DFI-Bkg 74.11(10)(a)(a) A licensee may not conduct business in this state under any name or names other than the name or names listed on the license. DFI-Bkg 74.11(10)(b)(b) Before using any trade name, a licensee shall obtain approval from the division for the use of the trade name. DFI-Bkg 74.11(10)(c)(c) A licensee may not conduct business in this state using a trade name that includes a corporate identifier. DFI-Bkg 74.12DFI-Bkg 74.12 Annual report. With the exception of the balance sheet and income statement, all portions of the annual report required by s. 218.04 (10) (a), Stats., shall be completed as of the close of business on December 31 in the year for which the annual report is furnished. The licensee may, if written authorization has been granted to the licensee by the division, file a balance sheet and income statement for a date prior to December 31, but not before September 30 in the year for which the report is furnished. DFI-Bkg 74.13(1)(1) Unless the initial communication is written and contains the following notice or the debtor has paid the debt, a licensee shall send the debtor the following notice within 5 days after the initial communication with a debtor: “This collection agency is licensed by the Division of Banking in the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions, www.dfi.wi.gov.” This notice shall be in at least 8 point type and shall be typed or printed on either a collection notice or on the validation of any debt directed to the debtor by the licensee pursuant to Section 809 of the Federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. DFI-Bkg 74.13(2)(2) Where the notice required by sub. (1) is printed on the reverse side of any collection notice or validation sent by the licensee, the front of such notice shall bear the following statement in not less than 8 point type: “Notice: See Reverse Side for Important Information.” DFI-Bkg 74.14DFI-Bkg 74.14 Use of alias. In any oral or written communication with a debtor, any collector or solicitor may use a separate alias. Such alias shall include a first and last name and shall be registered with and approved by the division prior to use. No collector or solicitor may have more than one alias. No change of alias may be authorized unless good cause is shown. Collectors or solicitors employed by a licensee may not use the same alias. A licensee may forward printed collection notices to a debtor which are unsigned. DFI-Bkg 74.15DFI-Bkg 74.15 Unauthorized practice of law. Except for an attorney employed by a licensee, no collector or other employee of the licensee may, in attempting to collect an account, engage in the practice of law. This includes the preparation of a summons or complaint or the appearance on behalf of any creditor, except when called as a witness by the plaintiff’s attorney in open court, before any court including the clerk of any small claims court in an action on the debt or in garnishment proceedings. It is not considered the practice of law for an employee of a licensee to prepare a summons or complaint under the direction of an attorney which will subsequently be signed and filed by the plaintiff’s attorney. This section does not prohibit the appearance of an owner or officer of a licensed collection agency in court for the purpose of obtaining judgment on a debt owed to the licensee directly. DFI-Bkg 74.15 HistoryHistory: CR 06-045: cr. Register September 2006 No. 609, eff. 10-1-06; CR 23-039: renum. (1) to DFI-Bkg 74.15 and am., r. (2) Register March 2024 No. 819, eff. 4-1-24. DFI-Bkg 74.16DFI-Bkg 74.16 Oppressive and deceptive practices prohibited. A licensee may not engage in any oppressive or deceptive practices. In attempting to collect an alleged account, bill, or other indebtedness, a licensee may not do any of the following: DFI-Bkg 74.16(1)(1) Use or threaten force or violence to cause physical harm to the person, dependents or property of a debtor. DFI-Bkg 74.16(3)(3) Disclose or threaten to disclose information adversely affecting the debtor’s reputation for credit worthiness with knowledge or reason to know that the information is false. DFI-Bkg 74.16(4)(4) Initiate or threaten to initiate communication with the debtor’s employer prior to obtaining final judgment against the debtor, except as permitted by statute. This subsection does not prohibit a debt collector from communicating with the debtor’s employer solely to verify employment status or earnings or where an employer has an established debt counseling service or procedure. DFI-Bkg 74.16(5)(5) Contact a debtor by telephone following a request or demand by the debtor that such collection efforts cease. DFI-Bkg 74.16(6)(6) Disclose or threaten to disclose to a person other than the debtor or the debtor’s spouse information affecting the debtor’s reputation, whether or not for credit worthiness, with knowledge or reason to know that the other person does not have a legitimate business need for the information. DFI-Bkg 74.16(7)(7) Disclose or threaten to disclose information concerning the existence of a debt known to be reasonably disputed by the debtor without disclosing the fact that the debtor disputes the debt. DFI-Bkg 74.16(8)(8) Communicate with the debtor or a person related to the debtor with such frequency or at such unusual hours or in such a manner as can reasonably be expected to threaten or harass the debtor. DFI-Bkg 74.16(9)(9) Engage in other conduct that can reasonably be expected to threaten or harass the debtor or a person related to the debtor. DFI-Bkg 74.16(9m)(9m) Violate any federal or state statute, rule, or regulation that relates to practice as a collection agency. DFI-Bkg 74.16(10)(10) Use obscene, profane or threatening language in communicating with the debtor or a person related to the debtor. DFI-Bkg 74.16(11)(11) Claim or attempt to threaten to enforce a right with knowledge or reason to know that the right does not exist. DFI-Bkg 74.16(12)(12) Use a communication which simulates legal or judicial process or which gives the appearance of being authorized, issued or approved by a government, governmental agency or attorney-at-law when it is not or any bogus letter ostensibly addressed to any governmental authority or attorney. DFI-Bkg 74.16(13)(13) Threaten action against the debtor unless like action is taken in regular course or is intended with respect to the particular debt. DFI-Bkg 74.16(14)(14) Mutilate any check or other writing tendered by a debtor before forwarding it or returning it to the customer. DFI-Bkg 74.16(15)(15) Enlist the aid of a neighbor or other third party to request that the debtor contact the licensee except a person who resides with the debtor or a third party with whom the debtor has authorized the licensee to place such requests. This subsection does not apply to a call back message left at the debtor’s place of employment which is limited to the licensee’s telephone number and the collector’s name. DFI-Bkg 74.16 HistoryHistory: CR 06-045: cr. Register September 2006 No. 609, eff. 10-1-06; CR 23-039: am. (intro.), (9), cr. (9m) Register March 2024 No. 819, eff. 4-1-24; 2023 Wis. Act 267: am. (9), cr. (9m) Register April 2024 No. 820, eff. 1-1-25; merger of (9), (9m) treatments by 2023 Wis. Act 267 and CR 23-039 made under s. 13.92 (4) (bm), Stats., Register April 2024 No. 820. DFI-Bkg 74.17(1)(1) Systems approval. The division may approve data processing records and procedures which vary from the requirements of this chapter if adequate information is available for examination purposes. DFI-Bkg 74.17(2)(2) Systems back-up. Back-up of data entries is to be made on a daily basis and back-up of all records on the system is to be made once each week. All systems back-up tapes or disks are to be stored for safe keeping at a site away from the office of the licensee. The records being maintained shall be verifiable at time of examination. DFI-Bkg 74.17 HistoryHistory: CR 06-045: cr. Register September 2006 No. 609, eff. 10-1-06.
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