Chapter 426

CHAPTER 426

CONSUMER TRANSACTIONS — ADMINISTRATION

SUBCHAPTER I

POWERS AND FUNCTIONS OF ADMINISTRATOR

426.101   Short title.

426.102   Applicability.

426.103   Administrator.

426.104   Powers of administrator; duty to report.

426.105   Administrative powers with respect to supervised financial organizations.

426.106   Investigatory powers.

426.107   Application of chapter 227.

426.108   Unconscionable conduct.

426.109   Temporary relief; injunctions.

426.110   Class actions; injunctions; declaratory relief.

426.111   Debtors’ remedies not affected.

SUBCHAPTER II

REGISTRATION AND FEES

426.201   Registration.

426.202   Fees.

426.203   Penalties.

SUBCHAPTER III

VIOLATIONS AND ENFORCEMENT

426.301   Violations and enforcement.

Ch. 426 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See definitions in s. 421.301.

subch. I of ch. 426 SUBCHAPTER I

POWERS AND FUNCTIONS OF ADMINISTRATOR

426.101 426.101 Short title. This chapter shall be known and may be cited as Wisconsin consumer act — administration.

426.101 History History: 1971 c. 239.

426.102 426.102 Applicability. This chapter applies to persons who do any of the following in this state:

426.102(1) (1) Make or solicit consumer approval transactions (s. 423.201) or consumer credit transactions or modifications thereof.

426.102(2) (2) Directly collect payments from or enforce rights against customers arising from consumer approval transactions or consumer credit transactions, wherever made.

426.102(3) (3) Act as a credit services organization, as defined in s. 422.501 (2).

426.102 History History: 1971 c. 239; 1991 a. 244.

426.103 426.103 Administrator. “Administrator” means the secretary of financial institutions.

426.103 History History: 1971 c. 239; 1995 a. 27, 216.

426.104 426.104 Powers of administrator; duty to report.

426.104(1) (1) In addition to other powers granted by chs. 421 to 427 and 429, the administrator within the limitations provided by law shall:

426.104(1)(a) (a) Receive and act on complaints, take action designed to obtain voluntary compliance with chs. 421 to 427 and 429, commence administrative proceedings on his or her own initiative and commence civil actions solely through the department of justice;

426.104(1)(b) (b) Counsel persons and groups on their rights and duties under chs. 421 to 427 and 429;

426.104(1)(c) (c) Make studies appropriate to effectuate the purposes and policies of chs. 421 to 427 and 429 and make the results available to the public;

426.104(1)(d) (d) Hold such public or private hearings as the administrator deems necessary or proper to effectuate the purposes and policies of chs. 421 to 427 and 429;

426.104(1)(e) (e) Adopt, amend and repeal rules to carry out the purposes and policies of chs. 421 to 427 and 429, to prevent circumvention or evasion thereof, or to facilitate compliance therewith.

426.104(2) (2) The administrator shall report annually on practices in consumer transactions, on the use of consumer credit in the state, on problems attending the collection of debts, on the problems of persons of limited means in consumer transactions, and on the operation of chs. 421 to 427 and 429. For the purpose of making the report, the administrator may conduct research and make appropriate studies. The report shall be given to the division of banking for inclusion in the report of the division of banking under s. 220.14 and shall include:

426.104(2)(a) (a) A description of the examination and investigation procedures and policies of the administrator’s office;

426.104(2)(b) (b) A statement of policies followed in deciding whether to investigate or examine the offices of persons subject to chs. 421 to 427 and 429;

426.104(2)(c) (c) A statement of policies followed in deciding whether to bring any action authorized under chs. 421 to 427 and 429;

426.104(2)(d) (d) Such recommendations for modifications or additions to chs. 421 to 427 and 429 as in the experience and judgment of the administrator are necessary; and

426.104(2)(e) (e) Such other statements as are necessary or proper to achieve the purposes or policies of this section or to effectuate the purposes or policies of chs. 421 to 427 and 429.

426.104(3) (3) The administrator shall make available upon request a list of all persons against whom complaints have been filed and the results of all investigations completed or not being actively pursued along with a brief description of the facts of each case and the action taken in each.

426.104(4) (4) 

426.104(4)(a) (a) No provision of chs. 421 to 427 and 429 or of any statute to which chs. 421 to 427 and 429 refer which imposes any penalty shall apply to any act done or omitted to be done in conformity with any rule or order of the administrator or any written opinion, interpretation or statement of the administrator, notwithstanding that such rule, order, opinion, interpretation or statement may, after such act or omission, be amended or rescinded or be determined by judicial or other authority to be invalid for any reason.

426.104(4)(ab) (ab)

426.104(4)(ab)1. 1. Upon the request of any person, the administrator shall review any act, practice, procedure or form that has been submitted to the administrator in writing to determine whether the act, practice, procedure or form is consistent with chs. 421 to 427 and 429.

426.104(4)(ab)2. 2. The administrator may charge the person making a request under subd. 1. for necessary expenses incurred in conducting the review, except the administrator may not charge any of the following persons:

426.104(4)(ab)2.a. a. A person registered under s. 426.201.

426.104(4)(ab)2.b. b. A trade organization, if a majority of the members of the trade organization are registered under s. 426.201.

426.104(4)(ab)3. 3. Any charge assessed under subd. 2. shall be paid within 30 days after the date on which the administrator assesses the charge.

426.104(4)(b) (b) Any act, practice or procedure which has been submitted to the administrator in writing and either approved in writing by the administrator or not disapproved by the administrator within 60 days after its submission to the administrator shall not be deemed to be a violation of chs. 421 to 427 and 429 or any other statute to which chs. 421 to 427 and 429 refer notwithstanding that the approval of the administrator or nondisapproval by the administrator may be subsequently amended or rescinded or be determined by judicial or other authority to be invalid for any reason.