained in section 5-3-404 (3) and allowing for ordinary wear and tear or consumption of the goods contemplated by the transaction, within a reasonable time after a home solicitation sale has been canceled or an offer to purchase revoked, the buyer upon demand must tender to the seller any goods delivered by the seller pursuant to the sale, but the buyer is not obligated to tender at any place other than the buyer's residence. If the seller fails to demand possession of goods within a reasonable time after cancellation or revocation, the goods become the property of the buyer without obligation to pay for them. For the purpose of this section, forty days is presumed to be a reasonable time.
(2) The buyer has a duty to take reasonable care of the goods in his or her possession before cancellation or revocation and for a reasonable time thereafter during which time the goods are otherwise at the seller's risk.
(3) If a home solicitation sale is canceled, the seller is not entitled to compensation for any services the seller performed pursuant to it.
PART 5 CONSUMER INSURANCE PREMIUM FINANCING
The provisions of this part 5 apply to consumer insurance premium loans.
An agreement pursuant to which a consumer insurance premium loan is made shall contain the names of the insurance agent or broker negotiating each policy or contract and of the insurer issuing each policy or contract, the number and inception date of and premium for each policy or contract, the date on which the term of the loan begins, and a clear and conspicuous notice that each policy or contract may be canceled if payment is not made in accordance with the agreement. If a policy or contract has not been issued by the time the agreement is signed, the agreement may provide that the insurance agent or broker may insert the appropriate information in the agreement and, if he or she does so, shall furnish the information promptly in writing to the insured.
If a default exists on a consumer insurance premium loan and any right to cure that exists has expired without cure being effected, the lender may give notice of cancellation of each insurance policy or contract to be canceled. If given, the notice of cancellation shall be in writing and given to the insurer who issued the policy or contract and to the insured. The insurer, within two business days after receipt of the notice of cancellation together with a copy of the insurance premium loan agreement if not previously given to the insurer, shall give any notice of cancellation required by the policy, contract, or law and, within ten business days after the effective date of the cancellation, pay to the lender any premium unearned on the policy or contract as of that effective date. Within ten business days after receipt of the unearned premium, the lender shall pay to the consumer indebted upon the insurance premium loan any excess of the unearned premium received over the amount owing by the consumer upon the insurance premium loan.
CO Colorado Official State Statutes
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