AB954: Bill Text

AB954,30,12 (b) Insurance proceeds received by the holder in the event of the total loss or destruction of the vehicle.

AB954,30,14 (c) The highest bona fide offer received by the holder for disposition of the vehicle.

AB954,30,21 (23) "Renegotiation" means the replacement of an existing consumer lease by a new consumer lease between the same parties, including an assignee of the lessor. The term does not include a deferral or extension of any periodic lease payments or portions thereof not exceeding 6 months in the aggregate, a replacement of a consumer lease involving a court proceeding or the settlement of a dispute, or any other action that does not constitute a renegotiation under the federal consumer leasing act.

AB954,30,23 (24) "Residual value" means the estimated value of the leased vehicle at the expiration of the lease.

AB954,30,25 (25) "Single-payment lease" means a consumer lease that requires only one payment, to be paid at the time of commencement of the lease.

AB954,31,3 Subchapter II Disclosures; limitations on agreements and practices

AB954,31,7 429.201 Prelease availability of consumer lease application form. A lessor shall, upon request of a prospective lessee, make readily available a blank sample of its current consumer lease application form for examination by the prospective lessee before execution of the consumer lease.

AB954,31,18 429.202 Advance payment or trade-in; refund or return. (1) If a prospective lessee has made an advance payment or surrendered possession of a vehicle to a prospective lessor as a trade-in pending the execution of a consumer lease, the prospective lessee shall have the right, if the application for the consumer lease is not approved, to receive a prompt refund of the advance payment or, if applicable, to have the trade-in vehicle returned to him or her as promptly as possible. If a prospective lessor takes possession of a trade-in vehicle under this subsection, the prospective lessor may not sell, offer for sale, lease, transfer or otherwise dispose of the vehicle in any manner until execution of the consumer lease or, except for return of the vehicle to the prospective lessee, disapproval of the consumer lease application.

AB954,31,23 (2) This section does not apply to the sale of a vehicle by a prospective lessee to a prospective lessor under a separate contract of sale if the contract of sale is executed prior to execution of the consumer lease between the parties, gives the date of sale and is signed by both parties. Any contract of sale under this subsection shall provide for all of the following:

AB954,32,3 (a) That the contract price establishes the value of the vehicle for purposes of determining the capitalized cost reduction or, if the parties fail to execute a consumer lease, the amount due the prospective lessee for the vehicle.

AB954,32,7 (b) That the prospective lessee agrees to leave the contract price on deposit with the prospective lessor pending the execution of a consumer lease between the parties with respect to a vehicle to be ordered from a manufacturer, including a vehicle not yet in production as of the date of sale.

AB954,32,11 (c) That the prospective lessee shall be entitled to payment of the contract price from the prospective lessor no later than 75 days after the date of sale, unless the parties have executed a consumer lease or the prospective lessee has already received such payment.

AB954,32,13 429.203 Requirements of a consumer lease. (1) A consumer lease shall be in writing and signed by the lessor and the lessee.

AB954,32,17 (2) Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, the printed portion of a consumer lease, other than instructions for its completion, shall be in at least 8-point type. The consumer lease shall contain all of the following printed in a clear and conspicuous manner:

AB954,32,19 (a) At the top of the consumer lease, the words "MOTOR VEHICLE LEASE AGREEMENT" in at least 10-point type.

AB954,32,24 (b) 1. Except as provided in subd. 2., if no liability insurance for bodily injury or property damage is provided for under the consumer lease, a notice in substantially the following language in bold-faced capital letters of not less than 10-point type: "NO LIABILITY INSURANCE FOR BODILY INJURY OR PROPERTY DAMAGE IS INCLUDED IN THIS AGREEMENT."

AB954,33,3 2. The notice required under subd. 1. may be provided on a separate document delivered to the prospective lessee not later than the time of execution of the consumer lease.

AB954,33,4 (3) The consumer lease shall contain all of the following disclosures:

AB954,33,8 (a) The capitalized cost, using the term "capitalized cost", and an explanation of the term in substantially the following language: "Capitalized cost is the agreed-upon amount determined at the inception of the consumer lease for all items and services included in the lease."

AB954,33,9 (b) Any capitalized cost reduction, using the term "capitalized cost reduction".

AB954,33,15 (c) The adjusted capitalized cost, using the term "adjusted capitalized cost", and an explanation of the term, as applicable, in substantially the following language: "The adjusted capitalized cost is the agreed-upon amount that serves as the basis for determining the base lease payment. If you are not in default on the consumer lease, this amount (plus any applicable early termination charges) determines your maximum early termination obligation."

AB954,33,16 (d) The residual value of the vehicle, using the term "residual value".

AB954,33,19 (e) The standards to be applied by the holder in determining the excess wear and damage to the vehicle for which the lessee shall be held liable, subject to s. 429.208. These standards shall comply with the federal consumer leasing act.

AB954,33,20 (f) Any disclosure required under s. 422.303 (3m).

AB954,33,21 (g) Any other disclosure required by the federal consumer leasing act.

AB954,34,2 (4) The consumer lease shall contain the names of the lessor and the lessee; the place of business of the lessor; the place of business or residence of the lessee, as specified by the lessee; and a detailed description of the vehicle, including the year, make, model and, if known, serial or identification number or other identifying marks.

AB954,34,6 (5) The lessor shall deliver to the lessee a completed copy of the consumer lease signed by both parties. Any acknowledgement of delivery of a copy of the consumer lease by the lessee shall be conspicuous and appear directly above the space reserved for the signature of the lessee.

AB954,34,10 (6) (a) Any policy of bodily injury and property damage liability insurance with respect to operation of the leased vehicle for which a charge is included in the consumer lease shall be issued by an insurer authorized to transact business in this state.

AB954,34,18 (b) The lessee shall have the right of purchasing a policy of bodily injury and property damage liability insurance with respect to operation of the leased vehicle from an insurance agent or broker selected by the lessee, if the insurer selected to issue the policy is acceptable to the lessor. If a lessee purchases an insurance policy under this paragraph, the lessor may include a charge for an applicable insurance premium in the consumer lease and, if such charge is included in the consumer lease, has no obligation to send or cause to be sent to the lessee a copy of the applicable insurance policy.

AB954,35,3 (c) If any liability insurance policy or other insurance on the vehicle is canceled, a refund of any insurance premium paid for the insurance that is received by the holder from the insurer shall be refunded to the lessee or credited, together with that portion of the lease charge applicable to such refund, to the lessee's outstanding obligations under the consumer lease, including to any remaining lease payments or, at the option of the holder, to the existing obligations of the lessee upon expiration, termination or cancellation of the consumer lease. A refund or credit under this paragraph is not required if the amount of the refund or credit would be less than $1 or is applied toward the purchase of similar liability insurance protecting the interests of the lessee or holder.

AB954,35,12 (7) A holder may purchase or sell, or otherwise acquire or transfer, an interest in a consumer lease or a vehicle subject to a consumer lease, on such terms and conditions as may be mutually agreed upon by the parties to the sale, transfer or acquisition. No filing of the sale, transfer or acquisition, or any requirement that the holder be deprived of any payments due with respect to the consumer lease or, if subject to replevin or otherwise returned to the holder, the vehicle, shall be necessary to the validity of any written bill of sale or other instrument of transfer of the interest in a consumer lease as against creditors, subsequent purchasers, pledgees, encumbrancers, mortgagees, successors or assigns.

AB954,35,16 (8) (a) Upon written request from a lessee, the holder shall give or forward to the lessee a written statement that specifies, without regard to the value of the leased vehicle, the projected obligation that the lessee will incur in the event of early termination of the consumer lease.

AB954,35,22 (b) No charge may be imposed or collected for the preparation of one statement under par. (a) in a 12-month period. A holder may impose and collect a reasonable charge, not exceeding $20 per statement, for the preparation of a 2nd or subsequent statement under par. (a) in a 12-month period, if the charge has been disclosed to the lessee either orally or in writing prior to preparation of a statement under this paragraph.

AB954,35,24 (9) A holder is not required to pay interest on any security deposit under the consumer lease.

AB954,36,3 (10) No consumer lease may contain a clause which, upon nonacceptance of the vehicle by the lessee, would subject the lessee to a penalty greater than 5% of the capitalized cost of the vehicle.

AB954,36,4 (11) If applicable, the consumer lease shall comply with s. 218.01 (7b).

AB954,36,7 (12) Any provision of a consumer lease in violation of this chapter is void and unenforceable, but shall not affect the validity of any other provision of the consumer lease.

AB954,36,12 429.204 Gap amount; notice; waiver. (1) If a consumer lease provides that the lessee is responsible for any or all of the gap amount, the consumer lease shall disclose this information, using the term "gap amount". The acceptance of a consumer lease may not be conditioned upon the lessee's agreement to gap protection.

AB954,36,22 (2) (a) A lessor may waive any right under the consumer lease to hold a lessee liable for any or all of the gap amount. The consumer lease may contain a separate charge for the waiver under this paragraph if the charge is clearly and conspicuously disclosed to the lessee, and the consumer lease also contains a clear and conspicuous notice stating that, for such separate charge, the lessor agrees to waive such contractual right and that, in lieu of such separate charge, the lessee may purchase insurance from an insurer authorized to transact business in this state insuring the lessee for any or all of the gap amount. A waiver under this paragraph without a separate charge is not consumer credit insurance, as defined in s. 424.201, or insurance on property.

AB954,36,24 (b) A lessee is not liable for a separate charge or for any or all of the gap amount if the consumer lease fails to provide the notice required by par. (a).

AB954,37,2 (3) A lessor's waiver under sub. (2) may be conditioned upon payment of any of the following:

AB954,37,3 (a) The separate charge, if any, for the waiver.

AB954,37,8 (b) All amounts due under the consumer lease as of the date of receipt by the lessor of insurance proceeds or the amount specified in the consumer lease to be paid by the lessee in the event of total loss or destruction of the leased vehicle or, if the consumer lease does not specify the applicable date of receipt, as of the date of total loss or destruction of the leased vehicle.

AB954,37,11 (c) An amount from the lessee equal to any deductible amount under an applicable liability insurance policy and any other subtractions specified in such insurance policy.

AB954,37,14 (d) Insurance proceeds from the applicable liability insurance policy required under the consumer lease or the equivalent amount with respect to the value of the vehicle.

AB954,37,19 429.205 Security interest. (1) No consumer lease, or any other document executed by a lessee in connection with a consumer lease, shall create a security interest in any real or personal property of the lessee to secure payment of any obligations assumed by the lessee under the consumer lease. This subsection does not apply to any of the following:

AB954,37,21 (a) The taking of a security deposit, advance lease payment or other prepayment by cash, check, credit card or other device.

AB954,37,22 (b) Any right of setoff.

AB954,38,2 (c) Any security interest in the leased vehicle or in any proceeds, refunds for cancellation or any other rights of the lessee with respect to the consumer lease or the leased vehicle, including any insurance contracts, gap protection contracts, repair contracts and extended warranty or maintenance service contracts.

AB954,38,4 (2) Any security interest taken in violation of this section is void and unenforceable, but shall not otherwise affect the validity of the consumer lease.

AB954,38,19 429.206 Realized value at lease termination. (1) If a consumer lease is terminated before the termination date set forth in the lease and, for a lease with an option to purchase, the lessee does not exercise the option to purchase, the holder shall act in a commercially reasonable manner when disposing of the leased vehicle or obtaining cash bids on the leased value for the purpose of establishing the vehicle's realized value. Within 5 business days of early termination of the consumer lease, a lessee who is not in default and, if applicable, does not exercise the option to purchase may obtain at his or her own expense a professional appraisal of the current wholesale value of the vehicle by an appraiser mutually agreeable to the lessee and the holder. An appraisal under this subsection shall be final and binding, and shall establish the vehicle's realized value for purposes of determining the liability of the lessee under the consumer lease. Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to prohibit the lessee and the lessor from mutually agreeing upon the vehicle's realized value, which shall be final and binding for purposes of determining the liability of the lessee under the consumer lease.

AB954,38,25 (2) Notwithstanding sub. (1), in the event of total loss or destruction of the leased vehicle occasioned by its theft, physical damage or other occurrence specified in the consumer lease prior to the termination date set forth in the consumer lease, the vehicle's realized value is the sum of the insurance proceeds from the applicable liability insurance policy required under the consumer lease or from any other party in payment for the loss or destruction, and any deductible amount under such policy.

AB954,39,2 429.207 Restrictions on early termination obligation. (1) The lessee has the right to terminate the consumer lease at any time.

AB954,39,6 (2) If a consumer lease is terminated before the termination date set forth in the consumer lease and no applicable option to purchase is exercised by the lessee, the early termination obligation of the lessee may not exceed an amount equal to the sum of the following amounts:

AB954,39,8 (a) Any unpaid lease payments that have accrued as of the date of termination of the consumer lease.

AB954,39,11 (b) Any other amounts unpaid by the lessee, other than excess mileage charges, arising under the terms of the consumer lease or permitted under this chapter or chs. 421 to 427.

AB954,39,13 (c) Any official fees and taxes imposed in connection with termination of the consumer lease.

AB954,39,17 (d) The amount set forth in the consumer lease as a disposition fee, not to exceed the average periodic lease charge. If the lease payment period for a consumer lease other than a single-payment lease is not monthly, the average periodic lease charge for purposes of this paragraph shall be computed on a monthly basis.

AB954,39,20 (e) The reasonable costs of retaking, storing, preparing for sale and selling the vehicle, to the extent that such costs would be recoverable as default charges under s. 422.413.

AB954,40,2 (f) Any amount by which the outstanding unpaid balance of the lease charge over the unexpired term of the lease exceeds the realized value. The outstanding unpaid balance of the lease charge may be calculated in accordance with any generally accepted accounting principles, except that this balance may be calculated on the basis of the adjusted capitalized cost for the unexpired term of the lease in accordance with generally accepted actuarial principles if the consumer lease provides for such calculation.

AB954,40,7 (3) A holder may credit against the balance of the lessee's early termination obligation any refundable security deposit or advance lease payments held by the holder. The excess of any refundable security deposit or advance lease payment over the amount of the lessee's early termination obligation shall be promptly returned to the lessee.

AB954,40,12 (4) This section does not limit or restrict the manner of calculating the lessee's early termination obligation, if such obligation does not exceed the amount calculated under sub. (2). Such manner may include calculation of the unamortized capitalized cost, or the discounted present value of remaining lease payments, multiples of monthly lease payments or payments on another periodic basis.

AB954,40,17 429.208 Assessment of excess wear and damage. (1) (a) Except as provided in par. (b), a holder shall, upon return of a leased vehicle, conduct an inspection to determine excess wear and damage to the vehicle for which the lessee may be held liable. A holder may not prohibit the lessee from being present at such inspection.

AB954,40,20 (b) If a lessee exercises an option to purchase in the consumer lease, the holder may not demand, collect or receive a charge for excess wear and damage to the vehicle and is not required to conduct the inspection under par. (a).

AB954,40,22 (2) Except as provided in subs. (4) and (5), a holder shall do all of the following not later than 60 days after return of the vehicle:

AB954,40,24 (b) Provide to the lessee an itemized bill meeting the requirements under sub. (3).

AB954,41,10 (c) Provide to the lessee a statement in substantially the following language: "You are being asked to pay this amount for excess wear and damage to the leased vehicle. If you do not agree with this amount and wish to preserve valuable rights, you must obtain and deliver to us, within 5 days after hand delivery or 7 days after mailing of this bill, an itemized counter-inspection, including an estimate of the cost of repairing such excess wear and damage from an appraiser agreed to by us and, if your lease has ended, payment of any excess wear and damage charges due under the inspection that you obtained. If you properly obtain and deliver such appraisal and tender any amounts due, such appraisal shall be binding on the holder. If you fail to do so, the holder's inspection shall be conclusive."

AB954,41,15 (d) For the purpose of obtaining a counter-inspection under sub. (5), allow the lessee access to the vehicle, at a reasonable time and place designated by the holder, for the applicable time period specified in the statement under par. (c). A holder is not required to deliver the vehicle to, or produce the vehicle at, a place designated by the lessee for the purpose of the counter-inspection.

AB954,41,23 (3) (a) The itemized bill specified in sub. (2) (b) shall be based on the inspection for excess wear and damage to the leased vehicle, and shall consist of a listing of items of excess wear and damage, together with a charge for each item. The itemized bill may be comprised of separate documents delivered or mailed separately, and may include identified charges for other amounts due under the consumer lease, such as excess mileage charges. A lessee does not assume liability for payment of any amounts due or acknowledge any item of excess wear and damage specified in an itemized bill by acknowledgement of receipt of the itemized bill.

AB954,41,25 (b) A holder is not required to provide to the lessee an itemized bill under sub. (2) with respect to a counter-inspection under sub. (5).

AB954,42,7 (4) (a) If a lessee is required under the consumer lease, or given the option by the lessor, to have a pretermination inspection by the holder of the leased vehicle for excess wear and damage, the holder shall provide at least 15 days' notice of such inspection to the lessee. A pretermination inspection under this paragraph may not be earlier than 15 days before the termination date set forth in the consumer lease. The notice shall specify that the holder's inspection after the termination of the lease shall be conclusive unless the lessee obtains a counter-inspection under sub. (5).

AB954,42,18 (b) A pretermination inspection under par. (a) shall be reasonable as to time and place. In addition to the statement under sub. (2) (c), any itemized bill of excess wear and damage prepared under par. (a) shall include a statement in substantially the following language: "If this inspection for excess wear and damage to the leased vehicle was conducted prior to the termination date under the consumer lease, you may avoid any excess wear and damage charges by having such items satisfactorily repaired prior to the return of the vehicle. The holder may inspect the vehicle at or after its return and may seek additional charges for excess wear and damage only by written notice to you, and only for excess wear and damage incurred after the date of that inspection. Any charges for excess wear and damage under this inspection or your own inspection shall be due when the lease terminates."

AB954,42,22 (5) (a) A lessee may, at his or her own expense, obtain a counter-inspection for excess wear and damage to the leased vehicle, within the applicable time period specified in the statement under sub. (2) (c). A counter-inspection is not valid under this section unless it satisfies all of the following requirements:

AB954,42,24 1. Is conducted by an inspector agreed to by the holder, with such agreement not to be unreasonably withheld by the holder.

AB954,43,3 2. Is in writing in a form provided by, or acceptable to, the holder, listing any items of excess wear and damage to the leased vehicle and, according to standards set forth in the consumer lease, the estimated cost of repair of such items.

AB954,43,4 3. Is delivered to the holder within the applicable time period.

AB954,43,7 4. If conducted after the vehicle is returned to the lessee, is accompanied by payment of the amount of such excess wear and damage charges listed on the counter-inspection.

AB954,43,10 (b) Absent a mathematical mistake or other obvious error, a holder shall accept the counter-inspection as conclusive of the lessee's excess wear and damage obligations under the consumer lease.

AB954,43,17 (c) The total amount of the excess wear and damage charges specified in a counter-inspection under par. (a) may not be increased at or after the termination of the lease, except to increase the lessee's excess wear and damage obligation to the extent that any excess wear and damage was obscured or concealed or is reasonably believed by the holder to have occurred after such inspection. Any increase under this paragraph is not valid unless the holder gives the lessee another itemized bill and statement meeting the requirements of subs. (2) and (3).

AB954,43,22 (6) A lessee shall not be in default on the consumer lease for failing to obtain a pretermination inspection or counter-inspection under this section, notwithstanding any contrary provision of the consumer lease. If a lessee does not obtain a pretermination inspection or counter-inspection, the itemized bill with respect to the inspection under sub. (1) shall be conclusive.

AB954,44,2 (7) (a) A holder may not demand, receive or collect a charge for excess wear and damage to the leased vehicle unless the holder substantially complies with this section. The exclusive penalty for failure to substantially comply with this section is a waiver of the right to collect all contested excess wear and damage charges from the lessee.

AB954,44,4 (b) A holder is not required to send any notice under this section if the holder does not wish to demand, receive or collect any excess wear and damage charges.

AB954,44,11 (c) Nothing in this section shall limit a lessee's obligation for excess mileage charges or prohibit any agreement between the lessee and the holder relating to excess wear and damage, if the agreement does not conflict with any of the lessee's rights under this section, or limit a lessee's liability to the holder for odometer tampering or for obscured or concealed structural or safety-related damage discovered by the holder after the return of the vehicle or the receipt of an itemized bill by the lessee.

AB954,44,15 429.209 Renegotiations and extensions. (1) All of the disclosure requirements specified in s. 429.203 apply to the renegotiation of a consumer lease. A renegotiation of a consumer lease does not create a warranty or subject the transaction to any laws of this state relating to the sale of used motor vehicles.

AB954,44,17 (2) The disclosure requirements specified in s. 429.203 do not apply to any extension of a consumer lease not exceeding 6 months in the aggregate.

AB954,44,19 subchapter iii penalties and remedies

AB954,44,22 429.301 Penalties and remedies. (1) Except as provided in s. 429.208 (7) (a), a person who commits a violation of this chapter is liable to the lessee in an amount equal to the sum of the following amounts:

AB954,44,23 (a) One hundred dollars.

AB954,44,25 (b) The actual damages, including any incidental and consequential damages, sustained by the lessee by reason of the violation.