(815 ILCS 123/15-10-5)
Sec. 15-10-5. Enforcement and remedies. (a) The remedies provided in this Act are cumulative and apply to persons or entities subject to this Act. (b) Any violation of this Act, including the commission of an act prohibited under Article 5, constitutes a violation of the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act. (c) Subject to the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act, the Secretary may hold hearings, make findings of fact, conclusions of law, issue cease and desist orders, have the power to issue fines of up to $10,000 per violation, and refer the matter to the appropriate law enforcement agency for prosecution under this Act. All proceedings shall be open to the public. (d) The Secretary may issue a cease and desist order to any person or entity, when in the opinion of the Secretary the person or entity is violating or is about to violate any provision of this Act. The cease and desist order permitted by this subsection (d) may be issued prior to a hearing. The Secretary shall serve notice of the action, including, but not limited to, a statement of the reasons for the action, either personally or by certified mail. Service by certified mail shall be deemed completed when the notice is deposited in the U.S. Mail. Within 10 days of service of the cease and desist order, the person or entity may request a hearing in writing. If it is determined that the Secretary had the authority to issue the cease and desist order, the Secretary may issue such orders as may be reasonably necessary to correct, eliminate, or remedy the conduct. The powers vested in the Secretary by this subsection (d) are additional to any and all other powers and remedies vested in the Secretary by law, and nothing in this subsection (d) shall be construed as requiring that the Secretary shall employ the power conferred in this subsection instead of or as a condition precedent to the exercise of any other power or remedy vested in the Secretary. (e) After 10 days' notice by certified mail to the person or entity stating the contemplated action and in general the grounds therefor, the Secretary may fine the person or entity an amount not exceeding $10,000 per violation if the person or entity has failed to comply with any provision of this Act or any order, decision, finding, rule, regulation, or direction of the Secretary lawfully made in accordance with the authority of this Act. Service by certified mail shall be deemed completed when the notice is deposited in the U.S. Mail. (f) A violation of this Act by a person or entity licensed under another Act including, but not limited to, the Consumer Installment Loan Act, the Payday Loan Reform Act, and the Sales Finance Agency Act shall subject the person or entity to discipline in accordance with the Act or Acts under which the person or entity is licensed.
(Source: P.A. 101-658, eff. 3-23-21.) |