reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
SC Code § 37-13-90 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 37 - Consumer Protection Code|Chapter 13 - Regulation Of The Subleasing And Loan Assumption Of Motor Vehicles|Section 37-13-90. Rights and remedies in addition to other rights and remedies.

 The rights and remedies in this chapter are in addition to other rights and remedies provided by law.  HISTORY: 1991 Act No. 132, Section 1.
SC Code § 37-15-10 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 37 - Consumer Protection Code|Chapter 15 - Prizes And Gifts|Section 37-15-10. Short title.

 This chapter may be cited as the Prizes and Gifts Act.  HISTORY: 1994 Act No. 483, Section 1.
SC Code § 37-15-20 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 37 - Consumer Protection Code|Chapter 15 - Prizes And Gifts|Section 37-15-20. Definitions.

 As used in this chapter:  (1) "Anything of value", "item of value", or "item" means an item or service with monetary value.  (2) "Handling charge" means a charge, fee, or sum of money that is paid by a consumer to receive a prize, gift, or an item of value including, but not limited to, promotional fees, redemption fees, registration fees, or delivery costs.  (3) "Person" means an individual, corporation, trust, partnership, association, and any other legal entity.  HISTORY: 1994 Act No. 483, Section 1.
SC Code § 37-15-30 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 37 - Consumer Protection Code|Chapter 15 - Prizes And Gifts|Section 37-15-30. Restrictions on representation that a person has won a prize or contest.

 (A) No person, in connection with the sale, lease, or solicitation for the sale or lease of goods, property, or service, may represent that another person has won anything of value or is the winner of a contest, unless these conditions are met:  (1) The recipient of the prize, gift, or item of value must be given the prize, gift, or item of value without monetary obligation.  (2) The prize, gift, or item of value must be delivered to the recipient at no expense to the recipient within ten days of the representation.  (B) The use of language that may lead a reasonable person to believe that the person has won a contest or anything of value including, but not limited to, "Congratulations", or "You have won", or "You are the winner of", is considered a representation of the type governed by this section.  (C) This section does not apply to a promotion or contest meeting the requirements or one of the stated exceptions to applicability set forth in Section 37-15-40.  HISTORY: 1994 Act No. 483, Section 1.
SC Code § 37-15-50 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 37 - Consumer Protection Code|Chapter 15 - Prizes And Gifts|Section 37-15-50. Restriction of representation that person has been specially selected.

 (A) No person may represent that another person has been specially selected in connection with the sale, lease, or solicitation for sale or lease of goods, property, or service, unless the selection process is designed to reach particular persons.  (B) The use of any language that may lead a reasonable person to believe that the person has been specially selected including, but not limited to, "Carefully selected", or "You have been selected to receive", or "You have been chosen", is considered a representation of the type governed by this section.  HISTORY: 1994 Act No. 483, Section 1.
SC Code § 37-15-60 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 37 - Consumer Protection Code|Chapter 15 - Prizes And Gifts|Section 37-15-60. Use of simulated checks or invoices restricted.

 In connection with a consumer transaction, no person may issue any writing that simulates or resembles:  (1) a check, unless the writing clearly and conspicuously discloses its true value and purpose, and the writing would not mislead a reasonable person; or  (2) an invoice, unless the intended recipient of the invoice has contracted for goods, property, or services for which the issuer seeks proper payment.  HISTORY: 1994 Act No. 483, Section 1.
SC Code § 37-15-70 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 37 - Consumer Protection Code|Chapter 15 - Prizes And Gifts|Section 37-15-70. Payment of excessive shipping or handling charges as precondition of receipt of gift or prize prohibited.

 (A) It is unlawful to notify a person that the person will receive a gift, prize, or item of value and that as a condition of receiving the gift, prize, or item of value the person will be required to pay for or purchase or lease, including rent, any goods or services, if:  (1) the shipping charges exceed:  (a) the cost of postage or the charge of a delivery service, in the business of delivering goods of like size, weight, and kind, for shipping the gift, prize, or item of value from the geographic area in which the gift, prize, or item of value is being distributed; or  (b) the exact amount for shipping the gift, prize, or item of value paid to an independent fulfillment house or an independent supplier, either of which is in the business of shipping goods for shippers other than the offeror of the gift, prize, or item of value; or  (2) the handling charge exceeds the lesser of five dollars or the actual cost of handling.  (B) This section applies to all offers of prizes, gifts, or items of value covered by this chapter.  HISTORY: 1994 Act No. 483, Section 1.
SC Code § 37-15-80 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 37 - Consumer Protection Code|Chapter 15 - Prizes And Gifts|Section 37-15-80. Civil actions to enforce chapter; costs.

 A consumer who suffers loss by reason of a violation of this chapter may bring a civil action to enforce the provisions and, if successful in the action, shall recover reasonable attorney's fees and court costs incurred by bringing the action.  HISTORY: 1994 Act No. 483, Section 1.
SC Code § 37-15-90 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 37 - Consumer Protection Code|Chapter 15 - Prizes And Gifts|Section 37-15-90. Violation of this chapter is unfair trade practice.

 A violation of this chapter constitutes a prohibited practice under the provisions of the Unfair Trade Practices Act and is subject to any of the enforcement provisions of that act.  HISTORY: 1994 Act No. 483, Section 1.
SC Code § 37-15-100 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 37 - Consumer Protection Code|Chapter 15 - Prizes And Gifts|Section 37-15-100. Procedures exempted from application of sections 37-15-40 through 37-15-70.

 Sections 37-15-40 through 37-15-70 do not apply to the sale, purchase, or solicitation or representation in connection therewith of goods from a catalog or of books, recordings, videocassettes, periodicals, and similar goods through a membership group or club that is regulated by the Federal Trade Commission concerning the use of negative option plans by sellers in commerce or through a contractual plan or arrangement, such as a continuity plan, subscription arrangement, or a single sale or purchase series arrangement, under which the seller ships goods to a consumer who has consented in advance to receive the goods, and after examination of the goods, the recipient of the goods is given the opportunity to receive a full refund of charges for the goods or a proportionate refund for an unused portion of the goods, upon return of the goods or the unused portion, undamaged.  HISTORY: 1994 Act No. 483, Section 1.
SC Code § 37-16-10 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 37 - Consumer Protection Code|Chapter 16 - Prepaid Legal Services|Section 37-16-10. Definitions.

 As used in this chapter:  (1) "Department" means the Department of Consumer Affairs.  (2) "Prepaid legal company" means a person or entity offering prepaid legal services to the general public or a segment of the general public.  (3) "Prepaid legal services" means legal services or reimbursement for legal services provided by an individual licensed or admitted to practice law in the jurisdiction in which the services are to be rendered, and which are provided in return for a predetermined, specified, periodic fee.  HISTORY: 2000 Act No. 328, Section 1.
SC Code § 37-16-20 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 37 - Consumer Protection Code|Chapter 16 - Prepaid Legal Services|Section 37-16-20. Registration; bond or letter of credit.

 Before commencing business in South Carolina, regardless of the means of doing business, any prepaid legal services company must register with the department on a form prescribed by the department. The form must be accompanied by a bond or letter of credit acceptable to the department in the amount of fifty thousand dollars, which must remain in force so long as the prepaid legal services company does business in South Carolina. The amount of the bond or letter of credit may only be increased by regulation.  HISTORY: 2000 Act No. 328, Section 1, eff July 1, 2000.
SC Code § 37-16-30 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 37 - Consumer Protection Code|Chapter 16 - Prepaid Legal Services|Section 37-16-30. Appointment of sales person as company representative; filing of name, address, and telephone number; renewal; fees; refusal or revocation of appointment.

 Before any sales or solicitation activity commences, a person seeking to be involved in direct selling or direct in-person or electronic solicitation of the general public or segments of the general public, on behalf of a prepaid legal services company, must be appointed a representative of that prepaid legal services company by filing with the department, on a form prescribed by the department, the appointee's name, address, and telephone number. The appointment must be renewed each year no later than October first. The department may collect a fee of forty dollars with each initial or renewal filing and may use the proceeds to offset the costs of administering and enforcing this chapter. Appointment may be refused or revoked upon a finding that a prospective representative or representative has been convicted of a crime of deceit or dishonesty within the previous ten years.  HISTORY: 2000 Act No. 328, Section 1, eff July 1, 2000; 2008 Act No. 353, Section 2, Pt 16A, eff July 1, 2009.
SC Code § 37-16-40 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 37 - Consumer Protection Code|Chapter 16 - Prepaid Legal Services|Section 37-16-40. Annual registration; affirmation of continuation of bond; fee.

 (A) No later than March first of each year, commencing immediately after registration required by Section 37-16-20, a prepaid legal services company registered with the department must file on a form prescribed by the department an updated registration statement to include a sworn affirmation as to continuation of the bond or letter of credit required by Section 37-16-20.  (B) In connection with its annual registration, the prepaid legal services company must pay a registration fee of eight hundred dollars which the department may utilize for purposes of administering this chapter.  HISTORY: 2000 Act No. 328, Section 1.
SC Code § 37-16-50 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 37 - Consumer Protection Code|Chapter 16 - Prepaid Legal Services|Section 37-16-50. Prior approval of contracts; required provisions as to selection of attorney; approval process.

 Contracts offering prepaid legal services must be filed with the department for approval prior to being offered to the general public or a segment of the general public. A contract for prepaid legal services must include a provision allowing the member or beneficiary the right to select the attorney of his choice when legal services are needed. If this option is chosen, the company may adjust the amount the member or beneficiary is charged to participate in the prepaid legal services plan. However, approval must not be withheld unless the contract is false, misleading, unfair, deceptive, or is in violation of this chapter or other applicable law. Contracts filed are deemed approved if the department does not notify the prepaid legal services company of its nonapproval within forty-five days of receipt of the contract.  HISTORY: 2000 Act No. 328, Section 1.
SC Code § 37-16-60 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 37 - Consumer Protection Code|Chapter 16 - Prepaid Legal Services|Section 37-16-60. Complaints.

 A consumer aggrieved by a prepaid legal company may file a complaint with the department which shall review the complaint, investigate it as the department considers appropriate, and initiate action as authorized by law.  HISTORY: 2000 Act No. 328, Section 1.
SC Code § 37-16-70 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 37 - Consumer Protection Code|Chapter 16 - Prepaid Legal Services|Section 37-16-70. Contested case hearing with Administrative Law Court.

 (A) The department may file a request for a contested case hearing with the Administrative Law Court if a prepaid legal services company violates a provision of this chapter and the prepaid legal services company is subject to any combination of the following:  (1) an administrative order to cease and desist from committing violations of this chapter;  (2) administrative fines up to five thousand dollars; and  (3) revocation or denial of registration.  (B) Upon satisfactory evidence that a prepaid legal services company representative has violated or failed to comply with a provision of this chapter or regulation promulgated pursuant to the authority of this chapter, the administrator may issue an order requiring the company representative to cease and desist from engaging in the violation or revoke or suspend the company representative's authority. A prepaid legal services company representative may file a request for a contested case hearing with the Administrative Law Court if it believes it is aggrieved by the decision of the administrator.  HISTORY: 2000 Act No. 328, Section 1; 2005 Act No. 128, Section 8, eff July 1, 2005.  Editor's Note  2005 Act No. 128, Section 27, provides as follows:  "This act takes effect on July 1, 2005, and applies to all licensing and administrative hearings involving the South Carolina Department of Consumer Affairs."
SC Code § 37-16-80 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 37 - Consumer Protection Code|Chapter 16 - Prepaid Legal Services|Section 37-16-80. Failure to abide by contract; use of false, or deceptive acts or practices; repeated or systematic failure to comply or engaging in deceptive acts; sanctions.

 For purposes of this chapter, the failure to abide by the terms of a filed contract or the use of false, misleading, unfair or deceptive acts or practices on the part of a prepaid legal services company is a violation of the Consumer Protection Code and subject to all of the remedies of Chapter 6. Repeated or systematic failure to abide by the terms of a filed contract or repeated or systematic use of false, misleading, unfair or deceptive acts or practices on the part of a prepaid legal services company are grounds for revocation or refusal to register the company or for disallowance for entering new contracts with the public or segments of the public until the violations are remedied to the satisfaction of the department.  HISTORY: 2000 Act No. 328, Section 1.
SC Code § 37-16-90 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 37 - Consumer Protection Code|Chapter 16 - Prepaid Legal Services|Section 37-16-90. Promulgation of rules and regulations.

 The department is authorized to promulgate rules and regulations for the implementation of this chapter.  HISTORY: 2000 Act No. 328, Section 1.
SC Code § 37-17-10 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 37 - Consumer Protection Code|Chapter 17 - Discount Medical Plan Organizations|Section 37-17-10. Citation of chapter.

 This chapter may be cited as the "Discount Medical Plan Organization Registration Act".  HISTORY: 2000 Act No. 400, Section 3; 2001 Act No. 82, Section 6, eff July 20, 2001; 2006 Act No. 377, Section 1, eff January 1, 2007.
SC Code § 37-17-20 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 37 - Consumer Protection Code|Chapter 17 - Discount Medical Plan Organizations|Section 37-17-20. Definitions.

 As used in this chapter:  (1) "Administrator" means the administrator of the South Carolina Department of Consumer Affairs.  (2) "Discount medical plan organization" means an entity that, in exchange for fees, dues, charges, or other consideration, provides access for customers to providers of health care services and the right to receive health care services from those providers at a discount. There can be only one discount medical plan organization for each discount program. The discount medical plan organization is the organization that contracts with providers, provider networks, or other discount medical plan organizations to offer access to medical or ancillary services at a discount and determines the charge to discount medical plan customers.  (3) "Health care services" means any care, service, or treatment of an illness or dysfunction of, or injury to, the human body. Health care services includes, but is not limited to, physician care, inpatient care, hospital surgical services, emergency medical services, ambulance services, dental care services, vision care services, mental health care services, substance abuse services, chiropractic services, podiatric services, laboratory test services, the provision of medical equipment or supplies, and pharmaceutical supplies or prescriptions.  (4) "Department" means the South Carolina Department of Consumer Affairs.  (5) "Marketer" means a corporation, partnership, or other business entity including, but not limited to, a health maintenance organization, an insurance company, or third party payor, who sells, markets, promotes, advertises, or distributes a discount medical plan or other purchasing mechanism or device that purports to offer discounts or access to discounts from the health care providers described in item (3) in this State on behalf of a discount medical plan organization.  (6) "Representative" means an individual who is designated by a discount medical plan organization, as defined in this section, and acts or aids on behalf of the discount medical plan organization in the solicitation, negotiation, or renewal of a discount medical plan with respect to South Carolina citizens.  (7) "Customer" means an individual who pays for the right to receive the benefits of a discount medical plan.  (8) "Medicare prescription drug plan" means a plan that provides a Medicare Part D prescription drug benefit in accordance with the requirements of the federal Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003 (MMA).  HISTORY: 2006 Act No. 377, Section 1, eff January 1, 2007.
SC Code § 37-17-50 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 37 - Consumer Protection Code|Chapter 17 - Discount Medical Plan Organizations|Section 37-17-50. Representative or marketer status.

 (A) An individual may not act as a representative of a discount medical plan organization without the discount medical plan organization having registered with the department in accordance with Section 37-17-40(A). A marketer may not act on behalf of a discount medical plan organization without a discount medical plan organization having registered with the department. Registration as a representative or marketer must be made to the department in writing or electronically through a list provided by the discount medical plan organization in accordance with Section 37-17-40(C).  (B) The discount medical plan organization shall furnish information concerning the representative's identity and business address. Filings are good for one year and run from February first until January thirty-first. The annual renewal period begins January first and ends January thirty-first.  (C) Representative or marketer status may be denied or revoked if the department has multiple founded complaints against the representative or marketer following the department's investigation or if the department has unanswered or unresolved complaints against the representative or marketer. Violations of Title 37 within ten years may serve as grounds for denial or revocation of registration status.  HISTORY: 2006 Act No. 377, Section 1, eff January 1, 2007.
SC Code § 37-17-52 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 37 - Consumer Protection Code|Chapter 17 - Discount Medical Plan Organizations|Section 37-17-52. Information provided to applicant.

 (A) A discount medical plan organization shall provide to an applicant, the time of application, information that describes the terms and conditions of the discount medical plan, including limitations or restrictions on the refund of processing fees or periodic charges associated with the discount medical plan, and to a new customer, a written document that contains the terms and conditions of the discount medical plan.  (B) The written document required pursuant to subsection (A) must be clear and include:  (1) the name of the customer;  (2) the benefits to be provided under the discount medical plan;  (3) processing fees and periodic charges associated with the discount medical plan including any limitations or restrictions on the refund of processing fees and periodic charges;  (4) the mode and timing of payment of processing fees and periodic charges and procedures for changing the mode of payment;  (5) any limitations, exclusions, or exceptions regarding the receipt of discount medical plan benefits;  (6) waiting periods for certain medical or ancillary services under the discount medical plan;  (7) procedures for obtaining discounts under the discount medical plan, such as requiring customers to contact the discount medical plan organization to make an appointment with a provider on the customer's behalf;  (8) cancellation procedures including information on the customer's thirty-day cancellation rights and refund requirements and procedures for obtaining refunds;  (9) renewal, termination, and cancellation terms and conditions;  (10) procedures for adding new customers to a family discount medical plan, if applicable;  (11) procedures for filing complaints under the discount medical plan organization's complaint system; and  (12) the name and mailing address of the registered discount medical plan organization or other entity where the customer can make inquiries about the plan, send cancellation notices and file complaints.  HISTORY: 2006 Act No. 377, Section 1, eff January 1, 2007.