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Debt Laws | Federal
Laws | Consumer Protection
State Laws
Kansas Consumer Credit Code
Chapter 16a Consumer Credit Code
Article 3. Regulation of Agreements and Practices
Part 1 GENERAL PROVISIONS
Part 2 DISCLOSURES
Part 3 LIMITATIONS ON AGREEMENTS AND PRACTICES
Part 4 LIMITATIONS ON CONSUMER'S LIABILITY
Part 1 GENERAL PROVISIONS
This article shall be known and may be cited as revised uniform consumer credit code--regulation of agreements and practices.
Parts 2, 3, and 4 of this article apply, respectively, to disclosure, limitations on agreements and practices, and limitations on consumer's liability with respect to consumer credit transactions.
Part 2 DISCLOSURES
A lessor shall disclose to the consumer the information required by rules and regulations adopted by the administrator pursuant to K.S.A. 16a-6-117, and amendments thereto.
A written agreement which requires or provides for the signature of the consumer and which evidences a consumer credit transaction other than one pursuant to open end credit shall contain a clear, conspicuous, and printed notice to the consumer that he should not sign the agreement before reading it, and that he is entitled to a copy of the agreement and to prepay the unpaid balance at any time without penalty. The following notice if clearly and conspicuously printed complies with this section:
NOTICE TO CONSUMER: 1. Do not sign this agreement before you read it. 2. You are entitled to a copy of this agreement. 3. You may prepay the unpaid balance at any time without penalty.
The consumer is authorized to pay the original creditor until he 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 which 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 he does so the consumer may pay the original creditor.
If payment is received by the assignor of a consumer credit contract for the benefit of the assignee, the date of payment shall be deemed to be the day payment is received by the assignor.
(1) If a creditor makes a change in the terms of an open end credit 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 (section 16a-5-201) and to the administrator (section 16a-6-113).
(2) A creditor may change the terms, including the finance charge, of an open end credit account whether or not the change is authorized by prior agreement. Except as provided in subsection (3), the lender shall give to the consumer written notice of any change at least 30 days before the effective date of the change.
(3) The notice specified in subsection (2) is not required if:
(a) 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 constitute the change in terms and when the billing statement also states the amount payable if the new charge is excluded;
(b) the change involves no significant cost to the consumer; or
(c) the change applies only to debts incurred after a date specified in a notice of the change.
(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 mail complies with this subsection.
(2) Upon written request of the consumer, the person to whom an obligation is owed pursuant to a consumer credit transaction, other than one pursuant to open end credit, shall provide a written statement of the dates and amounts of payments made within the past 15 months and the amount required to pay the debt in full. The statement shall be provided without charge.
(3) After a consumer has fulfilled all obligations with respect to a consumer credit transaction, other than one pursuant to open end credit, the person to whom the obligation was owed shall upon request of the consumer, deliver or mail to the consumer written evidence acknowledging payment in full of all obligations with respect to the transaction.
A creditor shall disclose to the consumer the information required by the rules and regulations adopted by the administrator pursuant to K.S.A. 16a-6-117, and amendments thereto.
(1) The provisions of this section apply only to a consumer loan which is secured by a first mortgage or a second mortgage on the consumer's principal residence. The provisions of this section do not apply to a lender who is a supervised financial organization.
(2) Before making a loan subject to this section, a lender shall obtain the appraised value of the real estate to be encumbered. The appraisal evidencing the appraised value shall be retained by the lender and preserved in accordance with the recordkeeping requirements set forth in K.S.A. 16a-2-304, and amendments thereto.
(3) If, based upon the appraisal, the loan to value ratio of the loan exceeds 100%, then the lender shall deliver to the consumer:
(a) A free copy of the appraisal; and
(b) a written notice regarding high loan-to-value mortgages and the availability of consumer credit counseling. The administrator may adopt rules and regulations regarding the form of the notice to be delivered to the consumer and the names, addresses and telephone numbers of selected consumer credit counseling providers.
(4) The notice referred to in subsection (3) shall be given to the consumer not less than three days before the loan is made. The notice must be retained by the lender and preserved in accordance with the record-keeping requirements set forth in K.S.A. 16a-2-304, and amendments thereto.
(5) If, within three days after receiving the notice, the consumer elects not to enter into the loan transaction, then the lender must promptly refund to the consumer any application fees or other amounts paid by the consumer to the lender. However, the lender is not required to refund any bona fide out-of-pocket costs incurred by the lender before the consumer elected not to enter into the loan transaction, provided that such costs were paid or are payable to a person or persons not related to the lender. Notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection, a bona fide appraisal fee paid or payable to a person related to the lender need not be refunded to the consumer.
(6) This section shall be supplemental to and a part of the uniform consumer credit code.
(1) A supervised lender shall not, directly or indirectly, make a false, misleading or deceptive advertisement regarding loans or the availability of loans.
(2) A supervised lender shall not advertise any size of loan, security required for a loan, rate of charge or other conditions of lending except with the full intent of making loans at those rates, or lower rates, and under those conditions or conditions more favorable to the consumer, to loan applicants who meet the standards or qualifications prescribed by the supervised lender.
(3) This section shall be supplemental to and a part of the uniform consumer credit code.
Part 3 LIMITATIONS ON AGREEMENTS AND PRACTICES
(1) With respect to a consumer credit sale, a seller may take a security interest in the property sold. In addition, a seller may take a security interest in goods upon which services are performed or in which goods sold are installed or to which they are annexed, or in land to which the goods are affixed or which 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 $3,000 or more, or, in the case of a security interest in goods the debt secured is $900 or more. Except as provided with respect to cross-collateral (K.S.A. 16a-3-302, and amendments thereto) a seller may not otherwise take a security interest in property of the buyer to secure the debt arising from a consumer credit sale.
(2) With respect to a consumer lease, a lessor may not take a security interest in property of the lessee to secure the debt arising from the 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 (section 16a-3-301), 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 credit service 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 (subsection (1) of section 16a-2-505). 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 open end credit, are secured by cross-collateral (section 16a-3-302) 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 first applied 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 is paid.
(2) Payments received by the seller upon an open end 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) A creditor may not engage in a pattern or practice of using multiple agreements to obtain a higher finance charge than would otherwise be permitted by the provisions of the article on finance charges and related provisions (article 2).
(2) The excess amount of finance charge provided for in this section is an excess charge for the purposes of the provisions on rights of parties (K.S.A. 16a-5-201, and amendments thereto) and the provisions on civil actions by administrator (K.S.A. 16a-6-113, and amendments thereto).
(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. This section does not prohibit an employee from authorizing deductions from his earnings if the authorization is revocable.
(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 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 sale or consumer lease, the creditor may not take a negotiable instrument other than a currently dated check as evidence of the obligation of the buyer or lessee.
(a) With respect to a consumer credit transaction, other than one pursuant to open end credit if any scheduled payment is more than twice as large as the average of earlier scheduled payments, the consumer has the right to refinance the amount of that payment at the time it is due without penalty. The terms of the refinancing shall be no less favorable to the consumer than the terms of the original transaction. These provisions do not apply to the extent that the payment schedule is adjusted to the seasonal or irregular income of the consumer or to a note secured by a real estate mortgage.
(b) In accordance with rules and regulations adopted by the administrator, the provisions of this section shall not apply to a consumer loan secured solely by a motor vehicle.
(1) A loan subject to this section may not provide for the negative amortization of principal or a balloon payment. A loan payment is not a balloon payment if the amount of the payment is less than twice the amount of any other payment.
(2) Subsection (1) applies to a consumer loan which is secured by a first mortgage or a second mortgage on the consumer's principal residence and with respect to which (a) the loan-to-value ratio exceeds 100% at the time the loan is made or (b) the annual percentage rate exceeds the code mortgage rate. Notwithstanding the foregoing, subsection (1) does not apply to a loan pursuant to open end credit; a purchase-money loan incurred to acquire or construct the consumer's principal residence; or a reverse mortgage transaction.
(3) The creditor must disburse the proceeds of a consumer loan secured by a first mortgage or a second mortgage upon the satisfaction of all conditions to the disbursement and the expiration of all applicable rescission, cooling-off or other waiting periods required by law, unless the parties otherwise agree in writing.
(4) No person shall record a mortgage if moneys are not available for disbursal to the mortgagor upon the expiration of all applicable recession, cooling-off or other waiting periods required by law unless, before that recording, the person informs the mortgagor in writing of a definite date by which payment shall be made and obtains the mortgagor's written permission for the delay.
(5) This section shall be supplemental to and a part of the uniform consumer credit code.
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 buyer or lessee as an inducement for a sale or lease in consideration of his 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 buyer or lessee agrees to buy or lease. If a buyer or lessee 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 buyer or lessee, at his option, may rescind the agreement or retain the goods delivered and the benefit of any services performed, without any obligation to pay for them.
Part 4 LIMITATIONS ON CONSUMER'S LIABILITY
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 any charges as a result of default by the consumer other than those authorized by K.S.A. 16a-1-101 through 16a-9-102. A provision in violation of this section is unenforceable.
(1) If the issuer of a credit card, other than a lender credit card, is the seller or lessor or a person related to the seller or lessor, or if the seller or lessor is licensed, franchised, or permitted by the issuer to do business under the business name or trade name or designation of the issuer, the issuer is subject to all claims and defenses of a buyer or lessee against the seller or lessor arising out of a sale or lease of goods or services pursuant to the credit card.
(2) The issuer of a lender credit card is not subject to the claims and defenses of a buyer or lessee arising out of a sale or lease of goods or services pursuant to a lender credit card except where a home solicitation sale is involved. For purposes of this section, a "home solicitation sale" means a sale to a consumer of goods (other than equipment used in a business) or services, in which the seller or a person acting for the seller engages in a personal solicitation (other than by telephone or mail) of the sale at a residence of the buyer. It does not include 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.
(3) Claims or defenses of a buyer or lessee against a seller or lessor in connection with a home solicitation sale may be asserted against the issuer of the lender credit card only:
(a) If the buyer or lessee has attempted in good faith to obtain reasonable satisfaction from the seller or lessor with respect to claims or defenses, and
(b) to the extent of the amount owing to the issuer with respect to the sale or lease at the time the issuer has notice of the claims or defenses. Notice of the claims or defenses may be given prior to the attempt specified in paragraph (a). The notice, which may generally state the claims or defenses, must be in writing but may be sent to either the seller (or lessor), or to the issuer.
(4) For the purpose of determining the amount owing to the issuer with respect to a sale or lease under a credit card, payments received upon the 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.
(5) An agreement may not provide for greater rights for an issuer of a credit card than this section permits.
(1) An assignee of the rights of the seller or lessor under a consumer credit sale or consumer lease is subject to all claims and defenses of the buyer or lessee against the seller or lessor arising out of the sale or lease, notwithstanding that:
(a) There is an agreement to the contrary, or
(b) the assignee is a holder in due course of a negotiable instrument issued in violation of the provisions prohibiting certain negotiable instruments (section 16a-3-307).
(2) Claims or defenses of a buyer or lessee specified in subsection (1) may be asserted against the assignee only:
(a) If the buyer or lessee has attempted in good faith to obtain reasonable satisfaction from the seller or lessor with respect to claims or defenses,
(b) if the buyer or lessee, when requested in writing to do so by the seller, lessor or the assignee, has given notice in writing to the seller or lessee and the assignee stating the claims or defenses,
(c) to the extent of the amount owing to the assignee with respect to the sale or lease at the time the assignee has notice of such claims or defenses. Such notice, generally stating the claims or defenses, must be in writing and shall be sent to the seller (or lessor), and to the assignee if the buyer or lessee has received written notice of the name and address of the assignee, and
(d) as a matter of defense to or setoff against claims by the assignee except that the buyer or lessee shall not be prohibited from bringing an action to rescind an obligation against which it has a defense or setoff.
(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, other than pursuant to open end credit, 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 smaller or smallest sale or sales;
(b) payments received upon an open end 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) Any action by an assignee or the original seller or lessor who has repurchased an obligation under subsection (5) to enforce an obligation, or any action by a buyer or lessee to rescind, or any request to repurchase the obligation, shall be brought within one year from the date of receipt of the notice of the claim or defense, or default in payment, whichever is later.
(5) If a claim or defense of a buyer or lessee against a seller or lessor is asserted against an assignee, the assignee may, regardless of any existing agreement to the contrary, require the seller or lessor to repurchase the obligation for an amount equal to the price for which the obligation was assigned, plus that portion of the finance charge earned by the assignee, minus payments previously made to the assignee by the buyer or lessee. In any action by the buyer or lessee to rescind an obligation held by the assignee, the seller or lessor shall have the right to intervene and any party may join as a defendant any manufacturer or other person who is or may be liable to another party. If the action to rescind is brought against the seller or lessor, such seller or lessor shall have the right to join as a defendant any manufacturer or other person who is or may be liable to such seller or lessor.
(6) An agreement may not provide greater rights for an assignee than this section permits.
(1) A lender, other than the issuer of a lender credit card, who, with respect to a particular transaction, makes a consumer loan for the purpose of enabling a consumer to buy or lease from a particular seller or lessee goods or services is subject to all claims and defenses of the consumer against the seller or lessor arising from that sale or lease of the goods and services if:
(a) The lender knows that the seller or lessor arranged, for a commission, brokerage, or referral fee, for the extension of credit by the lender;
(b) the lender is a person related to the seller or lessor unless the relationship is remote or is not a factor in the transaction;
(c) the seller or lessor guarantees the loan or otherwise assumes the risk or loss by the lender upon the loan;
(d) the lender directly supplies the seller or lessor with the contract document used by the consumer to evidence the loam, and the seller or lessor significantly participates in the preparation of the document; or
(e) the loan is conditioned upon the consumer's purchase or lease of the goods or services from the particular seller or lessor, but the lender's payment of proceeds of the loan to the seller or lessor does not in itself establish that the loan was so conditioned.
(2) Claims or defenses of a buyer or lessee specified in subsection (1) may be asserted against the lender only:
(a) If the buyer or lessee has attempted in good faith to obtain reasonable satisfaction from the seller or lessor with respect to the claims or defenses;
(b) if the buyer or lessee, when requested in writing to do so by the seller, lessor or the lender, has given notice in writing to the seller or lessee and the lender stating the claims or defenses,
(c) to the extent of the amount owing to the lender with respect to the sale or lease at the time the lender has notice of the claims or defenses. Such notice, generally stating the claims or defenses, must be in writing and shall be sent to the seller (or lessor), and to the lender if the buyer or lessee has received written notice of the name and address of the lender; and
(d) as a matter of defense to or setoff against claims by the lender except that the buyer or lessee shall not be prohibited from bringing an action to rescind an obligation against which it has a defense or setoff.
(3) For the purpose of determining the amount owing to the lender with respect to the sale or lease:
(a) Payments received by the lender after the consolidation of two or more consumer loans, other than pursuant to open end credit, are deemed to have been first applied to the payment of the loans first made; if the loans consolidated arose from loans made on the same day, payments are deemed to have been first applied to the smaller or smallest loan or loans; and
(b) payments received upon an open end 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 provide greater rights for a lender than this section permits.
(5) Notwithstanding any of the foregoing, the participation of the lender or lessor in any of the arrangements between seller and buyer to insure the perfection of the lender or lessor's security interest shall not in itself establish a relationship described and controlled by subsection (1).
KS Kansas Official State Statutes
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