(225 ILCS 429/10)
Sec. 10. Definitions. As used in this Act: "Consumer" means any person who purchases or contracts for the purchase of debt settlement services or a student loan borrower. "Consumer settlement account" means any account or other means or device in which payments, deposits, or other transfers from a consumer are arranged, held, or transferred by or to a debt settlement provider for the accumulation of the consumer's funds in anticipation of proffering an adjustment or settlement of a debt or obligation of the consumer to a creditor on behalf of the consumer. "Debt settlement provider" means: (1) any person or entity engaging in, or holding itself out as engaging in, the business of providing debt settlement service in exchange for any fee or compensation; (2) any person who solicits for or acts on behalf of any person or entity engaging in, or holding itself out as engaging in, the business of providing debt settlement service in exchange for any fee or compensation; (3) any person or entity engaging in, or holding itself out as engaging in the business of student loan debt relief services in exchange for any fee or compensation assessed against or charged to a consumer; or (4) any person who solicits for or acts on behalf of such person or entity engaging in or holding itself out as engaging in, the business of student loan debt relief services in exchange for any fee or compensation assessed against or charged to a consumer. "Debt settlement provider" does not include: (1) attorneys licensed, or otherwise authorized, to |
| practice in Illinois who are engaged in the practice of law;
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(2) escrow agents, accountants, broker dealers in
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| securities, or investment advisors in securities, when acting in the ordinary practice of their professions and through the entity used in the ordinary practice of their profession;
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(3) any bank, agent of a bank, operating subsidiary
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| of a bank, affiliate of a bank, trust company, savings and loan association, savings bank, credit union, crop credit association, development credit corporation, industrial development corporation, title insurance company, title insurance agent, independent escrowee or insurance company operating or organized under the laws of a state or the United States, or any other person authorized to make loans under State law while acting in the ordinary practice of that business;
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(4) any person who performs credit services for his
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| or her employer while receiving a regular salary or wage when the employer is not engaged in the business of offering or providing debt settlement service;
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(5) a collection agency licensed pursuant to the
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| Collection Agency Act that is collecting a debt on its own behalf or on behalf of a third party;
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(6) an organization that is described in Section
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| 501(c)(3) and subject to Section 501(q) of Title 26 of the United States Code and exempt from tax under Section 501(a) of Title 26 of the United States Code and governed by the Debt Management Service Act;
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(7) public officers while acting in their official
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| capacities and persons acting under court order;
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(8) any person while performing services incidental
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| to the dissolution, winding up, or liquidating of a partnership, corporation, or other business enterprise;
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(9) persons licensed under the Real Estate License
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| Act of 2000 when acting in the ordinary practice of their profession and not holding themselves out as debt settlement providers; or
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(10) any institution of higher education as defined
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| in the Higher Education Act of 1965, 20 U.S.C. 1001.
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"Debt settlement service" means:
(1) offering to provide advice or service, or acting
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| as an intermediary between or on behalf of a consumer and one or more of a consumer's creditors, where the primary purpose of the advice, service, or action is to obtain a settlement, adjustment, or satisfaction of the consumer's unsecured debt to a creditor in an amount less than the full amount of the principal amount of the debt or in an amount less than the current outstanding balance of the debt;
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(2) offering to provide services related to or
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| providing services advising, encouraging, assisting, or counseling a consumer to accumulate funds for the primary purpose of proposing or obtaining or seeking to obtain a settlement, adjustment, or satisfaction of the consumer's unsecured debt to a creditor in an amount less than the full amount of the principal amount of the debt or in an amount less than the current outstanding balance of the debt; or
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(3) student loan debt relief.
"Debt settlement service" does not include (A) the services of attorneys licensed, or otherwise authorized, to practice in Illinois who are engaged in the practice of law, (B) debt management service as defined in the Debt Management Service Act, (C) the services of a student loan servicer, as defined in the Student Loan Servicing Rights Act, or (D) the services of any other originator, guarantor, or servicer of federal education loans or private education loans.
"Enrollment or set up fee" means any fee, obligation, or compensation paid or to be paid by the consumer to a debt settlement provider in consideration of or in connection with establishing a contract or other agreement with a consumer related to the provision of debt settlement service.
"Federal education loan" means any loan made, guaranteed, or insured under Title IV of the federal Higher Education Act of 1965.
"Maintenance fee" means any fee, obligation, or compensation paid or to be paid by the consumer on a periodic basis to a debt settlement provider in consideration of maintaining the relationship and services to be provided by a debt settlement provider in accordance with a contract with a consumer related to the provision of debt settlement service.
"Principal amount of the debt" means the total amount or outstanding balance owed by a consumer to one or more creditors for a debt that is included in a contract for debt settlement service at the time when the consumer enters into a contract for debt settlement service.
"Savings" means the difference between the principal amount of the debt and the amount paid by the debt settlement provider to the creditor or negotiated by the debt settlement provider and paid by the consumer to the creditor pursuant to a settlement negotiated by the debt settlement provider on behalf of the consumer as full and complete satisfaction of the creditor's claim with regard to that debt.
"Secretary" means the Secretary of Financial and Professional Regulation.
"Settlement fee" means any fee, obligation, or compensation paid or to be paid by the consumer to a debt settlement provider in consideration of or in connection with a completed agreement or other arrangement on the part of a creditor to accept less than the principal amount of the debt as satisfaction of the creditor's claim against the consumer.
"Student loan borrower" means a person who has received or agreed to pay a student loan for his or her own educational expenses; a parent, grandparent, or other family member who has received or agreed to pay a student loan for a family member receiving the education; or any co-signer who has agreed to share responsibility for repaying a student loan with the person receiving the education.
"Student loan debt relief" means, in exchange for any fee or compensation assessed against or charged to a student loan borrower, offering to provide advice or service, or acting as an intermediary between or on behalf of a consumer and the United States Department of Education or any other originator or guarantor of federal education loans or one or more of the servicers of a student loan borrower's federal education loan, where the primary purpose of the advice, service, or action is to (1) negotiate, arrange, or obtain a settlement, adjustment, discharge, or satisfaction of the student loan borrower's federal education loan debt in an amount less than the full amount of the principal amount of the debt, a reduction or alteration to the interest rate, a reduction or alteration in the amount of monthly payment or fees owed, or in an amount less than the current outstanding balance of the debt, (2) enroll the student loan borrower in a repayment plan, forbearance, or deferment of his or her federal education loan debt, (3) apply for consolidation or consolidate the student loan borrower's federal education loans, or (4) offer to provide any other services related to altering the terms of a student loan borrower's federal education loan debt, including, but not limited to, a reduction in the amount of interest, the principal balance, or the amount of monthly payment or fees owed.
(Source: P.A. 102-298, eff. 8-6-21.)
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(225 ILCS 429/25)
Sec. 25. Qualifications for license. Upon the filing of the application and the approval of the bond and the payment of the specified fees, the Secretary may issue a license if he or she finds all of the following:
(1) The financial responsibility, experience, |
| character, and general fitness of the applicant, the managers, if the applicant is a limited liability company, the partners, if the applicant is a partnership, and the officers and directors, if the applicant is a corporation or a not for profit corporation, are such as to command the confidence of the community and to warrant belief that the business will be operated fairly, honestly, and efficiently within the purposes of this Act.
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(2) The applicant, if an individual, the managers, if
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| the applicant is a limited liability company, the partners, if the applicant is a partnership, and the officers and directors, if the applicant is a corporation, have not been convicted of a felony or a misdemeanor or disciplined with respect to a license or are not currently the subject of a license disciplinary proceeding concerning allegations involving dishonesty or untrustworthiness.
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(3) The person or persons have not had a record of
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| having defaulted in the payment of money collected for others, including the discharge of those debts through bankruptcy proceedings.
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(4) The applicant, or any officers, directors,
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| partners, or managers have not previously violated any provision of this Act or any rule lawfully made by the Secretary.
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(5) The applicant has not made any false statement or
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| representation to the Secretary in applying for a license under this Section.
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The Secretary shall deliver a license to the applicant to operate as a debt settlement
provider in accordance with the provisions of this Act at the location specified in the application. The license shall remain in full force and effect until it is surrendered by the debt settlement provider or revoked by the Secretary as provided in this Act; provided, however, that each license shall expire by its terms on January 1 next following its issuance unless it is renewed as provided in this Act. A license, however, may not be surrendered without the approval of the Secretary.
More than one license may be issued to the same person for separate places of business,
but separate applications shall be made for each location conducting business with Illinois residents.
(Source: P.A. 96-1420, eff. 8-3-10.)
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(225 ILCS 429/33)
Sec. 33. Annual report; debt settlement provider disclosure of statistical information; Secretary to report statistical information. (a) A debt settlement provider must file an annual report with the Secretary that must include all of the following data: (1) for each Illinois resident: (i) the number of accounts enrolled; (ii) the principal amount of debt at the time |
| each account was enrolled;
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(iii) the status of each account (for example,
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(iv) whether the account has been settled, and if
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| so, the settlement amount and the corresponding principal amount of debt enrolled for that account;
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(v) the total amount of fees paid to the debt
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| settlement service provider;
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(vi) whether the creditor has filed suit on the
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(vii) the date the resident is expected to
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| complete the debt settlement program; and
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(viii) the date the resident canceled,
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| terminated, or became inactive in the program, if applicable.
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(2) for persons completing the program during the
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| reporting period, the median and mean percentage of savings and the median and mean fees paid to the debt settlement service provider;
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(3) for persons who cancelled, became inactive, or
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| terminated the program during the reporting period, the median and mean percentage of the savings and the median and mean fees paid to the debt settlement service provider;
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(4) the percentage of Illinois residents who
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| canceled, terminated, became inactive, or completed the program without the settlement of all of the enrolled debt; and
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(5) the total amount of fees collected from Illinois
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The annual report must contain a declaration executed by an official authorized by the debt settlement provider under penalty of perjury that states that the report complies with this Section.
(b) The Secretary may prepare and make available to the public an annual consolidated report of all the data debt settlement providers are required to report pursuant to subsection (a) of this Section.
(Source: P.A. 96-1420, eff. 8-3-10.)
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(225 ILCS 429/50)
Sec. 50. Revocation or suspension of license.
(a) The Secretary may revoke or suspend any license if he or she finds that:
(1) any debt settlement provider has failed to pay |
| the annual license fee or to maintain in effect the bond required under the provisions of this Act;
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(2) the debt settlement provider has violated any
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| provisions of this Act or any rule lawfully made by the Secretary under the authority of this Act;
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(3) any fact or condition exists that, if it had
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| existed at the time of the original application for a license, would have warranted the Secretary in refusing its issuance; or
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(4) any applicant has made any false statement or
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| representation to the Secretary in applying for a license under this Act.
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(b) In every case in which a license is suspended or revoked or an application for a license or renewal of a license is denied, the Secretary shall serve notice of his or her action, including a statement of the reasons for his or her actions, either personally or by certified mail, return receipt requested. Service by mail shall be deemed completed if the notice is deposited in the U.S. Mail.
(c) In the case of a denial of an application or renewal of a license, the applicant or
debt settlement provider may request, in writing, a hearing within 30 days after the date of service. In the case of a denial of a renewal of a license, the license shall be deemed to continue in force until 30 days after the service of the notice of denial, or if a hearing is requested during that period, until a final administrative order is entered.
(d) An order of revocation or suspension of a license shall take effect upon service of the
order unless the debt settlement provider requests, in writing, a hearing within 10 days after the date of service. In the event a hearing is requested, the order shall be stayed until a final administrative order is entered.
(e) If the debt settlement provider requests a hearing, then the Secretary shall schedule the hearing within 30
days after the request for a hearing unless otherwise agreed to by the parties.
(f) The hearing shall be held at the time and place designated by the Secretary. The
Secretary and any administrative law judge designated by the Secretary have the power to administer oaths and affirmations, subpoena witnesses and compel their attendance, take evidence, and require the production of books, papers, correspondence, and other records or information that the Secretary considers relevant or material to the injury.
(g) The costs for the administrative hearing shall be set by rule.
(Source: P.A. 96-1420, eff. 8-3-10.)
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(225 ILCS 429/105)
Sec. 105. Advertising and marketing practices. (a) A debt settlement provider shall not represent, expressly or by implication, any results or outcomes of its debt settlement services in any advertising, marketing, or other communication to consumers unless the debt settlement provider possesses substantiation for such representation at the time such representation is made.
(b) A debt settlement provider shall not, expressly or by implication, make any unfair or deceptive representations, or any omissions of material facts, in any of its advertising or marketing communications concerning debt settlement services.
(c) All advertising and marketing communications concerning debt settlement services shall disclose the following material information clearly and conspicuously:
"Debt settlement services are not appropriate for |
| everyone. Failure to pay your monthly bills in a timely manner will result in increased balances and will harm your credit rating. Not all creditors will agree to reduce principal balance, and they may pursue collection, including lawsuits."
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(d) All advertising and marketing communications concerning student loan debt relief services shall disclose the following material information clearly and conspicuously, along with the legally registered name of the company:
"[Name of company] is a private company, and is not
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| affiliated with the Department of Education or any other academic entity or governmental agency. [Name of company] is not a lender, guarantor, or servicer of federal student loans. You can apply for consolidation and other repayment plans without paid assistance through the United States Department of Education. More information is available through the Department's website or your federal student loan servicer. You can find out who your servicer is through the Department of Education.".
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(Source: P.A. 102-298, eff. 8-6-21.)
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(225 ILCS 429/110)
Sec. 110. Individualized financial analysis. (a) Prior to entering into a written contract with a consumer, a debt settlement provider shall prepare and provide to the consumer in writing and retain a copy of:
(1) an individualized financial analysis, including |
| the individual's income, expenses, and debts; and
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(2) a statement containing a good faith estimate of
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| the length of time it will take to complete the debt settlement program, the total amount of debt owed to each creditor included in the debt settlement program, the total savings estimated to be necessary to complete the debt settlement program, and the monthly targeted savings amount estimated to be necessary to complete the debt settlement program.
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(b) A debt settlement provider shall not enter into a written contract with a consumer unless it makes written determinations, supported by the financial analysis, that:
(1) the consumer can reasonably meet the requirements
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| of the proposed debt settlement program, including the fees and the periodic savings amounts set forth in the savings goals; and
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(2) the debt settlement program is suitable for the
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| consumer at the time the contract is to be signed.
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(Source: P.A. 96-1420, eff. 8-3-10.)
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(225 ILCS 429/115)
Sec. 115. Required pre-sale consumer disclosures and warnings. (a) Before the consumer signs a contract, the debt settlement provider shall provide an oral and written notice to the consumer that clearly and conspicuously discloses all of the following:
(1) Debt settlement services may not be suitable for |
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(2) Using a debt settlement service likely will harm
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| the consumer's credit history and credit score.
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(3) Using a debt settlement service does not stop
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| creditor collection activity, including creditor lawsuits and garnishments.
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(4) Not all creditors will accept a reduction in the
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| balance, interest rate, or fees a consumer owes.
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(5) The consumer should inquire about other means of
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| dealing with debt, including, but not limited to, nonprofit credit counseling and bankruptcy.
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(6) The consumer remains obligated to make periodic
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| or scheduled payments to creditors while participating in a debt settlement plan, and that the debt settlement provider will not make any periodic or scheduled payments to creditors on behalf of the consumer.
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(7) The failure to make periodic or scheduled
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| payments to a creditor is likely to:
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(A) harm the consumer's credit history, credit
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(B) lead the creditor to increase lawful
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| collection activity, including litigation, garnishment of the consumer's wages, and judgment liens on the consumer's property; and
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(C) lead to the imposition by the creditor of
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| interest charges, late fees, and other penalty fees, increasing the principal amount of the debt.
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(8) The amount of time estimated to be necessary to
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| achieve the represented results.
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(9) The estimated amount of money or the percentage
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| of debt the consumer must accumulate before a settlement offer will be made to each of the consumer's creditors.
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(10) For student loan debt relief services, before
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| the student loan borrower signs a contract, the provider shall provide an oral and written notice to the student loan borrower that clearly and conspicuously discloses the following:
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"[Name of company] is a private company, and is
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| not affiliated with the Department of Education or any other academic entity or governmental agency. [Name of company] is not a lender, guarantor, or servicer of federal student loans. You can apply for consolidation and other repayment plans without paid assistance through the United States Department of Education. More information is available through the Department's website or your federal student loan servicer. You can find out who your servicer is through the Department of Education.".
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(b) The consumer shall sign and date an acknowledgment form entitled "Consumer Notice and Rights Form" that states: "I, the debtor, have received from the debt settlement provider a copy of the form entitled "Consumer Notice and Rights Form"." The debt settlement provider or its representative shall also sign and date the acknowledgment form, which includes the name and address of the debt settlement services provider. The acknowledgment form shall be in duplicate and incorporated into the "Consumer Notice and Rights Form". The original acknowledgment form shall be retained by the debt settlement provider, and the duplicate copy shall be retained within the form by the consumer.
If the acknowledgment form is in electronic form, then it shall contain the consumer disclosures required by Section 101(c) of the federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act.
(c) Except as provided in subsection (d), the requirements of this Section are satisfied if the provider provides the following warning verbatim, both orally and in writing, with the caption "CONSUMER NOTICE AND RIGHTS FORM" in at least 28-point font and the remaining portion in at least 14-point font, to a consumer before the consumer signs a contract for the debt settlement provider's services:
"CONSUMER NOTICE AND RIGHTS FORMCAUTION We CANNOT GUARANTEE that you successfully will reduce or eliminate your debt.
If you stop paying your creditors, there is a strong likelihood some or all of the following may happen:
- CREDITORS MAY STILL CONTACT YOU AND TRY TO COLLECT.
- CREDITORS MAY STILL SUE YOU FOR THE MONEY YOU OWE.
- YOUR WAGES OR BANK ACCOUNT MAY STILL BE GARNISHED.
- YOUR CREDIT RATING AND CREDIT SCORE LIKELY WILL BE HARMED.
- NOT ALL CREDITORS WILL AGREE TO ACCEPT A BALANCE REDUCTION.
- YOU SHOULD CONSIDER ALL YOUR OPTIONS FOR ADDRESSING YOUR DEBT, SUCH AS CREDIT COUNSELING AND BANKRUPTCY FILING.
- THE AMOUNT OF MONEY YOU OWE MAY INCREASE DUE TO CREDITOR IMPOSITION OF INTEREST CHARGES, LATE FEES, AND OTHER PENALTY FEES.
- EVEN IF WE DO SETTLE YOUR DEBT, YOU MAY STILL BE REQUIRED TO PAY TAXES ON THE AMOUNT FORGIVEN.
YOUR RIGHT TO CANCEL If you sign a contract with a Debt Settlement Provider, you have the right to cancel at any time and receive a full refund of all unearned fees you have paid to the provider and all funds placed in your settlement fund that have not been paid to any creditors.
IF YOU ARE DISSATISFIED
OR YOU HAVE QUESTIONS If you are dissatisfied with a debt settlement provider or have any questions, please bring it to the attention of the Illinois Attorney General's Office and the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation.
Attorney General Toll-Free Numbers:
Carbondale (800) 243-0607
Springfield (800) 243-0618
Chicago (800) 386-5438
Website for Department of Financial and Professional Regulation: www.idfpr.com
I, the debtor, have received from the debt settlement provider a copy of the form entitled Consumer Notice and Rights Form.".
(d) All providers of student loan debt relief services shall include the following disclosure:
"[NAME OF COMPANY] IS A PRIVATE COMPANY, AND IS NOT |
| AFFILIATED WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION OR ANY OTHER ACADEMIC ENTITY OR GOVERNMENTAL AGENCY. [NAME OF COMPANY] IS NOT A LENDER, GUARANTOR, OR SERVICER OF FEDERAL STUDENT LOANS. YOU CAN APPLY FOR CONSOLIDATION AND OTHER REPAYMENT PLANS WITHOUT PAID ASSISTANCE THROUGH THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION. MORE INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT'S WEBSITE OR YOUR FEDERAL STUDENT LOAN SERVICER. YOU CAN FIND OUT WHO YOUR SERVICER IS THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.".
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(Source: P.A. 102-298, eff. 8-6-21.)
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(225 ILCS 429/120)
Sec. 120. Debt settlement contract. (a) A debt settlement provider shall not provide debt settlement service to a consumer without a written contract signed and dated by both the consumer and the debt settlement provider.
(b) Any contract for the provision of debt settlement service entered into in violation of the provisions of this Section is void.
(c) A contract between a debt settlement provider and a consumer for the provision of debt settlement service shall disclose all of the following clearly and conspicuously:
(1) The name and address of the consumer. (2) The date of execution of the contract.
(3) The legal name of the debt settlement provider, |
| including any other business names used by the debt settlement provider.
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(4) The corporate address and regular business
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| address, including a street address, of the debt settlement provider.
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(5) The telephone number at which the consumer may
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| speak with a representative of the debt settlement provider during normal business hours.
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(6) A complete list of the consumer's accounts,
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| debts, and obligations to be included in the provision of debt settlement service, including the name of each creditor and principal amount of each debt.
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(7) A description of the services to be provided by
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| the debt settlement provider, including the expected time frame for settlement for each account, debt, or obligation included in item (6) of this subsection (c).
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(8) An itemized list of all fees to be paid by the
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| consumer to the debt settlement provider, and the date, approximate date, or circumstances under which each fee will become due.
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(9) A good faith estimate of the total amount of all
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| fees and compensation, not to exceed the amounts specified in Section 125 of this Act, to be collected by the debt settlement provider from the consumer for the provision of debt settlement service contemplated by the contract.
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(10) A statement of the proposed savings goals for
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| the consumer, stating the amount to be saved per month or other period, time period over which savings goal extends, and the total amount of the savings expected to be paid by the consumer pursuant to the terms of the contract.
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(11) The amount of money or the percentage of debt
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| the consumer must accumulate before a settlement offer will be made to each of the consumer's creditors.
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(12) The written individualized financial analysis
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| required by Section 110 of this Act.
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(13) The contents of the "Consumer Notice and Rights
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| Form" provided in Section 115.
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(14) A written notice to the consumer that the
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| consumer may cancel the contract at any time until after the debt settlement provider has fully performed each service the debt settlement provider contracted to perform or represented he or she would perform, and upon that event:
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(A) the consumer shall be entitled to a full
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| refund of all unearned fees and compensation paid by the consumer to the debt settlement provider, and a full refund of all funds provided by the consumer to the debt settlement provider for a consumer settlement account, except for funds actually paid to a creditor on behalf of the consumer, under the terms of the contract for debt settlement service; and
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(B) all powers of attorney granted to the debt
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| settlement provider by the consumer shall be considered revoked and voided.
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(15) A form the consumer may use to cancel the
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| contract pursuant to the provisions of Section 135 of this Act. The form shall include the name and mailing address of the debt settlement provider and shall disclose clearly and conspicuously how the consumer can cancel the contract, including applicable addresses, telephone numbers, facsimile numbers, and electronic mail addresses the consumer can use to cancel the contract.
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(d) If a debt settlement provider communicates with a consumer primarily in a language other than English, then the debt settlement provider shall furnish to the consumer a translation of all the disclosures and documents required by this Act in that other language.
(Source: P.A. 96-1420, eff. 8-3-10.)
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(225 ILCS 429/145)
Sec. 145. Prohibited practices. A debt settlement provider shall not do any of the following:
(1) Charge or collect from a consumer any fee not |
| permitted by, in an amount in excess of the maximum amount permitted by, or at a time earlier than permitted by Section 125 of this Act.
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(2) Advise or represent, expressly or by implication,
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| that consumers should stop making payments to their creditors, lenders, loan servicers, or loan guarantors or government entities.
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(3) Advise or represent, expressly or by implication,
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| that consumers should stop communicating with their creditors, lenders, loan servicers, loan guarantors, or attorneys or government entities.
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(4) Change the mailing address on any of a consumer's
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(5) Make loans or offer credit or solicit or accept
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| any note, mortgage, or negotiable instrument other than a check signed by the consumer and dated no later than the date of signature.
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(6) Take any confession of judgment or power of
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| attorney to confess judgment against the consumer or appear as the consumer or on behalf of the consumer in any judicial proceedings.
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(7) Take any release or waiver of any obligation to
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| be performed on the part of the debt settlement provider or any right of the consumer.
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(8) Advertise, display, distribute, broadcast, or
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| televise services or permit services to be displayed, advertised, distributed, broadcasted, or televised, in any manner whatsoever, that contains any false, misleading, or deceptive statements or representations with regard to any matter, including services to be performed, the fees to be charged by the debt settlement provider, or the effect those services will have on a consumer's credit rating or on creditor collection efforts.
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(9) Receive any cash, fee, gift, bonus, premium,
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| reward, or other compensation from any person other than the consumer explicitly for the provision of debt settlement service to that consumer.
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(10) Offer or provide gifts or bonuses to consumers
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| for signing a debt settlement service contract or for referring another potential customer or customer.
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(11) Disclose to anyone the name or any personal
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| information of a consumer for whom the debt settlement provider has provided or is providing debt settlement service other than to a consumer's own creditors or the debt settlement provider's agents, affiliates, or contractors for the purpose of providing debt settlement service without the prior consent of the consumer.
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(12) Enter into a contract with a consumer without
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| first providing the disclosures and financial analysis and making the determinations required by this Section.
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(13) Misrepresent any material fact, make a material
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| omission, or make a false promise directed to one or more consumers in connection with the solicitation, offering, contracting, or provision of debt settlement service.
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(14) Violate the provisions of applicable do not call
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(15) Purchase debts or engage in the practice or
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| business of debt collection.
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(16) Include in a debt settlement agreement any
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(17) Employ an unfair, unconscionable, or deceptive
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| act or practice, including the knowing omission of any material information.
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(18) Engage in any practice that prohibits or limits
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| the consumer or any creditor from communication directly with one another.
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(19) Represent or imply to a person participating in
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| or considering debt settlement that purchase of any ancillary goods or services is required.
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(20) Access or obtain a consumer's or student loan
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| borrower's federal student aid information in violation of federal law.
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(Source: P.A. 102-298, eff. 8-6-21.)
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