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:
426.201(2)(b)
(b) The name under which the person transacts business if different from
par. (a).
426.201(2)(c)
(c) The address of the person's principal office, which may be outside this state.
426.201(2)(d)
(d) The addresses of all of the person's offices or retail stores, if any, in this state.
426.201(2)(e)
(e) If consumer transactions or other business subject to this chapter are made otherwise than at an office or retail store in this state, a brief description of the manner in which they are made.
426.201(2)(f)
(f) The address of the person's designated agent upon whom service of process may be made in this state.
426.201(2)(fm)
(fm) The year-end balance of all consumer credit transactions held by the person. In this paragraph, “year-end balance" has the meaning given under
s. 426.202 (1m) (a).
426.201(2)(g)
(g) Such other similar information as the administrator may require to effectuate the purposes and policies of
chs. 421 to
427 and
429.
426.201(2m)(a)(a) Except as provided in
par. (b), each person subject to the registration requirements under
sub. (1) shall file a registration statement containing the information under
sub. (2) (a) to
(g) no later than February 28 of each year following the year of the person's initial registration under
sub. (2).
426.201(2m)(b)2.
2. Paragraph (a) does not apply if the person's year-end balance is not more than $250,000.
426.201(3)
(3) The administrator shall adopt rules governing the filing of changes, additions, or modifications of the registration statement required by this section, and shall adopt rules pertaining to form, verification, fees, and similar matters pertaining to the registration.
426.201(4)
(4) The following persons shall not be subject to this section solely by reason of their debt collection activities unless they are licensed debt collectors under
s. 218.04:
426.201(4)(a)
(a) Attorneys authorized to practice law in this state or professional service corporations composed of licensed attorneys formed pursuant to
ss. 180.1901 to
180.1921;
426.201(4)(b)
(b) Duly licensed real estate brokers and real estate salespersons; and
426.201(4)(c)
(c) Duly licensed insurance companies subject to the supervision of the office of the commissioner of insurance.
426.201(5)
(5) No person is subject to this section solely by reason of offering the discount described in
s. 422.201 (8).
426.202(1m)(a)2.
2. “Reporting period" means, for any registration statement, the last full calendar year preceding the date on which the registration statement is due.
426.202(1m)(a)3.
3. “Year-end balance" means, for any reporting period, the outstanding balance of all consumer credit transactions that a person has entered into or has obtained by assignment, and that originated in this state, as of December 31 preceding the annual registration filing date under
s. 426.201 (2m) (a).
426.202(1m)(b)
(b)
Registration fee requirement. Any person required to register under
s. 426.201 shall pay a registration fee to the administrator when the person files the registration statement required under
s. 426.201.
426.202(1m)(c)
(c)
Amount of registration fee. The amount of the registration fee shall be determined in accordance with rates set by the administrator. In setting these rates, the administrator shall consider the costs of administering
chs. 421 to
427 and
429, including the costs of enforcement, education and seeking voluntary compliance with
chs. 421 to
427 and
429. The registration fee for a person shall be based on the person's year-end balance for the reporting period.
426.202(4)
(4) Submission of data for calculating the amount of fee. A person required to register under
s. 426.201 shall submit such financial and other data as the administrator may require which will support the computation of the amount of the fee.
426.202(5)
(5) Recovery of fees. The administrator shall bring an action in any court of record to recover any fees that the administrator determines are due and owing under this section.
426.203
426.203
Penalties. Whoever fails to comply with the registration requirements under
s. 426.201 or fails to pay a fee required under
s. 426.202 may be required to forfeit not more than $50. Each day that this failure continues constitutes a separate offense. Forfeitures received by the administrator under this section shall be credited to the appropriation account under
s. 20.144 (1) (h) and may be expended from the account only for consumer or merchant education programs.
426.203 History
History: 1995 a. 27.
VIOLATIONS AND ENFORCEMENT
426.301
426.301
Violations and enforcement. 426.301(1)
(1) The administrator may recover in a civil action from a person who violates
chs. 421 to
427 and
429 or any rule made pursuant to any authority granted in
chs. 421 to
427 and
429, a civil penalty of not less than $100 and not more than $1,000 for each violation.
426.301(2)
(2) In addition to the amount to which the administrator shall be entitled under
sub. (1), the administrator may recover in a civil action from a person who knowingly or willfully violates
chs. 421 to
427 and
429 or any rule made pursuant to any authority granted in
chs. 421 to
427 and
429, a civil penalty of not less than $1,000 and not more than $10,000 for each violation.
