138.12(9)
(9) Service charges. A premium finance company shall not charge, contract for, receive or collect a service charge other than as permitted by this subsection unless it is a licensed lender regulated under
sub. (10).
138.12(9)(a)
(a) The service charge shall be computed on the balance of the premiums due, after subtracting the down payment made by the insured in accordance with the premium finance agreement, from the effective date of the insurance coverage, for which the premiums are being advanced, to and including the date when the final installment of the premium finance agreement is payable.
138.12(9)(b)
(b) The service charge may not exceed the interest rate authorized under
s. 422.201 (2) (bm) per year plus an additional charge of $10 per premium finance agreement, but, if the principal balance is $50 or less there shall be no additional charge, and if the principal balance is more than $50 but not more than $100, the additional charge is $6.
138.12(9)(bm)
(bm) Paragraph (b) applies only to a premium finance agreement in which the related insurance contract is for personal, family or household use entered into before November 1, 1984. The service charge for any other premium finance agreement shall be as agreed by the parties to the agreement.
138.12(9)(c)
(c) The service charge shall be computed on the principal balance of a premium finance agreement payable in successive monthly installments substantially equal in amount for a period of one year. On a premium finance agreement providing for installments extending for a period less than or greater than one year, the service charge shall be computed proportionately.
138.12(9)(d)
(d) Notwithstanding the provisions of any premium finance agreement, any insured may prepay the obligation in full at any time. In such event, the insured shall receive a refund credit. The amount of such refund credit shall represent at least as great a proportion of the service charge as the sum of the periodic balances after the month in which prepayment is made bears to the sum of all periodic balances under the schedule of installments in the agreement. Where the amount of the refund credit is less than $1, no refund need be made. If in addition to the service charge an additional charge was imposed, such additional charge need not be refunded nor taken into consideration in computing the refund credit.
138.12(10)
(10) Charges by licensed lenders; rebates. 138.12(10)(a)(a) A lender licensed under
s. 138.09 may charge interest as provided in that section for a loan involving a premium finance agreement.
138.12(10)(b)
(b) The interest shall be computed on the balance of the premiums due, after subtracting the down payment made by the insured in accordance with the premium finance agreement, from the effective date of the insurance coverage, for which the premiums are being advanced, to and including the date when the final installment of the premium finance agreement is payable.
138.12(10)(c)
(c) Notwithstanding the provisions of any premium finance agreement, any insured may prepay the obligation in full at any time. In such event the insured shall receive a rebate as provided under
s. 138.09.
138.12(10)(d)
(d) Except as provided in
sub. (12) to the contrary,
s. 138.09 applies to a loan involving a premium finance agreement made by a licensed lender.
138.12(11)(a)(a) A premium finance agreement may provide for the payment by the insured of a delinquency or default charge of $1 to a maximum of 5% of any delinquent installment which is in default for a period of 5 days or more. If the default results in the cancellation of any insurance contract listed in the agreement, the agreement may provide for the payment by the insured of a cancellation charge of $15. A premium finance agreement may also provide for the payment of statutory attorney fees and statutory court costs if the agreement is referred for collection to an attorney not a salaried employee of the insurance premium finance company.
138.12(11)(b)
(b) This subsection does not apply to loans by licensed lenders regulated under
s. 138.09.
138.12(12)
(12) Cancellation. When a premium finance agreement contains a power of attorney or other authority enabling the insurance premium finance company to cancel any insurance contract listed in the agreement, the following applies:
138.12(12)(a)
(a) Not less than 10 days' written notice shall be mailed to the insured of the intent of the insurance premium finance company to cancel the insurance contract unless the default is cured prior to the date stated in the notice. The insurance agent or insurance broker indicated on the premium finance agreement shall also be mailed 10 days' notice of such action.
138.12(12)(b)
(b) Pursuant to the power of attorney or other authority referred to above, the insurance premium finance company may cancel on behalf of the insured by mailing to the insurer written notice stating when thereafter the cancellation shall be effective, and the insurance contract shall be canceled as if such notice of cancellation had been submitted by the insured himself or herself, but without requiring the return of the insurance contract. The insurance premium finance company shall also mail a notice of cancellation to the insured at the insured's last-known address and to the insurance agent or insurance broker indicated on the premium finance agreement. Compliance by the premium finance company with the provisions of the premium finance agreement or
par. (a), shall not be a condition of effective cancellation hereunder.
138.12(12)(c)
(c) Where statutory, regulatory or contractual restrictions provide that the insurance contract may not be canceled unless notice is given to a governmental agency, mortgagee or other 3rd party, the insurer shall give the prescribed notice on behalf of itself or the insured to such governmental agency, mortgagee or other 3rd party within a reasonable time after the day it receives the notice of cancellation from the premium finance company. When the above restrictions require the continuation of insurance beyond the effective date of cancellation specified by the premium finance company such insurance shall be limited to the coverage to which such restrictions relate and to the persons they are designed to protect.
138.12(12)(d)
(d) Whenever a financed insurance contract is canceled the insurer shall return whatever unearned premiums are due under the insurance contract to the insurance premium finance company for the account of the insured, and such action by the insurer shall be deemed to satisfy the insurer's obligations under the insurance contract which relate to the return of unearned premiums. If the crediting of return premiums to the account of the insured results in a surplus over the amount due from the insured, the premium finance company shall refund such excess to the insured but no such refund shall be required if it amounts to less than $1.
138.12(13)
(13) No filing necessary. No filing of the premium finance agreement or recording of a premium finance transaction shall be necessary to perfect the validity of such agreement as a secured transaction as against creditors, subsequent purchasers, pledgees, encumbrancers, successors or assigns.
138.12(14)
(14) Established insurance premium finance companies. Any person or corporation engaged in the business of an insurance premium finance company on May 19, 1970, may continue in operation under this section but shall obtain a license by January 1, 1970.
138.12(15)
(15) Applicability of chs. 421 to 427 to this section. All consumer loans as defined in
chs. 421 to
427 made by licensees under this section shall be governed by this section to the extent that
chs. 421 to
427 are inconsistent with this section.
138.14(1)(a)
(a) "Affiliate" means, with respect to a person, another person who owns or controls, is owned or controlled by, or is under common ownership or control with, such person. In this paragraph "control" means any of the following:
138.14(1)(a)1.
1. For a corporation, direct or indirect ownership of, or the right to control, 10 percent or more of the voting shares of the corporation, or the ability of a person to elect a majority of the directors or otherwise effect a change in policy.
138.14(1)(a)2.
2. For any entity other than a corporation, the ability to change the active or passive principals of the organization.
138.14(1)(bm)
(bm) "Customer" means an individual who enters into a payday loan with a licensee.
138.14(1)(c)
(c) "Database" means the statewide database described in
sub. (14).
138.14(1)(d)
(d) "Database provider" means a 3rd-party provider with whom the department contracts to operate the database or, if the division elects to operate the database, the division.
138.14(1)(e)
(e) "Department" means the department of financial institutions.
138.14(1)(g)
(g) "Financial establishment" means any organization that is authorized to do business under state or federal law and that holds a demand deposit, savings deposit, or other asset account belonging to an individual.
138.14(1)(h)
(h) "General order" means an order that is not a special order.
138.14(1)(i)
(i) "Licensee" means a person holding a license issued by the division under
sub. (5).
138.14(1)(j)
(j) "Maturity date" means the date specified when originating a payday loan on which the loan is required to be paid in full.
138.14(1)(k)1.
1. A transaction between an individual with an account at a financial establishment and another person, including a person who is not physically located in this state, in which the person agrees to accept from the individual one or more checks, to hold the check or checks for a period of time before negotiating or presenting the check or checks for payment, and to loan to the individual, for a term of 90 days or less, before negotiating or presenting the check or checks for payment, an amount that is agreed to by the individual.
138.14(1)(k)2.
2. A transaction between an individual with an account at a financial establishment and another person, including a person who is not physically located in this state, in which the person agrees to accept the individual's authorization to initiate one or more electronic fund transfers from the account, to wait a period of time before initiating the electronic fund transfer or transfers, and to loan to the individual, for a term of 90 days or less, before initiating the electronic fund transfer or transfers, an amount that is agreed to by the individual.
138.14(1)(L)
(L) "Special order" means an order against a person.
138.14(2)
(2) License required. A person may not originate or service a payday loan involving a Wisconsin resident without first having obtained from the division a license under
sub. (5) for each place of business at which the person originates or services payday loans involving Wisconsin residents. Such a license is required for, and this section applies to, all payday loans made to a Wisconsin resident, regardless of whether the loan is made by face-to-face contact, mail, telephone, Internet, or any other means.
138.14(3)
(3) Exemptions. This section does not apply to banks, savings banks, savings and loan associations, trust companies, credit unions, or any of their affiliates.
138.14(4)(a)1.1. Application for licenses under
sub. (5) shall be made to the division in writing in the form and manner prescribed by the division and shall include all of the following:
138.14(4)(a)1.a.
a. Except as provided in
subd. 3., if the applicant is an individual, the applicant's social security number.
138.14(4)(a)1.b.
b. If the applicant is not an individual, the applicant's federal employer identification number.
138.14(4)(a)1.c.
c. A statement signed by or on behalf of the applicant that acknowledges that the applicant is subject to the debt collection requirements under
ch. 427 with respect to payday loans.
138.14(4)(a)2.
2. The division may not disclose any information received under
subd. 1. a. or
b. to any person except as follows:
138.14(4)(a)2.a.
a. The division may disclose information under
subd. 1. a. or
b. to the department of revenue for the sole purpose of requesting certifications under
s. 73.0301.
138.14(4)(a)2.b.
b. The division may disclose information under
subd. 1. a. to the department of workforce development in accordance with a memorandum of understanding under
s. 49.857.
138.14(4)(a)3.
3. If an applicant who is an individual does not have a social security number, the applicant, as a condition of applying for a license, shall submit a statement made or subscribed under oath or affirmation to the division that the applicant does not have a social security number. The form of the statement shall be prescribed by the department of workforce development. Any license issued in reliance upon a false statement submitted by an applicant is invalid.
138.14(4)(b)
(b) At the time of making application, an applicant for a license shall pay to the division a nonrefundable $300 fee for investigating the application and a $500 annual license fee. If the cost of the investigation exceeds $300, the applicant shall upon demand of the division pay to the division the amount by which the cost of the investigation exceeds the nonrefundable fee.
138.14(4)(c)
(c) The division shall require any applicant or licensee to file and maintain in force a bond in a sum not to exceed $5,000 for each place of business at which the applicant or licensee makes payday loans to a Wisconsin resident. The bond shall be in a form prescribed by and acceptable to the division.
138.14(5)(a)(a) Upon the filing of an application under
sub. (4) and the payment of the required fees, the division shall investigate the relevant facts. Except as provided in
par. (b), if the division finds that the character and general fitness and the financial responsibility of the applicant, and the members thereof if the applicant is a partnership, limited liability company, or association, and the officers and directors thereof if the applicant is a corporation, warrant the belief that the business will be operated in compliance with this section, the division shall issue a license to the applicant. If the division does not make such finding, the division shall deny the application.
138.14(5)(b)
(b) The division may not issue a license to an applicant if any of the following applies:
138.14(5)(b)2.
2. The department of revenue certifies under
s. 73.0301 that the applicant is liable for delinquent taxes.
138.14(5)(b)3.
3. The applicant fails to comply, after appropriate notice, with a subpoena or warrant issued by the department of workforce development or a county child support agency under
s. 59.53 (5) and related to paternity or child support proceedings.
138.14(5)(b)4.
4. The applicant is delinquent in making court-ordered payments of child or family support, maintenance, birth expenses, medical expenses, or other expenses related to the support of a child or former spouse, as provided in a memorandum of understanding entered into under
s. 49.857.
138.14(5)(c)
(c) A license shall remain in force and effect until suspended or revoked in accordance with this section or surrendered by the licensee, and a licensee shall, on or before each December 10, pay to the division the annual license fee for the next succeeding calendar year.
138.14(5)(d)
(d) A license is not assignable and permits operation under it only at or from the place of business specified in the license.
138.14(5)(e)
(e) A licensee shall conspicuously post a license at the place of business where the licensee makes payday loans, or if conducting business through the Internet, on the licensee's Web site so that the license is easily viewed by a consumer.
138.14(6)(a)(a) Whenever a licensee changes the address of its place of business to another location within the same city, village, or town, the licensee shall give written notice thereof, in a form and manner prescribed by the division, to the division within 10 business days of the relocation and the division shall replace the original license with an amended license showing the new address. No change in the place of business of a licensee to a different city, village, or town is permitted under the same license.
138.14(6)(b)1.1. Except as provided in
subd. 2., a licensee may conduct, and permit others to conduct, at the place of business specified in its license, one or more of the following businesses not subject to this section:
138.14(6)(b)2.
2. A licensee may not sell merchandise or conduct other business at the place of business specified in the license unless written authorization is granted to the licensee by the division.
138.14(7)(a)(a) Except as provided in
par. (b), a licensee shall keep such books and records in the licensee's place of business that, in the opinion of the division, will enable the division to determine compliance with this section. A licensee shall preserve the records of final entry used in such business for a period of at least 2 years after the making of any loan recorded therein.
138.14(7)(b)
(b) A licensee may keep the books and records specified in
par. (a) at a single location inside or outside of this state if the books and records are kept at a place of business licensed under this section. A licensee shall organize the books and records by the place of business where the records originated.
138.14(7)(c)
(c) A licensee shall keep the books and records affecting loans made pursuant to this section separate and distinct from the records of any other business of the licensee.
138.14(7)(d)
(d) A licensee shall make an annual report to the division for each calendar year on or before March 15 of the following year. The report shall include business transacted by the licensee under this section and shall give all reasonable and relevant information that the division may require, including the information required for the division's reports under
par. (e). The reports shall be made in the form and manner prescribed by the division.
138.14(7)(e)
(e) The division shall submit an annual report to the appropriate standing committees of the legislature in the manner provided under
s. 13.172 (3) that includes all of the following:
138.14(7)(e)1.
1. The number of payday loans made by all licensees during the preceding year.
138.14(7)(e)2.
2. The average principal amount for all payday loans made during the preceding year.
138.14(7)(e)3.
3. The average interest, fees, and other charges for all payday loans made during the preceding year.
138.14(7)(e)4.
4. Based on
subd. 3., the average annual percentage rate for all payday loans made during the preceding year.
138.14(7)(e)5.
5. The number of payday loans made during the preceding year that were paid in full on the maturity date.
138.14(7)(e)6.
6. The number of payday loans made during the preceding year that resulted in repayment under
sub. (11g) (a).
