Minnesota Session Laws - 2013, Regular Session

CHAPTER 91--H.F.No. 694

An act

relating to debt management and debt settlement; clarifying exemption for attorneys at law; modifying regulation of debt settlement services;

amending Minnesota Statutes 2012, sections 332A.02, subdivision 8, by adding a subdivision; 332B.02, subdivision 13, by adding a subdivision; 332B.06, subdivisions 1, 4; 332B.09.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 332A.02, subdivision 8, is amended to read:

Subd. 8.

Debt management services provider.

"Debt management services provider" means any person offering or providing debt management services to a debtor domiciled in this state, regardless of whether or not a fee is charged for the services and regardless of whether the person maintains a physical presence in the state. This term includes any person to whom debt management services are delegated, and does not include services performed by the following when engaged in the regular course of their respective businesses and professions:

(1) new text begin exempt new text end attorneys at law, escrow agents, accountants, broker-dealers in securities;

(2) state or national banks, credit unions, trust companies, savings associations, title insurance companies, insurance companies, and all other lending institutions duly authorized to transact business in Minnesota;

(3) persons who, as employees on a regular salary or wage of an employer not engaged in the business of debt management, perform credit services for their employer;

(4) public officers acting in their official capacities and persons acting as a debt management services provider pursuant to court order;

(5) any person while performing services incidental to the dissolution, winding up, or liquidation of a partnership, corporation, or other business enterprise;

(6) the state, its political subdivisions, public agencies, and their employees;

(7) collection agencies, provided that the services are provided to a creditor;

(8) "qualified organizations" designated as representative payees for purposes of the Social Security and Supplemental Security Income Representative Payee System and the federal Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990, Public Law 101-508;

(9) accelerated mortgage payment providers. "Accelerated mortgage payment providers" are persons who, after satisfying the requirements of sections 332.30 to 332.303, receive funds to make mortgage payments to a lender or lenders, on behalf of mortgagors, in order to exceed regularly scheduled minimum payment obligations under the terms of the indebtedness. The term does not include: (i) persons or entities described in clauses (1) to (8); (ii) mortgage lenders or servicers, industrial loan and thrift companies, or regulated lenders under chapter 56; or (iii) persons authorized to make loans under section 47.20, subdivision 1. For purposes of this clause and sections 332.30 to 332.303, "lender" means the original lender or that lender's assignee, whichever is the current mortgage holder;

(10) trustees, guardians, and conservators; and

(11) debt settlement services providers.

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 332A.02, is amended by adding a subdivision to read:

new text begin Subd. 10a. new text end

new text begin Exempt attorney at law. new text end

new text begin "Exempt attorney at law" means an attorney licensed or otherwise authorized to practice law in this state: new text end

new text begin (1) whose exclusive or principal practice does not involve the provision of debt management services; and new text end

new text begin (2) who does not have a business relationship with a debt management services provider that involves the provision of debt management services. new text end

Sec. 3.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 332B.02, subdivision 13, is amended to read:

Subd. 13.

Debt settlement services provider.

"Debt settlement services provider" means any person offering or providing debt settlement services to a debtor domiciled in this state, regardless of whether or not a fee is charged for the services and regardless of whether the person maintains a physical presence in the state. The term includes any person to whom debt settlement services are delegated. The term shall not include new text begin an exempt attorney at law and new text end persons listed in section 332A.02, subdivision 8, clauses deleted text begin (1) deleted text end new text begin (2) new text end to (10), or a debt management services provider.

Sec. 4.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 332B.02, is amended by adding a subdivision to read:

new text begin Subd. 13a. new text end

new text begin Exempt attorney at law. new text end

new text begin "Exempt attorney at law" means an attorney licensed or otherwise authorized to practice law in this state: new text end

new text begin (1) whose exclusive or principal practice does not involve the provision of debt settlement services; and new text end

new text begin (2) who does not have a business relationship with a debt settlement services provider that involves the provision of debt settlement services. new text end

Sec. 5.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 332B.06, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

Written agreement required.

(a) A debt settlement services provider may not perform, or impose any charges or receive any payment for, any debt settlement services until the provider and the debtor have executed a debt settlement services agreement that contains all terms of the agreement between the debt settlement services provider and the debtor, and the provider complies with all the applicable requirements of this chapter.

(b) A debt settlement services agreement must:

(1) be in writing, dated, and signed by the debt settlement services provider and the debtor;

(2) conspicuously indicate whether or not the debt settlement services provider is registered with the Minnesota Department of Commerce and include any registration number; and

(3) be written in the debtor's primary language if the debt settlement services provider advertises in that language new text begin , or in the language in which the agreement was negotiated, regardless of whether the debt settlement services provider advertises in that language new text end .

(c) The registrant must furnish the debtor with a copy of the signed contract upon execution.

Sec. 6.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 332B.06, subdivision 4, is amended to read:

Subd. 4.

Disclosures.

(a) A person offering to provide or providing debt settlement services must disclose both orally and in writing whether or not the person is registered with the Minnesota Department of Commerce and any registration number.

(b) No person may provide debt settlement services unless the person first has provided, both orally and in writing, on a single sheet of paper, separate from any other document or writing, the following verbatim notice:

CAUTION

We CANNOT GUARANTEE that you will successfully reduce or eliminate your debt.

If you stop paying your creditors, there is a strong likelihood some or all of the following may happen:

• YOUR WAGES OR BANK ACCOUNT MAY STILL BE GARNISHED.

• YOU MAY STILL BE CONTACTED BY CREDITORS.

• YOU MAY STILL BE SUED BY CREDITORS for the money you owe.

• FEES, INTEREST, AND OTHER CHARGES WILL CONTINUE TO MOUNT UP DURING THE (INSERT NUMBER) MONTHS THIS PLAN IS IN EFFECT.

Even if we do settle your debt, YOU MAY STILL HAVE TO PAY TAXES on the amount forgiven.

Your credit rating may be adversely affected.

(c) The heading, "CAUTION," must be in bold, underlined, 28-point type, and the remaining text must be in 14-point type, with a double space between each statement.

(d) The disclosures and notices required under this subdivision must be provided in the debtor's primary language if the debt settlement services provider advertises in that language new text begin , or in the language in which the agreement was negotiated, regardless of whether the debt settlement services provider advertises in that language new text end .

Sec. 7.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 332B.09, is amended to read:

332B.09 FEES; WITHDRAWAL OF CREDITORS; NOTIFICATION TO DEBTOR OF SETTLEMENT OFFER.

Subdivision 1.

Choice of fee structure.

A debt settlement services provider may calculate fees on a percentage of debt basis or on a percentage of savings basis. The fee structure shall be clearly disclosed and explained in the debt settlement services agreement.

Subd. 2.

deleted text begin Fees as a percentage of debt deleted text end new text begin Calculation of fees new text end .

(a) The total amount of the fees claimed, demanded, charged, collected, or received under deleted text begin this subdivision deleted text end new text begin a debt settlement services agreement new text end shall be deleted text begin calculated as 15 percent of the aggregate debt. A debt settlement services provider that calculates fees as a percentage of debt may deleted text end :

deleted text begin (1) charge an origination fee, which may be designated by the debt settlement services provider as nonrefundable, of: deleted text end

deleted text begin (i) $200 on aggregate debt of less than $20,000; or deleted text end

deleted text begin (ii) $400 on aggregate debt of $20,000 or more; deleted text end

deleted text begin (2) charge a monthly fee of: deleted text end

deleted text begin (i) no greater than $50 per month on aggregate debt of less than $40,000; and deleted text end

deleted text begin (ii) no greater than $60 per month on aggregate debt of $40,000 or more; and deleted text end

deleted text begin (3) charge a settlement fee for the remainder of the allowable fees, which may be demanded and collected no earlier than upon delivery to the debt settlement services provider by a creditor of a bona fide written settlement offer consistent with the terms of the debt settlement services agreement. A settlement fee may be assessed for each debt settled, but the sum total of the origination fee, the monthly fee, and the settlement fee may not exceed 15 percent of the aggregate debt. deleted text end

deleted text begin (b) The collection of monthly fees shall cease under this subdivision when the total monthly fees and the origination fee equals 40 percent of the total fees allowable under this subdivision. deleted text end

deleted text begin (c) In no event may more than 40 percent of the total amount of fees allowable be claimed, demanded, charged, collected, or received by a debt settlement services provider any earlier than upon delivery to the debt settlement services provider by a creditor of a bona fide written settlement offer consistent with the terms of the debt settlement services agreement. deleted text end

new text begin (1) for fees calculated on a percentage of debt basis, no greater than 15 percent of the aggregate debt; and new text end

new text begin (2) for fees calculated on a percentage of savings basis, no greater than 30 percent of the savings actually negotiated by the debt settlement services provider. The savings shall be calculated as the difference between the aggregate debt that is stated in the debt settlement services agreement at the time of its execution and the total amount that the debtor actually pays to settle all the debts included in the debt settlement services agreement, provided that only savings resulting from concessions actually negotiated by the debt settlement services provider may be counted. new text end

Subd. 3.

deleted text begin Fees as a percentage of savings deleted text end new text begin Collection of fees new text end .

deleted text begin (a) The total amount of the fees claimed, demanded, charged, collected, or received under this subdivision shall be calculated as 30 percent of the savings actually negotiated by the debt settlement services provider. The savings shall be calculated as the difference between the aggregate debt that is stated in the debt settlement services agreement at the time of its execution and total amount that the debtor actually pays to settle all the debts stated in the debt settlement services agreement, provided that only savings resulting from concessions actually negotiated by the debt settlement services provider may be counted. A debt settlement services provider that calculates fees as a percentage of savings may: deleted text end

deleted text begin (1) charge an origination fee, which may be designated by the debt settlement services provider as nonrefundable, of: deleted text end

deleted text begin (i) $300 on aggregate debt of less than $20,000; or deleted text end

deleted text begin (ii) $500 on aggregate debt of $20,000 or more; deleted text end

deleted text begin (2) charge a monthly fee of: deleted text end

deleted text begin (i) no greater than $65 on aggregate debt of less than $40,000; and deleted text end

deleted text begin (ii) no greater than $75 on aggregate debt of $40,000 or more; and deleted text end

deleted text begin (3) charge a settlement fee for the remainder of the allowable fees, which may be demanded and collected no earlier than upon delivery to the debt settlement services provider by a creditor of a bona fide, final written settlement offer consistent with the terms of the debt settlement services agreement. A settlement fee may be assessed for each debt settled, but the sum total of the origination fee, the monthly fee, and the settlement fee may not exceed 30 percent of the savings, as calculated under paragraph (a). deleted text end

deleted text begin (b) The collection of monthly fees shall cease under this subdivision when the total of monthly fees and the origination fee equals 50 percent of the total fees allowable under this subdivision. For the purposes of this subdivision, 50 percent of the total fees allowable shall assume a settlement of 50 cents on the dollar. deleted text end

deleted text begin (c) In no event may more than 50 percent of the total amount of fees allowable be claimed, demanded, charged, collected, or received by a debt settlement services provider any earlier than upon delivery to the debt settlement services provider by a creditor of a bona fide, final written settlement offer consistent with the terms of the debt settlement services agreement. deleted text end

new text begin A debt settlement services provider may not impose or collect any payment pursuant to a debt settlement services agreement before the debt settlement service provider has fully performed all of the following: new text end

new text begin (1) the debt settlement services contained in the agreement; and new text end

new text begin (2) any additional services the debt settlement services provider has agreed to perform. new text end

new text begin If more than one debt is the subject of the debt settlement services agreement, a debt settlement services provider may only charge or collect that proportion of total fees allowable under this section that equals the proportion of the aggregate debt the individual settled debt represents. new text end

Subd. 4.

Fees exclusive.

No fees, charges, assessments, or any other compensation may be claimed, demanded, charged, collected, or received other than the fees allowed under this section. Any fees collected in excess of those allowed under this section must be immediately returned to the debtor.

Subd. 5.

Withdrawal of creditor.

Whenever a creditor withdraws from a debt settlement services plan, the debt settlement services provider must promptly notify the debtor of the withdrawal, identify the creditor, and inform the debtor of the right to modify the debt settlement services agreement, unless at least 50 percent of the listed creditors withdraw, in which case the debt settlement services provider must notify the debtor of the debtor's right to cancel. In no case may this notice be provided more than 15 days after the debt settlement services provider learns of the creditor's decision to withdraw from a plan.

Subd. 6.

Timely notification of settlement offer.

A debt settlement services provider must make all reasonable efforts to notify the debtor within 24 hours of a settlement offer made by a creditor.

Sec. 8.

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin Sections 5 to 7 are effective for debt settlement service agreements entered into on or after August 1, 2013. new text end

Presented to the governor May 21, 2013

Signed by the governor May 24, 2013, 2:43 p.m.