426.106
426.106
Investigatory powers. 426.106(1)
(1) At any time that the administrator has reason to believe that a person has engaged in or is about to engage in an act which is subject to action by the administrator, the administrator may make an investigation and, with respect thereto, may administer oaths or affirmations, and, upon the administrator's own motion or upon request of any party, may subpoena witnesses, compel their attendance, adduce evidence, and require the production of any matter, including the existence, description, nature, custody, condition and location of any books, documents or other tangible things, and the identity and location of persons having knowledge of relevant facts, or any other matter reasonably calculated to lead to the discovery of admissible evidence, and the administrator shall have the right of access to and of examination of such books, documents or other tangible things. In any civil action brought on behalf of the administrator following such an investigation, the administrator may recover the administrator's costs of making the investigation if the administrator prevails in the action.
426.106(2)
(2) If 5 or more persons file a verified complaint with the administrator alleging that a person has engaged in an act which is subject to action by the administrator, the administrator shall immediately commence an investigation pursuant to
sub. (1).
426.106(3)
(3) If the person's records are located outside this state, the person at the person's option shall either make them available to the administrator at a convenient location within this state or pay the reasonable and necessary expenses for the administrator or the administrator's representative to examine them at the place where they are maintained. The administrator may designate representatives, including comparable officials of the state in which the records are located, to inspect them on the administrator's behalf.
426.106(4)
(4) Upon failure without lawful excuse to obey a subpoena or to give testimony and upon reasonable notice to all persons affected thereby, the administrator may apply to any court of record for an order compelling compliance.
426.106 History
History: 1971 c. 239;
1991 a. 316.
426.106 Cross-reference
Cross-reference: See also ss.
DFI-WCA 1.80 and
1.82, Wis. adm. code.
426.107
426.107
Application of chapter 227. Except as otherwise provided,
ch. 227 applies to and governs all administrative action taken by the administrator pursuant to
chs. 421 to
427 and
429. Notwithstanding
s. 227.52, the decisions of the administrator are subject to judicial review as provided in
ch. 227.
426.108
426.108
Unconscionable conduct. The administrator shall promulgate rules declaring specific conduct in consumer credit transactions and the collection of debts arising from consumer credit transactions to be unconscionable and prohibiting the use of those unconscionable acts. In promulgating rules under this section, the administrator shall consider, among other things, all of the following:
426.108(1)
(1) That the practice unfairly takes advantage of the lack of knowledge, ability, experience, or capacity of customers.
426.108(2)
(2) That those engaging in the practice know of the inability of customers to receive benefits properly anticipated from the goods or services involved.
426.108(3)
(3) That there exists a gross disparity between the price of goods or services and their value as measured by the price at which similar goods or services are readily obtainable by other customers, or by other tests of true value.
426.108(4)
(4) That the practice may enable merchants to take advantage of the inability of customers reasonably to protect their interests by reason of physical or mental infirmities, illiteracy or inability to understand the language of the agreement, ignorance or lack of education or similar factors.
426.108(5)
(5) That the terms of the transaction require customers to waive legal rights.
426.108(6)
(6) That the terms of the transaction require customers to unreasonably jeopardize money or property beyond the money or property immediately at issue in the transaction.
426.108(7)
(7) That the natural effect of the practice is to cause or aid in causing customers to misunderstand the true nature of the transaction or their rights and duties under the transaction.
426.108(8)
(8) That the writing purporting to evidence the obligation of the customers in the transaction contains terms or provisions or authorizes practices prohibited by law.
426.108(9)
(9) Definitions of unconscionability in statutes, rules, rulings and decisions of legislative, administrative or judicial bodies.
426.108 History
History: 1971 c. 239;
1999 a. 85.
426.109
426.109
Temporary relief; injunctions. 426.109(1)
(1) The administrator or any customer may bring a civil action to restrain by temporary or permanent injunction a person from violating
chs. 421 to
427 and
429 or the rules promulgated pursuant thereto, or to so restrain a merchant or a person acting on behalf of a merchant from engaging in false, misleading, deceptive, or unconscionable conduct in consumer credit transactions. It shall not be a defense to an action brought under this section that there exists an adequate remedy at law.
426.109(2)
(2) The administrator or customer may seek a temporary restraining order without written or oral notice to the adverse party or his or her attorney. If the court finds that there is reasonable cause to believe that the respondent is engaged in the conduct sought to be restrained and that such conduct violates
chs. 421 to
427 and
429 or rules promulgated under
chs. 421 to
427 and
429, it may grant a temporary restraining order or any temporary relief it deems appropriate. A temporary restraining order granted without notice shall expire by its terms within a stated time after entry, not to exceed 30 days, as the court fixes, unless within this time it is extended by the court, or unless the party against whom the order is directed consents that it may be extended for a longer period. When a temporary restraining order is granted without notice, the motion for a preliminary injunction shall be set down for a hearing at the earliest possible time. Upon notice to the party who obtained the temporary restraining order without notice, the adverse party may appear and move its dissolution or modification, and in this event the court shall proceed to hear and determine such motion as expeditiously as the ends of justice require.
426.110
426.110
Class actions; injunctions; declaratory relief. 426.110(1)(1) Either the administrator, or any customer affected by a violation of
chs. 421 to
427 and
429 or of the rules promulgated pursuant thereto or by a violation of the federal consumer credit protection act, or by conduct of a kind described in
sub. (2), may bring a civil action on behalf of himself or herself and all persons similarly situated, for actual damages by reason of such conduct or violation, together with penalties as provided in
sub. (14), reasonable attorney fees and other relief to which such persons are entitled under
chs. 421 to
427 and
429. The customer filing the action must give prompt notice thereof to the administrator, who shall be permitted, upon application within 30 days, to join as a party plaintiff. For purposes of apportionment of cost, the administrator need not be a party to the action.
426.110(2)
(2) Actions may be maintained under this section against any person who in making, soliciting or enforcing consumer credit transactions engages in any of the following kinds of conduct:
426.110(2)(a)
(a) Making or enforcing unconscionable terms or provisions of consumer credit transactions;
426.110(2)(b)
(b) False, misleading, deceptive, or unconscionable conduct in inducing customers to enter into consumer credit transactions; or
426.110(2)(c)
(c) False, misleading, deceptive, or unconscionable conduct in enforcing debts or security interests arising from consumer credit transactions.
426.110(3)
(3) Notwithstanding this chapter, no class action may be maintained for conduct proscribed in
sub. (2) or for a violation of
s. 423.301,
424.501,
425.107,
426.108 or
427.104 (1) (h) unless the conduct has been found to constitute a violation of
chs. 421 to
427 and
429 at least 30 days prior to the occurrence of the conduct involved in the class action by an appellate court of this state or by a rule promulgated by the administrator as provided in
ss. 426.104 (1) (e) and
426.108 specifying with particularity the act or practice in question.
426.110(4)(a)(a) At least 30 days or more prior to the commencement of a class action for damages pursuant to the provisions of this section, any party must:
426.110(4)(a)1.
1. Notify the person against whom an alleged cause of action is asserted of the particular alleged claim or violation; and
426.110(4)(a)2.
2. Demand that such person correct, or otherwise remedy the basis for the alleged claim.
426.110(4)(b)
(b) Such notice shall be in writing and shall be sent by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, to such person at the place where the transaction occurred, such person's principal place of business within this state, or, if neither will effect actual notice, the department of financial institutions.
426.110(4)(c)
(c) Except as provided in
par. (e), no action for damages may be maintained under this section if an appropriate remedy, which shall include actual damages and may include penalties, is given, or agreed to be given within a reasonable time, to such party within 30 days after receipt of such notice.
426.110(4)(d)
(d) Except as provided in
par. (e), no action for damages may be maintained under this section upon a showing by a person against whom the alleged claim or violation is asserted that all of the following exist:
426.110(4)(d)1.
1. All customers similarly situated have been identified, or a reasonable effort to identify such other consumers has been made;
426.110(4)(d)2.
2. All customers so identified have been notified that upon their request such person shall make the appropriate remedy;
426.110(4)(d)3.
3. The remedy requested by such customers has been or in a reasonable time will be given; and
426.110(4)(d)4.
4. Such person has ceased from engaging, or if immediate cessation is impossible under the circumstances, such person will, within a reasonable time, cease to engage in any acts on which the alleged claim is based.
426.110(4)(e)
(e) An action for injunctive relief may be commenced without compliance with
par. (a). Not less than 30 days after the commencement of an action for injunctive relief, and after compliance with
par. (a) the customer may amend his or her complaint without leave of court to include a request for damages. The appropriate provisions of
par. (c) or
(d) shall be applicable if the complaint for injunctive relief is amended to request damages.
426.110(5)
(5) The court shall permit the suit to be maintained on behalf of all members of the represented class only if:
426.110(5)(a)
(a) The class is so numerous that joinder of all members, if permissible, would be impracticable;
426.110(5)(b)
(b) There are questions of law and fact common to the class;
426.110(5)(c)
(c) The claims or defenses of the representative plaintiffs are typical of the claims or defenses of the class. This paragraph shall not apply if the administrator is a representative plaintiff;
426.110(5)(d)
(d) The representative parties will fairly and adequately protect the interests of the class.
426.110(6)
(6) An action may be maintained as a class action if the prerequisites of
sub. (5) are satisfied, and in addition:
426.110(6)(a)
(a) The prosecution of separate actions by or against individual members of the class would create a risk of:
426.110(6)(a)1.
1. Inconsistent or varying adjudications with respect to individual members of the class which would establish incompatible standards of conduct for the party opposing the class; or
426.110(6)(a)2.
2. Adjudications with respect to individual members of the class which would as a practical matter be dispositive of the interests of the other members not parties to the adjudications or substantially impair or impede their ability to protect their interests; or
426.110(6)(b)
(b) The party opposing the class has acted or refused to act on grounds generally applicable to the class, thereby making appropriate final injunctive relief or corresponding declaratory relief with respect to the class as a whole; or
426.110(6)(c)
(c) The court finds that the questions of law or fact common to the members of the class predominate over any questions affecting only individual members, and that a class action is superior to other available methods for the fair and efficient adjudication of the controversy. The matters pertinent to the findings include:
426.110(6)(c)1.
1. The interest of members of the class in individually controlling the prosecution or defense of separate actions;
426.110(6)(c)2.
2. The extent and nature of any litigation concerning the controversy already commenced by or against members of the class;
426.110(6)(c)3.
3. The desirability or undesirability of concentrating the litigation of the claims in the particular forum; and
426.110(6)(c)4.
4. The difficulties likely to be encountered in the management of a class action.
426.110(7)
(7) As soon as practicable after the commencement of an action brought as a class action, the court shall determine by order whether it is to be so maintained. An order under this subsection may be conditional, and may be altered or amended before the decision on the merits. If the court determines that the action may not be maintained as a class action, it shall allow the action to proceed on behalf of the parties appearing in the action.
426.110(8)
(8) In any class action maintained under
sub. (6) (c), the court shall direct to the members of the class the best notice practicable under the circumstances, including individual notice to all members who can be identified through reasonable effort. The notice shall advise each member that:
426.110(8)(a)
(a) The court will exclude a class member from the class if the member so requests by a specified date;
426.110(8)(b)
(b) The judgment, whether favorable or not, will include all members who do not request exclusion; and
426.110(8)(c)
(c) Any member who does not request exclusion may, if the member desires, enter an appearance through the member's counsel.
426.110(9)
(9) The judgment in an action maintained as a class action under
sub. (6) (a) or
(b), whether or not favorable to the class, shall include and describe those whom the court finds to be members of the class. The judgment in an action maintained as a class action under
sub. (6) (c), whether or not favorable to the class, shall include and specify or describe those to whom the notice provided in
sub. (8) was directed, and who have not requested exclusion, and whom the court finds to be members of the class.
426.110(10)
(10) When appropriate, an action may be brought or maintained as a class action with respect to particular issues, or a class may be divided into subclasses and each subclass treated as a class, and this section shall then be construed and applied accordingly.
426.110(11)
(11) If the judgment is for a class of plaintiffs, the court shall render judgment in favor of the administrator and against the defendants for all costs of notice incurred by the administrator in such action.
426.110(12)
(12) In the conduct of actions to which this section applies, the court may make appropriate orders, which may be altered or amended as may be desirable from time to time, for any of the following purposes:
426.110(12)(a)
(a) Determining the course of proceedings or prescribing measures to prevent undue repetition or complication in the presentation of evidence or argument.
426.110(12)(b)
(b) Requiring, for the protection of the members of the class or otherwise for the fair conduct of the action, that notice be given in such manner as the court may direct to some or all of the members of any step in the action, or of the proposed extent of the judgment, or of the opportunity of members to signify whether they consider the representation fair and adequate, to intervene and present claims or defenses, or otherwise to come into the action.
426.110(12)(c)
(c) Imposing conditions on the representative parties or on intervenors.
426.110(12)(d)
(d) Requiring that the pleadings be amended to eliminate therefrom allegations as to representation of absent persons, and that the action proceed accordingly.
426.110(13)
(13) A class action shall not be dismissed or compromised without the approval of the court, and notice of the proposed dismissal or compromise shall be given to all members of the class in such manner as the court directs.
426.110(14)
(14) A merchant shall not be liable in a class action for specific penalties under
s. 425.302 (1) (a),
425.303 (1),
425.304 (1),
425.305 (1) or
429.301 (1) for which it would be liable in individual actions by reason of violations of
chs. 421 to
427 and
429 or of conduct prescribed in
sub. (2) unless it is shown by a preponderance of the evidence that the violation was a willful and knowing violation of
chs. 421 to
427 and
429.No recovery in an action under this subsection may exceed $100,000.
426.110(15)
(15) A plaintiff who prevails shall be awarded a reasonable attorney's fee. Notwithstanding
s. 425.308 (2), reasonable attorney's fees in a class action shall be determined by the value of the time reasonably expended by the attorney rather than by the amount of the recovery on behalf of the class. A legal aid society or legal services program which represents a class shall be awarded a reasonable service fee in lieu of reasonable attorney's fees, equal in amount to the amount of the attorney's fees as measured by this subsection.
426.110(16)
(16) The administrator, whether or not a party to an action, shall bear the costs of notice except that the administrator may recover such costs from the defendant as provided in
sub. (11).
426.110 Annotation
Sub. (4) (c) is procedural and not substantive as it does not grant or deny the substantive right to sue. Mace v. Van Ru Credit Corp.
109 F.3d 338 (1997).
426.111
426.111
Debtors' remedies not affected. The grant of powers to the administrator in this chapter does not affect remedies available to customers under
chs. 421 to
427 and
429 or under other principles of law or equity.
REGISTRATION AND FEES
426.201(1)(1) The registration requirements of this section apply to persons who do any of the following in this state:
426.201(1)(a)
(a) Make or solicit consumer credit transactions, except a person who engages in consumer credit transactions solely through honoring credit cards issued by 3rd parties not related to such person.
426.201(1)(b)
(b) Directly collect payments from or enforce rights against customers arising from such transactions, wherever made.
426.201(2)
(2) Each person subject to the registration requirements under
sub. (1) shall file a registration statement with the administrator within 30 days after commencing business in this state. The registration statement shall include all of the following information:
