reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
VA Code § 6.2-2034 (2021)
2021 Code of Virginia|Title 6.2 - Financial Institutions and Services|Chapter 20.1 - Debt Settlement Services Providers|§ 6.2-2034. Retention of books, accounts, and records; responding to Bureau

A. Every licensee shall maintain in its licensed offices such books, accounts, and records as the Commission may reasonably require in order to determine whether the licensee is complying with the provisions of this chapter and regulations adopted thereunder. Such books, accounts, and records shall be maintained apart and separate from any other business in which the licensee is involved. Such records relating to debt settlement services agreements shall be retained for at least three years after the debt settlement services agreements are terminated. To safeguard the privacy of consumers, records containing personal financial information shall be shredded, incinerated, or otherwise disposed of in a secure manner. Licensees may arrange for the shredding, incineration, or other disposal of the records from a business record destruction vendor.B. When the Bureau requests a written response, books, records, documentation, or other information from a licensee in connection with the Bureau's investigation, enforcement, or examination of compliance with applicable laws, the licensee shall deliver a written response, as well as any requested books, records, documentation, or information within the time period specified in the Bureau's request. If no time period is specified, a written response, as well as any requested books, records, documentation, or information, shall be delivered by the licensee to the Bureau not later than 30 days from the date of such request. In determining the specified time period for responding to the Bureau and when considering a request for an extension of time to respond, the Bureau shall take into consideration the volume and complexity of the requested written response, books, records, documentation, or information and such other factors as the Bureau determines to be relevant under the circumstances.2020, c. 785.
VA Code § 6.2-2035 (2021)
2021 Code of Virginia|Title 6.2 - Financial Institutions and Services|Chapter 20.1 - Debt Settlement Services Providers|§ 6.2-2035. Annual report

Each licensee under this chapter shall annually, on or before March 25, file a written report with the Commissioner containing such information as the Commissioner may require concerning the licensee's business and operations during the preceding calendar year as to each licensed place of business. Reports shall be made under oath and shall be in the form prescribed by the Commissioner.2020, c. 785.
VA Code § 6.2-2036 (2021)
2021 Code of Virginia|Title 6.2 - Financial Institutions and Services|Chapter 20.1 - Debt Settlement Services Providers|§ 6.2-2036. Other reporting requirements

A. Within 15 days following the occurrence of any of the following events, a licensee shall file a written report with the Commission describing such event and its expected impact on the business of the licensee:1. The filing of bankruptcy, reorganization, or receivership proceedings by or against the licensee;2. The institution of administrative or regulatory proceedings against the licensee by any governmental authority;3. Any felony indictments of the licensee or any of its members, partners, directors, officers, trustees, beneficiaries, or principals, if known;4. Any felony conviction of the licensee or any of its members, partners, directors, officers, trustees, beneficiaries, or principals, if known;5. The institution of an action against the licensee under the Virginia Consumer Protection Act (§ 59.1-196 et seq.) by the Attorney General or any other governmental authority; or6. Such other event as the Commission may prescribe by regulation.B. Within 30 days of judgment against the licensee in a civil action relating to the debt settlement services agreement of a consumer, a licensee shall file a written report with the Commission describing such event and its expected impact on the business of the licensee.C. Within 10 days of receipt of any qualified audit, a licensee shall notify the Commission and describe what steps are being taken to address concerns raised in the audit.2020, c. 785.
VA Code § 6.2-2037 (2021)
2021 Code of Virginia|Title 6.2 - Financial Institutions and Services|Chapter 20.1 - Debt Settlement Services Providers|§ 6.2-2037. Investigations; examinations

The Commission may, by its designated officers and employees, as often as it deems necessary, investigate and examine the affairs, business, premises, and records of any person licensed or required to be licensed under this chapter insofar as they pertain to any business for which a license is required by this chapter. Examinations of licensees shall be conducted at least once in each three-year period. In the course of such investigations and examinations, the owners, members, officers, directors, partners, trustees, beneficiaries, and employees of such person being investigated or examined shall, upon demand of the person making such investigation or examination, afford full access to all premises, books, records, and information that the person making such investigation or examination deems necessary. For the purposes of this section, the person making such investigation or examination shall have authority to administer oaths, examine under oath all the aforementioned persons, and compel the production of papers and objects of all kinds.2020, c. 785.
VA Code § 6.2-2038 (2021)
2021 Code of Virginia|Title 6.2 - Financial Institutions and Services|Chapter 20.1 - Debt Settlement Services Providers|§ 6.2-2038. Annual fees

A. To defray the costs of the examination, supervision, and regulation of licensees, every licensee under this chapter shall pay an annual fee calculated in accordance with a schedule set by the Commission. The schedule shall bear a reasonable relationship to the total number of agreements to provide debt settlement services maintained by licensees, to the actual costs of their examinations, and to other factors relating to their supervision and regulation. All such fees shall be assessed on or before June 1 for every calendar year. All such fees shall be paid by the licensee to the State Treasurer on or before July 1 following each assessment.B. In addition to the annual fee prescribed in subsection A, when it becomes necessary to examine or investigate the books and records of a licensee under this chapter at a location outside the Commonwealth, the licensee shall be liable for and shall pay to the Commission within 30 days of the presentation of an itemized statement the actual travel and reasonable living expenses incurred on account of its examination, supervision, and regulation, or shall pay at a reasonable per diem rate approved by the Commission.2020, c. 785.
VA Code § 6.2-2039 (2021)
2021 Code of Virginia|Title 6.2 - Financial Institutions and Services|Chapter 20.1 - Debt Settlement Services Providers|§ 6.2-2039. Regulations

The Commission shall adopt such regulations as it deems appropriate to effect the purposes of this chapter. Before adopting any such regulation, the Commission shall give reasonable notice of its content and shall afford interested parties an opportunity to be heard, in accordance with the Commission's Rules.2020, c. 785.
VA Code § 6.2-2041 (2021)
2021 Code of Virginia|Title 6.2 - Financial Institutions and Services|Chapter 20.1 - Debt Settlement Services Providers|§ 6.2-2041. Fee

A. For providing debt settlement services, a licensee may charge or receive a fee totaling either (i) no more than 20 percent of the principal amount of the debt enrolled by a consumer into the licensee's service or (ii) no more than 30 percent of the difference between the amount owed by a consumer at the time the licensee settles the debt and the amount to be paid by the consumer to satisfy the debt.B. If more than one debt is the subject of a debt settlement services agreement, the licensee may only charge or collect that proportion of the total fee allowable under clause (i) of subsection A that equals the proportion of the aggregate debt the individual settled debt represents.C. A licensee shall not charge or receive any other fee or compensation from a consumer for providing debt settlement services other than the fee provided for in this section.2020, c. 785.
VA Code § 6.2-2042 (2021)
2021 Code of Virginia|Title 6.2 - Financial Institutions and Services|Chapter 20.1 - Debt Settlement Services Providers|§ 6.2-2042. Advertising

No person licensed or required to be licensed under this chapter shall use or cause to be published any advertisement that (i) contains any false, misleading, or deceptive statement or representation or (ii) identifies the person by any name other than the name set forth on the license issued by the Commission.2020, c. 785.
VA Code § 6.2-2043 (2021)
2021 Code of Virginia|Title 6.2 - Financial Institutions and Services|Chapter 20.1 - Debt Settlement Services Providers|§ 6.2-2043. Suspension or revocation of license

A. The Commission may suspend or revoke any license issued under this chapter upon any of the following grounds:1. Any ground for denial of a license under this chapter;2. Any violation of the provisions of this chapter or regulations adopted by the Commission thereunder, or a violation of any other law or regulation applicable to the conduct of the licensee's business;3. A course of conduct consisting of the failure to perform written agreements with consumers;4. Conviction of a felony or misdemeanor involving fraud, misrepresentation, or deceit;5. Entry of a judgment against the licensee involving fraud, misrepresentation, or deceit;6. Entry of a federal or state administrative order against such licensee for violation of any law or any regulation applicable to the conduct of his business;7. Refusal to permit an investigation or examination by the Commission;8. Failure to pay any fee or assessment imposed by this chapter;9. Failure to comply with any order of the Commission; or10. Insolvency of the licensee.B. For the purposes of this section, acts of any officer, director, member, trustee, beneficiary, partner, or principal shall be deemed acts of the licensee.2020, c. 785.
VA Code § 6.2-2044 (2021)
2021 Code of Virginia|Title 6.2 - Financial Institutions and Services|Chapter 20.1 - Debt Settlement Services Providers|§ 6.2-2044. Cease and desist orders

A. If the Commission determines that any person has violated any provision of this chapter or any regulation adopted hereunder, the Commission may, upon 21 days' notice in writing, order such person to cease and desist from such practices and to comply with the provisions of this chapter. The notice shall be sent by certified mail to the principal place of business of such person or other address authorized under § 12.1-19.1 and shall state the grounds for the contemplated action. Within 14 days of mailing the notice, the person or persons named therein may file with the clerk of the Commission a written request for a hearing. If a hearing is requested, the Commission shall not issue a cease and desist order except based upon findings made at such hearing. Such hearing shall be conducted in accordance with the Commission's Rules. The Commission may enforce compliance with any order issued under this section by imposition and collection of such fines and penalties as may be prescribed by law.B. When, in the opinion of the Commission, immediate action is required to protect the public interest, a cease and desist order may be issued without prior hearing. In such cases, the Commission shall make a hearing available to the person on an expedited basis.C. The Commission shall have jurisdiction to enter and enforce a cease and desist order against any person, regardless of whether such person is present in the Commonwealth, who violates any provision of this chapter or any regulation adopted hereunder.2020, c. 785.
VA Code § 6.2-2045 (2021)
2021 Code of Virginia|Title 6.2 - Financial Institutions and Services|Chapter 20.1 - Debt Settlement Services Providers|§ 6.2-2045. Notice of proposed suspension or revocation

The Commission shall not revoke or suspend the license of any person licensed under this chapter upon any of the grounds set forth in § 6.2-2043 until it has given the licensee 21 days' notice in writing of the reasons for the proposed revocation or suspension and an opportunity to introduce evidence and be heard. The notice shall be sent by certified mail to the principal place of business of the licensee or other address authorized under § 12.1-19.1 and shall state with particularity the grounds for the contemplated action. Within 14 days of mailing the notice, the person or persons named therein may file with the clerk of the Commission a written request for a hearing. If a hearing is requested, the Commission shall not suspend or revoke the license except on the basis of findings made at such hearing. The hearing shall be conducted in accordance with the Commission's Rules.2020, c. 785.
VA Code § 6.2-2046 (2021)
2021 Code of Virginia|Title 6.2 - Financial Institutions and Services|Chapter 20.1 - Debt Settlement Services Providers|§ 6.2-2046. Civil penalties

In addition to the authority conferred under §§ 6.2-2043 and 6.2-2044, the Commission may impose a civil penalty not exceeding $1,000 upon any person who it determines, in proceedings commenced in accordance with the Commission's Rules, has violated any of the provisions of this chapter. For the purposes of this section, each separate violation shall be subject to the civil penalty herein prescribed. In the case of a violation of § 6.2-2027, each debt settlement services agreement entered into shall constitute a separate violation.2020, c. 785.
VA Code § 6.2-2047 (2021)
2021 Code of Virginia|Title 6.2 - Financial Institutions and Services|Chapter 20.1 - Debt Settlement Services Providers|§ 6.2-2047. Criminal penalty

Any person violating subsection A of § 6.2-2027 is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. For purposes of this section, each violation shall constitute a separate offense.2020, c. 785.
VA Code § 6.2-2048 (2021)
2021 Code of Virginia|Title 6.2 - Financial Institutions and Services|Chapter 20.1 - Debt Settlement Services Providers|§ 6.2-2048. Private right of action

Any person who suffers loss by reason of a violation of any provision of this chapter may bring a civil action to enforce such provision. Any person who is successful in such action shall recover reasonable attorney fees, expert witness fees, and court costs incurred by bringing such action.2020, c. 785.
VA Code § 6.2-2049 (2021)
2021 Code of Virginia|Title 6.2 - Financial Institutions and Services|Chapter 20.1 - Debt Settlement Services Providers|§ 6.2-2049. Authority of Attorney General; referral by Commission to Attorney General

A. If the Commission determines that a person is in violation, or has violated, any provision of this chapter, the Commission may refer the information to the Attorney General and may request that the Attorney General investigate such violations. With or without such referral, the Attorney General is hereby authorized to seek to enjoin violations of this chapter. The circuit court having jurisdiction may enjoin such violations notwithstanding the existence of an adequate remedy at law.B. The Attorney General may also seek, and the circuit court may order or decree, damages and such other relief allowed by law, including restitution to the extent available to consumers under applicable law. Persons entitled to any relief as authorized by this section shall be identified by order of the court within 180 days from the date of the order permanently enjoining the unlawful act or practice.C. In any action brought by the Attorney General by virtue of the authority granted in this provision, the Attorney General shall be entitled to seek reasonable attorney fees and costs.D. If the Attorney General files an action to enjoin violations of this chapter, the Attorney General shall provide notice of such action to the Commission.2020, c. 785.
VA Code § 6.2-2050 (2021)
2021 Code of Virginia|Title 6.2 - Financial Institutions and Services|Chapter 20.1 - Debt Settlement Services Providers|§ 6.2-2050. Violation of the Virginia Consumer Protection Act

Any violation of the provisions of this chapter shall constitute a prohibited practice in accordance with § 59.1-200 and shall be subject to any and all of the enforcement provisions of the Virginia Consumer Protection Act (§ 59.1-196 et seq.).2020, c. 785.
VA Code § 6.2-2100 (2021)
2021 Code of Virginia|Title 6.2 - Financial Institutions and Services|Chapter 21 - Check Cashers|§ 6.2-2100. Definitions

As used in this chapter, unless the context requires a different meaning:"Check casher" means a person engaged in the business of cashing checks, drafts, or money orders for compensation."Item" means a check, draft, or money order."Registrant" means a person registered under this chapter."Registration" means a registration filed under this chapter.1995, c. 221, § 6.1-432; 2010, c. 794.
VA Code § 6.2-2101 (2021)
2021 Code of Virginia|Title 6.2 - Financial Institutions and Services|Chapter 21 - Check Cashers|§ 6.2-2101. Registration requirement; offices

A. No person shall engage in business as a check casher in the Commonwealth unless such person has first registered with the Commission in accordance with procedures established by the Commission under this chapter.B. Every registered check casher shall give written notice to the Commission, within 10 days thereafter, of the opening, closing, or relocation of an office.1995, c. 221, § 6.1-433; 1999, c. 529; 2010, c. 794.
VA Code § 6.2-2102 (2021)
2021 Code of Virginia|Title 6.2 - Financial Institutions and Services|Chapter 21 - Check Cashers|§ 6.2-2102. Exempt persons

This chapter shall not apply to:1. Any person who:a. Does not hold itself out to be a check cashing service;b. Is principally engaged in the bona fide retail sale of goods or services;c. Either as an incident to or independently of such a retail sale from time to time cashes items; andd. Charges a fee or other consideration for the service that does not exceed the greater of $2 or two percent of the amount of the item; or2. Any person authorized to engage in business as a bank, savings institution, or credit union under the laws of the United States or any state.1995, c. 221, § 6.1-434; 2010, c. 794.
VA Code § 6.2-2103 (2021)
2021 Code of Virginia|Title 6.2 - Financial Institutions and Services|Chapter 21 - Check Cashers|§ 6.2-2103. Registration fees; reports

A. Each registration form shall be accompanied by payment of a $200 fee, which shall not be refundable or abated in any event.B. To defray the costs of their examination, supervision and regulation, check cashers required to be registered under this chapter shall pay to the Commission annually on or before July 1 a registration fee in an amount prescribed by the Commission, but not exceeding $250.C. All fees shall be paid into the state treasury and credited to the "Financial Institutions Special Fund -- State Corporation Commission."D. Every check casher required to be registered under this chapter shall file such annual or other reports as the Commission may prescribe.1995, c. 221, § 6.1-435; 1999, c. 529; 2010, c. 794.
VA Code § 6.2-2104 (2021)
2021 Code of Virginia|Title 6.2 - Financial Institutions and Services|Chapter 21 - Check Cashers|§ 6.2-2104. Investigations

The Commission, upon receiving a complaint or upon its own motion, may investigate the affairs, business, premises and records of any person required to be registered under this chapter. In the course of such investigation, all persons associated with the person being investigated shall afford full access to all premises, books, records and information which the person making such investigation deems necessary. For the foregoing purposes, the person making such investigation shall have authority to administer oaths, examine under oath all the aforementioned persons, and compel the production of documents and objects of all kinds.1995, c. 221, § 6.1-436; 2010, c. 794.
VA Code § 6.2-2105 (2021)
2021 Code of Virginia|Title 6.2 - Financial Institutions and Services|Chapter 21 - Check Cashers|§ 6.2-2105. Fees posted; endorsement of items cashed

A. A registrant shall conspicuously post and at all times display, in every location at which it conducts the business of a check casher, a notice stating the fees charged for cashing items. A registrant shall further file with the Commissioner a statement of the fees currently charged at every such location.B. Items cashed by registrants shall be deposited or presented for payment by the second business day from the date the item is cashed for the customer. A registrant shall endorse every item presented by the registrant for payment in the actual name under which the registrant is doing business.C. A registrant shall post in every location at which it conducts the business of a check casher the Commission's toll-free telephone number and information on how to file a complaint pursuant to regulations adopted by the Commission.D. A registrant shall provide each customer cashing an item with a receipt showing the name or trade name of the registrant, the transaction date, the amount of the check, the fee charged, and the cash given.1995, c. 221, § 6.1-437; 2010, c. 794.
VA Code § 6.2-2106 (2021)
2021 Code of Virginia|Title 6.2 - Financial Institutions and Services|Chapter 21 - Check Cashers|§ 6.2-2106. Regulations

The Commission shall adopt such regulations as it deems appropriate to effect the purposes of this chapter. Before adopting any such regulations, the Commission shall give reasonable notice of the content thereof, and shall afford interested parties an opportunity to be heard, in accordance with the Commission's Rules.1995, c. 221, § 6.1-438; 2010, c. 794.
VA Code § 6.2-2107 (2021)
2021 Code of Virginia|Title 6.2 - Financial Institutions and Services|Chapter 21 - Check Cashers|§ 6.2-2107. Prohibited practices

No person required to be registered under this chapter shall:1. Engage in the business of making loans of credit, goods, or things; or discounting notes, bills of exchange, items, or other evidences of debt; or accepting deposits or bailments of money or items without meeting the requirements of the laws of the Commonwealth;2. Cash post-dated items, other than government or payroll checks;3. Use, or cause to be published or disseminated, any advertisement or communication that (i) contains any false, misleading, or deceptive statement or representation or (ii) identifies the person by any name other than the name or trade name set forth on the registration;4. Engage in unfair, deceptive, or fraudulent practices; or5. Make loans unless such person is licensed under, and the loans are made in accordance with, Chapter 18 (§ 6.2-1800 et seq.).1995, c. 221, § 6.1-439; 2002, c. 897; 2010, c. 794.