Chapter 426

426.201 426.201 Registration.

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)(a) (a) The name of the person.

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) (2m) 

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) (b)

426.201(2m)(b)1. 1. In this paragraph, “year-end balance” has the meaning given in s. 426.202 (1m) (a).

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).

426.201 History History: 1971 c. 239; 1975 c. 407; 1979 c. 10 s. 24; 1979 c. 89; 1979 c. 162 s. 38 (3); 1979 c. 168 s. 21; 1979 c. 341 s. 12 (2); 1989 a. 303; 1995 a. 27, 328, 329; 2001 a. 16.

426.202 426.202 Fees.

426.202(1m) (1m) Amount of registration fee.

426.202(1m)(a) (a) Definitions. In this subsection:

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.

426.202 History History: 1971 c. 239; 1973 c. 116 s. 6; 1975 c. 407; 1979 c. 168 s. 21; 1991 a. 316; 1995 a. 27, 329; 2001 a. 16.

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.

subch. III of ch. 426 SUBCHAPTER III

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.

426.301 History History: 1971 c. 239; 1979 c. 89; 1995 a. 329.