422.308(1)
(1) With regard to every open-end credit plan between a creditor, wherever located, and a customer who is a resident of this state and who is applying for the open-end credit plan from this state, every application for the open-end credit plan, including every application contained in an advertisement, shall be appropriately divided and captioned by its various sections and shall set forth all of the following:
422.308(1)(a)
(a) The annual percentage rate or, if the rate may vary, a statement that it may do so and of the circumstances under which the rates may increase, any limitations on the increase and the effects of the increase.
422.308(1)(b)
(b) The date or occasion upon which the finance charge begins to accrue on a transaction.
422.308(1)(c)
(c) Whether any annual fee is charged and the amount of the fee.
422.308(1)(d)
(d) Whether any other charges or fees may be charged, what they may be charged for and the amounts of the charges or fees.
422.308(2)
(2) With regard to every open-end credit plan between a creditor, wherever located, and a customer who is a resident of this state and who is given the opportunity to enter into an open-end credit plan while present in any establishment located in this state but who is not required to complete an application under
sub. (1), the customer shall be given a notice prior to entering into the open-end credit plan. The notice shall be appropriately divided and captioned by its various sections and shall set forth all of the information in
sub. (1) (a) to
(d).
422.308(3)
(3) The administrator shall publish an annual creditors' noncompliance report on November 1. The report shall set forth the names of creditors that the administrator knows, or reasonably believes, to have violated this section during the preceding 12 months, unless the administrator knows or reasonably believes that the violation or violations were the result of unintentional good faith error.
422.308(4)
(4) A violation of this section is subject to
s. 425.304 unless the violation was the result of an unintentional good faith error.
422.308(5)
(5) If any part of this section is found unconstitutional with regard to a creditor solely or in any part because the creditor is located outside of this state, that part of this section shall not apply to any creditor located within this state.
422.308 History
History: 1985 a. 244.
422.308 Annotation
See note to s. 422.302 citing Severson Agri-Service, Inc. v. Lander, 172 W (2d) 269, 493 NW (2d) 230 (Ct. App. 1992).
422.310
422.310
Refund anticipation loans. 422.310(1)
(1) In addition to any other requirements under this subchapter, a creditor shall disclose all of the following in writing to a customer on a form that is signed by the customer before the customer enters into a refund anticipation loan:
422.310(1)(b)
(b) Any charge or fee for electronically filing an income tax return.
422.310(1)(d)
(d) The anticipated length of time, within 2 business days, by which the customer will receive the refund anticipation loan proceeds.
422.310(1)(e)
(e) That the customer may electronically file an income tax return without obtaining a refund anticipation loan.
422.310(1)(f)
(f) The anticipated length of time within which the customer could reasonably expect to receive a tax refund if the income tax return is filed electronically and the customer does not request a refund anticipation loan.
422.310(1)(g)
(g) That the customer is responsible for repayment of the refund anticipation loan and refund anticipation loan fees even if the income tax refund is not paid or is paid in a lower amount than was anticipated.
422.310(1)(h)
(h) The estimated annual percentage rate, based on the size of the refund anticipation loan, the refund anticipation loan fees and the anticipated maturity date of the refund anticipation loan. The anticipated maturity date shall be the date disclosed under
par. (f).
422.310(2)
(2) A creditor may not impose a different fee or charge for electronically filing an income tax return on a customer who obtains a refund anticipation loan than the creditor imposes on a customer who does not obtain a refund anticipation loan.
422.310 History
History: 1993 a. 111.
LIMITATIONS ON AGREEMENTS AND PRACTICES
422.401
422.401
Scope. This subchapter applies to consumer credit transactions.
422.401 History
History: 1971 c. 239.
422.402
422.402
Balloon payments prohibited. 422.402(1)
(1) Except as provided in
sub. (1m), no merchant shall enter into an agreement which requires a schedule of payments under which any one payment is not equal or substantially equal to all other payments, or under which the intervals between any consecutive payments differ substantially except as permitted in
sub. (2) or
(3) with respect to a consumer credit transaction other than a transaction which is one of the following:
422.402(1)(b)
(b) Not precomputed and on which the annual percentage rate disclosed under
subch. III is less than 16.5% for a consumer credit sale in which the seller retains a security interest in real estate which is the subject of the sale or any consumer loan, either of which is entered into on or after April 6, 1980, and prior to November 1, 1981, or 12% for any other consumer credit transaction.
422.402(1m)
(1m) No merchant shall enter into an agreement which requires a schedule of payments under which any one payment is not equal or substantially equal to all other payments, or under which the intervals between any consecutive payments differ substantially except as permitted in
sub. (2) or
(3) with respect to a consumer credit transaction other than a transaction which is one of the following:
422.402(1m)(b)
(b) Not precomputed and on which the annual percentage rate disclosed under
subch. III is not more than 18% for a consumer credit sale in which the seller retains a security interest in real estate which is the subject of the sale or any consumer loan, either of which is entered into on or after November 1, 1981, and before November 1, 1984.
422.402(1m)(c)
(c) A transaction primarily for an agricultural purpose.
422.402(2)
(2) The parties may agree to payments that are not substantially equal to other payments or are paid at unequal intervals if:
422.402(2)(a)
(a) The customer's livelihood is dependent upon income that is seasonal or otherwise not regular, such payments are in accordance with the needs of the customer and a notice in substantially the following language is set forth immediately below the customer's signature in 12-point boldface type, or its equivalent as prescribed by the administrator:
WARNING
The amounts of payments or the dates on which they are payable under this agreement are not equal. Do not sign this paper unless you are certain that this payment schedule meets your needs.
422.402(2)(b)
(b) The unequal or irregular payment is part of an agreed down payment received by the creditor contemporaneously with or prior to the consummation of the transaction;
422.402(2)(c)
(c) The unequal or irregular payment is part of an agreed down payment that does not exceed 20% of the cash price, has a due date not later than the due date of the 2nd instalment of the transaction and is excluded from the amount financed upon which the finance charge is computed, and if it is the mutual understanding of the customer and the creditor that such a partial payment will be separately financed the customer has the right to rescind the transaction without penalty if the customer cannot obtain such separate financing;
422.402(2)(d)
(d) The unequal or irregular payment is the final scheduled payment and is less than, or not more than 10% greater than, the average amount of the other scheduled payments, if such other payments are substantially equal; or
422.402(2)(e)
(e) The unequal or irregular payment is the first scheduled payment and results from the inclusion of interest charged for a first instalment period of not more than 45 days or less than 15 days as permitted under
s. 138.09 (7) (c) 2.
422.402(3)
(3) In the event that
sub. (2) (a) applies, the customer shall have the right at any time to refinance the unequal or irregular instalment pursuant to
s. 422.205 for refinancing, except that the rate shall not exceed the rate disclosed in the original transaction pursuant to
subch. III of ch. 422.
422.402(4)
(4) Taking or arranging for the customer to sign an instrument in violation of this section shall be subject to
s. 425.304.
422.402(5)
(5) This section does not apply to a mobile home transaction as defined in
s. 138.056 (1) (c) made on or after November 1, 1981 and before November 1, 1984, if:
422.402(5)(b)
(b) The unequal or irregular payment is the final scheduled payment of the transaction, and the merchant agrees to refinance the final scheduled payment at a rate of interest not in excess of the rate disclosed pursuant to
subch. III of ch. 422 by more than one percent multiplied by the number of 6-month periods in the term of the immediately prior mobile home transaction.
422.402(6)
(6) This section does not apply to consumer credit transactions entered into on or after November 1, 1984.
422.403
422.403
Maximum periods of repayment. 422.403(1)
(1) With respect to a consumer credit transaction other than one pursuant to an open-end credit plan or one pursuant to
s. 138.09, no merchant shall initially schedule payments to be paid in full:
422.403(1)(a)
(a) Over a period of more than 25 months if the total of payments is $700 or less;
422.403(1)(b)
(b) Over a period of more than 37 months if the total of payments is more than $700, but does not exceed $1,400; or
422.403(1)(c)
(c) Over a period of more than 49 months if the total of payments is more than $1,400, but does not exceed $2,000, unless the transaction is for the acquisition of or substantial improvement to real property in which case such period shall not exceed 61 months.
422.403(2)
(2) With respect to a consumer credit transaction other than one pursuant to an open-end credit plan or one pursuant to
s. 138.09, which is for the purpose of an improvement to real property and in which the annual percentage rate disclosed under
subch. III is 15% or less, no merchant may initially schedule payments to be paid in full:
422.403(2)(a)
(a) Over a period of more than 25 months if the total of payments is $300 or less;
422.403(2)(b)
(b) Over a period of more than 48 months if the total of payments is more than $300, but does not exceed $1,000; or
422.403(2)(c)
(c) Over a period of more than 60 months if the total of payments is more than $1,000, but does not exceed $2,000.
422.403(3)
(3) The periods specified in
subs. (1) and
(2) shall commence with the date of first payment or when the finance charge begins to accrue, whichever is earlier.
422.403(4)
(4) This section shall not apply to loans made, guaranteed or funded by federal or state agencies and loans made, guaranteed or funded by nonprofit educational institutions or foundations qualifying under section
501 (c) (3) of the internal revenue code, for purposes of post-high school education.
422.403(4m)
(4m) This section does not apply to loans made by an administrative agency within the executive branch established under
ch. 15.
422.403(5)
(5) Taking or arranging for the customer to sign an instrument in violation of this section is subject to
s. 425.304.
422.404
422.404
Assignment of earnings. 422.404(1)
(1) No merchant shall take or arrange for an assignment of earnings of the customer for payment or as security for payment of an obligation arising out of a consumer transaction unless such assignment is revocable at will by the customer.
422.404(2)
(2) A revocable assignment of earnings made as payment or as security for payment of an obligation arising out of a consumer credit transaction, which would otherwise expire under
s. 241.09, shall be deemed to be renewed for a term not to exceed 6 months if:
422.404(2)(a)
(a) The original authorization contained a conspicuous notice of the customer's right to revoke;
422.404(2)(b)
(b) Prior to expiration, the merchant mails a notice to the customer which conspicuously states that the assignment of earnings is revocable, and that it shall continue to run for not more than 6 additional months, unless the merchant receives notice of revocation; and
422.404 History
History: 1971 c. 239;
1973 c. 3.
422.405
422.405
Authorization to confess judgment prohibited. 422.405(1)(1) No merchant shall take or accept from the customer a warrant or power of attorney or other authorization for the creditor, or other person acting on the creditor's behalf, to confess judgment.
422.405 History
History: 1971 c. 239;
1991 a. 316.
422.406
422.406
Negotiable instruments. 422.406(1)
(1) In a consumer credit sale or lease transaction, no seller or lessor shall take a negotiable instrument (
s. 403.104), other than a check, as evidence of the obligation of the customer.
422.406(2)
(2) In a consumer loan transaction which constitutes an interlocking loan (
s. 422.408), no creditor shall take a negotiable instrument (
s. 403.104), other than a check, as evidence of the obligation of the customer.
422.406(3)
(3) The holder to whom an instrument issued in violation of this section is negotiated, notwithstanding that the holder may otherwise be a holder in due course of such instrument, is subject to all claims and defenses of the customer against the payee, subject to
sub. (4).
422.406(4)
(4) Such holder's liability under this section is limited to:
422.406(4)(a)
(a) The amount owing to the holder on such instrument at the time the holder receives notice of a claim or defense of the customer against such payee; plus
422.406(4)(b)
(b) If the customer has obtained a judgment against such payee and execution with bond is issued within one year after judgment and is returned unsatisfied, the amount paid by the customer to the holder before the holder received notice of the claim or defense of the customer, if such claim is made against the holder within 2 years after such judgment is returned unsatisfied. Any judgment against the payee, other than a default judgment, shall be binding on the holder.
422.406(5)
(5) Taking or arranging for the customer to sign an instrument in violation of this section is subject to
s. 425.304.
422.407
422.407
Defenses assertable against an assignee. 422.407(1)(1) With respect to a consumer credit transaction other than a consumer loan which is not an interlocking consumer loan (
s. 422.408), an assignee of the rights of a creditor is subject to all claims and defenses of the customer against the assignor arising out of the transaction notwithstanding an agreement to the contrary, subject to
sub. (2).
