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David A. Szwak
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Statute

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North Carolina
North Carolina General Statute, Chapter 75, Article 2, Section 75-50, et seq.
www.ncleg.net/statutes/statutes.asp
David A. Szwak
Posts: 1974
Joined: Thu Jul 13, 2006 11:19 pm

Post by David A. Szwak »

§ 58‑70‑50. All collection agencies to identify themselves in correspondence.

All collection agencies licensed under this Part to do the business of a collection agency in this State, shall in all correspondence with debtors use stationery or forms which contain the permit number and the true name and address of such collection agency.

The permit to engage in the business of a collection agency shall at all times be prominently displayed in each office of the person, firm, corporation or association to whom or to which the permit is issued. (1931, c. 217, s. 9; 1969, c. 906, s. 5; 1979, c. 835.)
David A. Szwak
Posts: 1974
Joined: Thu Jul 13, 2006 11:19 pm

Post by David A. Szwak »

§ 58‑70‑60. Statements to be furnished each collection creditor.

(a) Acknowledgment of Accounts. – When any account is received for collection, the permit holder shall upon request furnish the collection creditor or forwarder with a written listing or acknowledgment of the accounts received.

(b) Remittance Statements. – Each permit holder shall remit all moneys due to any collection creditor or forwarder within 30 days after the end of the collection month during which the collection was effected. The remittance shall be accompanied by a statement setting forth:

(1) The date of remittance;

(2) The debtor's name;

(3) The date or month of collection and amount collected from each debtor; and

(4) A breakdown showing money collected from each debtor and the amount due the creditor or forwarder. (1979, c. 835.)
David A. Szwak
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Post by David A. Szwak »

§ 58‑70‑80. Return of accounts and all valuable papers upon termination of permit.

Whenever the permit of a collection agency is revoked, cancelled, or terminated for any reason, all accounts and valuable papers placed with the agency for collection shall be returned to the person placing the account for collection within five days of the termination of said permit unless, upon written application, an extension of time is granted by the Department of Insurance. All agreements between the collection agency and creditor or forwarder are automatically cancelled as of the date on which said permit is revoked, cancelled or terminated. If any of the accounts placed for collection are in the hands of others at the time of the permit termination, they shall immediately be notified by the collection agency to thereafter correspond, remit and be solely responsible to the creditor placing the accounts with the agency for collection unless the creditor has authorized a successor or other permit holder to continue to collect the accounts. In the case of dissolution of the collection agency, all accounts shall be returned within a reasonable period of time, but in any event not to exceed 60 days. Valuable papers shall include, but not be limited to, notes payable, creditor account cards and any other items placed within the collection agency by the creditor. (1979, c. 835.)
David A. Szwak
Posts: 1974
Joined: Thu Jul 13, 2006 11:19 pm

Post by David A. Szwak »

§ 58‑70‑110. Deceptive representation.

No collection agency shall collect or attempt to collect a debt or obtain information concerning a consumer by any fraudulent, deceptive or misleading representation. Such representations include, but are not limited to, the following:

(1) Communicating with the consumer other than in the name of the person making the communication, the collection agency and the person or business on whose behalf the collection agency is acting or to whom the debt is owed;

(2) Failing to disclose in the initial written communication with the consumer and, in addition, if the initial communication with the consumer is oral, in that initial oral communication, that the debt collector is attempting to collect a debt and that any information obtained will be used for that purpose, and the failure to disclose in subsequent communications that the communication is from a debt collector; provided, however, that this subdivision does not apply to a formal pleading made in connection with legal action;

(3) Falsely representing that the collection agency has in its possession information or something of value for the consumer;

(4) Falsely representing the character, extent, or amount of a debt against a consumer or of its status in any legal proceeding; falsely representing that the collection agency is in any way connected with any agency of the federal, State or local government; or falsely representing the creditor's rights or intentions;

(5) Using or distributing or selling any written communication which simulates or is falsely represented to be a document authorized, issued, or approved by a court, an official, or any other legally constituted or authorized authority, or which creates a false impression about its source;

(6) Falsely representing that an existing obligation of the consumer may be increased by the addition of attorney's fees, investigation fees, service fees, or any other fees or charges;

(7) Falsely representing the status or true nature of the services rendered by the collection agency or its business. (1979, c. 835; 2001‑269, s. 1.4.)
David A. Szwak
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Post by David A. Szwak »

§ 58‑70‑15. Definition of collection agency and collection agency business.

(a) "Collection agency" means a person directly or indirectly engaged in soliciting, from more than one person delinquent claims of any kind owed or due or asserted to be owed or due the solicited person and all persons directly or indirectly engaged in the asserting, enforcing or prosecuting of those claims.

(b) "Collection agency" includes:

(1) Any person that procures a listing of delinquent debtors from any creditor and that sells the listing or otherwise receives any fee or benefit from collections made on the listing; and

(2) Any person that attempts to or does transfer or sell to any person not holding the permit prescribed by this Article any system or series of letters or forms for use in the collection of delinquent accounts or claims which by direct assertion or by implication indicate that the claim or account is being asserted or collected by any person, firm, corporation, or association other than the creditor or owner of the claim or demand; and

(3) An in‑house collection agency, whereby a person, firm, corporation, or association sets up a collection service for his or its own business and the agency has a name other than that of the business.

(c) "Collection agency" does not mean:

(1) Regular employees of a single creditor;

(2) Banks, trust companies, or bank‑owned, controlled or related firms, corporations or associations engaged in accounting, bookkeeping or data processing services where a primary component of such services is the rendering of statements of accounts and bookkeeping services for creditors;

(3) Mortgage banking companies;

(4) Savings and loan associations;

(5) Building and loan associations;

(6) Duly licensed real estate brokers and agents when the claims or accounts being handled by the broker or agent are related to or are in connection with the broker's or agent's regular real estate business;

(7) Express, telephone and telegraph companies subject to public regulation and supervision;

(8) Attorneys‑at‑law handling claims and collections in their own name and not operating a collection agency under the management of a layman;

(9) Any person, firm, corporation or association handling claims, accounts or collections under an order or orders of any court;

(10) A person, firm, corporation or association which, for valuable consideration purchases accounts, claims, or demands of another, which such accounts, claims, or demands of another are not delinquent at the time of such purchase, and then, in its own name, proceeds to assert or collect the accounts, claims or demands;

(11) Any person attempting to collect or collecting claims, in that person's name, of a business or businesses owned wholly or substantially by that person;

(12) Any nonprofit tax exempt corporation organized for the purpose of providing mediation or other dispute resolution services; and

(13) The designated representatives of programs as defined by G.S. 110‑129(5). (1969, c. 906, s. 3; 1973, c. 785; 1979, c. 835; 1989, c. 441, ss. 4, 5, 12; 1991, c. 387, s. 1; 1993, c. 553, s. 22; 1999‑419, s. 1; 2001‑269, s. 1.2.)
Last edited by David A. Szwak on Thu Jul 20, 2006 5:23 pm, edited 1 time in total.
David A. Szwak
Posts: 1974
Joined: Thu Jul 13, 2006 11:19 pm

Post by David A. Szwak »

§ 58‑70‑25. Record of business in State.

(a) Each person, firm, or corporation licensed as a collection agency in North Carolina shall keep a full and correct record of all business done in this State as set forth below. All such records pertaining to collection activity, concerning debtor records and client accounting records, but not general operating records, shall be open to inspection by the Commissioner of Insurance or his duly authorized deputy upon demand.

(b) Every permit holder shall maintain adequate records which shall contain the items listed below. These records must be kept separate from records of any other business and must be maintained for not less than three years after the final entry has been made:

(1) A daily collection record or cash receipt journal in which all collections are recorded and allocated as to total collections, setting forth:

a. The amount credited to principal and to interest, if any;

b. The amount due creditors or forwarders.

(2) The amount retained as commission or commission paid to forwardees.

(3) Payments made directly to creditors as reported to the collection agency by those creditors and commissions due the collection agency on those payments.

(4) A record of each debtor's account shall be maintained consisting of the following:

a. The name and address of the debtor;

b. The name of the creditor or forwarder or forwardee if the account has been forwarded;

c. The principal amount owing and, if available, the date of the last credit or debit;

d. The amount and date of each payment made by the debtor; and

e. The date and time of each telephone or personal contact with the debtor.

(5) A master alphabetical record by name and address of every creditor or forwarder with whom the permit holder engages in the business of collecting accounts.

(6) A check register or carbon copies of each check issued or numerically numbered check stubs corresponding with all checks issued on the trust account for funds collected on behalf of creditors. Cancelled checks, together with voided or unused checks (adequately explained) drawn on the trust account shall be maintained in numerical order with the monthly bank statements.

(7) A record by client or client number showing the number of accounts received from the client, the date received and the principal amount of the accounts.

(8) A duplicate copy of each remittance statement furnished a creditor or forwarder, or other listing of the information contained on the statement. (1959, c. 1194, s. 3; 1979, c. 835; 1989, c. 441, s. 6.)
Last edited by David A. Szwak on Thu Jul 20, 2006 5:24 pm, edited 1 time in total.
David A. Szwak
Posts: 1974
Joined: Thu Jul 13, 2006 11:19 pm

Post by David A. Szwak »

Part 3. Prohibited Practices by Collecton Agencies Engaged in the Collection of Debts from Consumers.

§ 58‑70‑90. Definitions.

As used in this Part, the following terms have the meanings specified:

(1) "Collection agency" means a collection agency as defined in G.S. 58‑70‑15 which engages, directly or indirectly, in debt collection from a consumer.

(2) "Consumer" means an individual, aggregation of individuals, corporation, company, association, or partnership that has incurred a debt or alleged debt.

(3) "Debt" means any obligation owed or due or alleged to be owed or due from a consumer. (1961, c. 782; 1971, c. 814, ss. 1‑3; 1979, c. 835.)
David A. Szwak
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Post by David A. Szwak »

§ 58‑70‑20. Bond requirement.

(a) As a condition precedent to the issuance of any permit under this Article, every applicant for a permit shall file with the Commissioner a bond in favor of the State of North Carolina that is executed by a surety company licensed to transact surety business in this State. The bond shall be maintained in force during the permit period, continuous in form, and remain in effect until all moneys collected have been accounted for. The bond shall expressly provide that the bond is for the benefit of any person, firm or corporation for whom the collection agency engages in the collection of accounts. The bond shall be in the amount of ten thousand dollars ($10,000) for the initial permit. The amount of the bond for any renewal permit shall be no less than ten thousand dollars ($10,000), nor more than seventy‑five thousand dollars ($75,000), and shall be computed as follows: The total collections paid directly to the collection agency less commissions earned by the collection agency on those collections for the calendar year ending immediately prior to the date of application, multiplied by one‑sixth.

(b) A person required by this section to maintain a bond may, in lieu of that bond, deposit with the Commissioner the equivalent amount in cash, in certificates of deposit issued by banks organized under the laws of the State of North Carolina, or any national bank having its principal office in North Carolina, or securities, which shall be held in accordance with Article 5 of this Chapter. Securities may only be obligations of the United States or of federal agencies listed in G.S. 147‑69.1(c) (2) guaranteed by the United States, obligations of the State of North Carolina, or obligations of a city or county of this State. Any proposed deposit of an obligation of a city or county of this State is subject to the prior approval of the Commissioner.

(c) In addition to the requirements of subsections (a) and (b) of this section, as a condition precedent to the issuance of any permit under this Article, every nonresident applicant for a permit shall file with the Commissioner a bond in the amount of ten thousand dollars ($10,000) in favor of the Department that is executed by a surety company licensed to transact surety business in this State. The bond shall be maintained in force during the permit period, be continuous in form, and remain in effect until terminated by the Commissioner. The bond shall expressly provide that the bond is for the purpose of reimbursing the Department for expenses incurred in visiting and examining a nonresident collection agency in connection with a federal bankruptcy or State receivership proceeding in which the collection agency is the subject of the proceeding. (1943, c. 170; 1959, c. 1194, s. 3; 1979, c. 835; 1991, c. 212, s. 4; 2001‑269, s. 1.3.)
David A. Szwak
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Joined: Thu Jul 13, 2006 11:19 pm

Post by David A. Szwak »

§ 58‑70‑65. Remittance trust account.

(a) Each permit holder shall deposit, no later than two banking days after receipt, in a separate trust account in any bank located in North Carolina or in any other bank approved by the Commissioner, sufficient funds to pay all moneys due or owed to all collection creditors or forwarders. The funds shall remain in the trust account until remitted to the creditor or forwarder, and shall not be commingled with any other operating funds. The trust account shall be used only for the purpose of:

(1) Remitting to collection creditors or forwarders the proceeds to which they are entitled.

(2) Remitting to the collection agency the commission that is due the collection agency.

(3) Reimbursing consumers for overpayments.

(4) Making adjustments to the trust account balance for bank service charges.

(b) No refund for overpayment by a debtor in an amount of less than one dollar ($1.00) is required.

(c) Each permit holder located outside this State shall deposit in a separate trust account, designated for its North Carolina creditors, funds to pay all monies due or owing all collection creditors or forwarders located within this State. (1979, c. 835; 1989, c. 441, s. 10; c. 770, s. 52; 1991, c. 644, s. 23; 1993 (Reg. Sess., 1994), c. 678, s. 31.)

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David A. Szwak
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Post by David A. Szwak »

§ 58‑70‑5. Application to Commissioner for permit.

Any person, firm, corporation or association desiring to secure a permit as provided by G.S. 58‑70‑1, shall make application to the Commissioner of Insurance for each location at which such person, firm, corporation or association desires to carry on the collection agency business as hereinafter defined. Such applicant shall be entitled to a permit upon submission to the Commissioner of Insurance of the following:

(a) The name, trade name if any, street address, and telephone number of the applicant, including any home office address and telephone number, if different;

(b) If the applicant is a corporation,

(1) A certified copy of the board of director's resolution authorizing the submission of the application;

(2) An authenticated copy of the Articles of Incorporation and all amendments thereto;

(3) An authenticated copy of the bylaws or other governing instruments;

(4) If the applicant is a foreign corporation, a copy of the certificate of authority to transact business in this State issued by the North Carolina Secretary of State;

(c) If the applicant is a partnership, an authenticated copy of the then current partnership agreement;

(d) If the trade name is used, certificates showing that the trade name has been filed as required by G.S. 66‑68;

(e) A surety bond as required by G.S. 58‑70‑20;

(f) A completed statement by each stockholder owning ten percent (10%) or more of the applicant's outstanding voting stock and each partner, director, and officer actively engaged in the collection agency business, containing: the name of the collection agency, the name and address of the individual completing the form, the positions held by the individual, each conviction of any criminal offense and any criminal charges pending other than minor traffic violations of the individual, and the name and address of three people not related to the individual who can attest to the individual's reputation for honesty and fair dealings;

(g) A statement sworn to by an appropriate corporate officer, partner, or individual proprietor giving a description of the collection method to be employed in North Carolina;

(h) A statement certifying that there are no unsatisfied judgments against the applicant;

(i) A list of all telephone numbers assigned to, or to be used by the applicant in the operation of the collection agency;

(j) The appropriate permit fee as required by G.S. 58‑70‑35;

(k) A balance sheet as of the last day of the month prior to the date of submission of the application, certified true and correct by a corporate officer, partner, or proprietor, setting forth the current assets, fixed assets, current liabilities and positive net worth of the applicant;

(l) The address of the location at which the applicant will make those records of its collection agency business described in G.S. 58‑70‑25 available for inspection by the Commissioner of Insurance.

(m) A statement certifying that no officer, individual proprietor or partner of the applicant has been convicted of a felony involving moral turpitude, or any violation of any State or federal debt collection law.

(n) If the collection agency's office or records, as described in G.S. 58‑70‑25, are located outside of North Carolina, a statement sworn to by an appropriate corporate officer, partner, or individual proprietor consenting to and authorizing the reimbursement, to the Commissioner by the collection agency, of expenses incurred by the Commissioner in conducting routine examinations, audits, and in investigating written complaints against the collection agency or its employees. All reimbursements shall be paid to the Commissioner no more than 30 days after the date of billing.

(o) If the applicant is a foreign corporation, a statement authorizing the Commissioner to be its agent for service of process, which shall be administered pursuant to the provisions of G.S. 58‑16‑30. (1931, c. 217, s. 2; 1943, c. 170; 1959, c. 1194, s. 2; 1969, c. 906, s. 2; 1979, c. 835; 1989, c. 441, ss. 2, 3; 2001‑269, s. 1.1.)
David A. Szwak
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Post by David A. Szwak »

§ 58‑70‑40. Restraining orders; criminal convictions; permit revocations; other permit requirements.

(a) When it appears to the Commissioner that any person has violated, is violating, or threatens to violate any provision of this Article, he may apply to the superior court of any county in which the violation has occurred, is occurring, or may occur for a restraining order and injunction to restrain such violation, or threatened violation. If upon application the court finds that any provision of this Article has been violated, is being violated, or a violation thereof is threatened, the court shall issue an order restraining and enjoining such violations; and such relief may be granted regardless of whether criminal prosecution is instituted under any provision of this Article.

(b) The conviction by a court of competent jurisdiction of any permittee for a violation of this Article shall automatically have the effect of suspending the permit of that permittee until such time that the permit is reinstated by the Commissioner. As used in this subsection, "conviction" includes an adjudication of guilt, a plea of guilty, and a plea of nolo contendere.

(c) In addition to the other qualifications for a permit under this Article, no collection agency shall be issued or be entitled to hold a permit if the Commissioner finds as to the applicant or permittee any one or more of the following conditions:

(1) An individual proprietor, officer, or partner of the collection agency has been convicted of a felony involving moral turpitude, or any State or federal debt collection law.

(2) There is an unsatisfied judgment which is not currently the subject of litigation against any partner, individual proprietor, or officer of the collection agency or against the collection agency.

(3) There is any materially false or misleading information in the permit application.

(4) The applicant has obtained or attempted to obtain the permit through misrepresentation or fraud.

(5) There has been an adjudication that a partner, individual proprietor, or officer of the collection agency has violated any State or federal unfair trade practice law.

(6) A partner, individual proprietor, or officer of the collection agency has violated or refused to comply with any provision of this Article or any order of the Commissioner.

(7) Another jurisdiction has suspended or revoked a collection agency or similar license or permit of the collection agency. (1931, c. 217, s. 5; 1979, c. 835; 1989, c. 441, s. 9.)
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