reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
MA Gen L ch 93 § 42g (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XV - Regulation of Trade|Chapter 93 - Regulation of Trade and Certain Enterprises|Section 42g - Trade Secrets; Uniformity of Application and Construction

[Text of section applicable as provided by 2018, 228, Sec. 70.]  Section 42G. Sections 42 to 42F, inclusive, shall be applied and construed to effectuate their general purpose to make uniform the law with respect trade secrets.
MA Gen L ch 93 § 43 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XV - Regulation of Trade|Chapter 93 - Regulation of Trade and Certain Enterprises|Section 43 - Unsolicited Merchandise

Section 43. Any person who receives unsolicited goods, wares or merchandise, offered for sale, but not actually ordered or requested by him orally or in writing, shall be entitled to consider such goods, wares or merchandise an unconditional gift, and he may use or dispose of the same as he sees fit without obligation on his part to the sender.
MA Gen L ch 93 § 43a (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XV - Regulation of Trade|Chapter 93 - Regulation of Trade and Certain Enterprises|Section 43a - Fees, Penalties or Other Charges for Sending Original Bill or Invoice by Postal Mail

Section 43A. A person engaged in trade or commerce shall not assess a fee, penalty or other charge for the sending of an original bill or invoice by postal mail to a natural person in this commonwealth; but this section shall not apply to a reasonable discount offered to a natural person for voluntary agreement to pay or otherwise satisfy a bill or invoice after its receipt by means other than postal mail, or for voluntary options such as customized bills or invoices.
MA Gen L ch 93 § 43b (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XV - Regulation of Trade|Chapter 93 - Regulation of Trade and Certain Enterprises|Section 43b - Use by Performing Group of False, Deceptive or Misleading Affiliation, Connection or Association With Recording Group

Section 43B. For purposes of this section, the following words shall, unless the context clearly requires otherwise, have the following meanings:—  ''Performing group'', a vocal or instrumental group seeking to use the name of another group that has previously released a commercial sound recording under that name.  ''Recording group'', a vocal or instrumental group at least 1 of whose members has previously released a commercial sound recording under that group's name and in which that member has a legal right by virtue of use or operation under the name in question without having severed-relationships with the recording group or otherwise abandoned use of the name or affiliation in question.  ''Sound recordings'', works resulting from the fixation on a material object of a series of musical, spoken, or other sounds regardless of the nature of the material objects such as disks, tapes or other media in which the sounds are embodied.  ''Unfair methods of competition'' and ''unfair or deceptive acts or practices'', advertising a live musical performance or production in the commonwealth through the use of a false, deceptive or misleading affiliation, connection or association between the performing group and the recording group. A performing group shall have 1 or more members of the recording group on stage with the legal right to use the name in order to perform in the commonwealth unless: (i) the performing or recording group is the authorized registrant and owner of a Federal Service Mark for that performing group registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office; (ii) at least 1 member of the performing group was a member of the recording group with a legal right to use the name in question; (iii) the live musical performance or production is identified in all advertising and promotion as a salute or tribute; (iv) the advertising does not relate to a live musical performance taking place in the commonwealth; or (v) the performance is expressly authorized by the recording group.  A person who engages in unfair methods of competition or unfair or deceptive acts or practices as defined in this section shall be punished by a fine of not less than $5,000 and not more than $15,000 in addition to other remedies provided by law.  In addition to other remedies provided by law, the recording group may obtain an injunction against a performance in the commonwealth by the performing group and may recover 3 times the sum of any profits accrued from either the performance or the sale of sound recordings.
MA Gen L ch 93 § 48a (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XV - Regulation of Trade|Chapter 93 - Regulation of Trade and Certain Enterprises|Section 48a - Cancellation of Membership Camping Contracts

Section 48A. For purposes of this section, the following words shall have the following meanings:  ''Membership camping contract'' or ''Membership camping agreement'' means any written agreement of more than one year's duration, executed in whole or in part within this commonwealth, which grants to a purchaser a nonexclusive right or license to use the campground of a membership camping operator or any portion thereof on a first come, first serve or reservation basis together with other purchasers. Membership camping contract or membership camping agreement also means any written agreement of more than one year's duration, executed in whole or in part within the commonwealth, which obligates the membership camping operator to transfer or which does in fact transfer to the purchaser title to or an ownership interest in a campground or any portion thereof, and which gives the purchaser a nonexclusive right or license to use the campground of a membership camping operator or any portion thereof, on a first come, first serve or reservation basis together with other purchasers.  Any person who signs a membership camping contract or membership camping agreement shall have the unqualified right to cancel such contract. This right of cancellation cannot be waived. The right to cancel expires at midnight on the third business day following the date on which the contract was executed. To cancel the membership camping contract, the purchaser must mail notice of your intent to cancel by certified United States mail to the membership camping operator at the address shown in the membership camping contract, postage prepaid. The membership camping operator is required to return all moneys paid in connection with the execution of the membership camping contract, upon proper and timely cancellation of the contract.
MA Gen L ch 93 § 48b (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XV - Regulation of Trade|Chapter 93 - Regulation of Trade and Certain Enterprises|Section 48b - Use of Credit Card to Obtain Travel Services; Surcharges, Reduction of Agent's Commission

Section 48B. For the purpose of this section, the following words shall, unless the context indicates otherwise, have the following meanings:—  ''Provider of travel services'', any person, firm or corporation engaged in the business of furnishing travel, transportation or vacation services; provided, however, that this term shall not include a travel agent.  ''Travel agent'', any person, firm, corporation, partnership or association, other than a common carrier or employee of a common carrier who is:  (a) an officially appointed agent of a common carrier or a member of a cruise line association and who operates exclusively as an agent for cruise lines in the sale of cruise travel products or services; or  (b) a legal agent for a provider of travel services who sells or offers for sale, travel, transportation or vacation arrangements.  Whenever any consumer elects to use a credit card to obtain travel services, and the services of a travel agent are engaged by the provider of travel services, a provider of travel services may not impose a surcharge on or reduce the commission paid to such travel agent; provided, however, that this provision shall not apply to air carriers.  Failure to comply with the provisions of this section shall constitute an unfair or deceptive act or practice under the provisions of chapter ninety-three A.
MA Gen L ch 93 § 49 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XV - Regulation of Trade|Chapter 93 - Regulation of Trade and Certain Enterprises|Section 49 - Debt Collection in an Unfair, Deceptive or Unreasonable Manner

Section 49. No one who is a creditor or an attorney for a creditor, or an assignee of a creditor, of a natural person present or residing in Massachusetts who has incurred a debt primarily for personal, family or household purposes shall collect or attempt to collect such debt in an unfair, deceptive or unreasonable manner.  For the purposes of this section, such collection or attempt to collect shall be deemed unfair, deceptive or unreasonable if:  (a) The creditor communicates, threatens to communicate, or implies the fact of such debt or alleged debt to a person other than the person who might reasonably be expected to be liable therefor, or to an authorized user after the fact if that status is communicated to the creditor in writing, except with the written permission of the alleged debtor. The provisions of this paragraph shall not prohibit a creditor from notifying a debtor of the fact that the creditor may report a debt or alleged debt to a credit bureau or engage an agent or an attorney for the purpose of collecting the debt or alleged debt. For the purposes of this paragraph, the use of language on envelopes indicating that the communication relates to the collection of a debt shall be deemed a communication of such debt or alleged debt.  (b) The creditor communicates directly with the alleged debtor after notification from an attorney representing such debtor that all further communications relative to the debt should be addressed to him.  (c) The creditor communicates with the alleged debtor in such a manner as to harass or embarrass the alleged debtor, including, but not limited to communication at an unreasonable hour, with unreasonable frequency, by threats of violence, by use of offensive language, or by threats of any action which the creditor in the usual course of business does not in fact take.  (d) The creditor communicates with alleged debtors through the use of forms or instruments that simulate the form and appearance of judicial process.  Failure to comply with the provisions of this section shall constitute an unfair or deceptive act or practice under the provisions of chapter ninety-three A.
MA Gen L ch 93 § 49a (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XV - Regulation of Trade|Chapter 93 - Regulation of Trade and Certain Enterprises|Section 49a - Retail Trade Reporting Agencies; Disclosures

Section 49A. Every retail trade reporting agency which discloses to any third person information concerning a business engaged in retail trade shall, upon request of such business, disclose to it the nature, contents and substance of such information contained in its files at the time of the request. Whoever fails to comply with the provisions of this section shall be punished by a fine of not more than one hundred dollars, and shall be deemed to have committed an unfair or deceptive act or practice prohibited by chapter ninety-three A.  For the purposes of this section retail trade reporting agency shall mean any person, firm, association or corporation which for monetary fees or dues, regularly engages, in whole or in part, in the practice of assembling or evaluating trade or other information on a business engaged in retail trade for the purpose of furnishing reports on such business to third parties.
MA Gen L ch 93 § 51 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XV - Regulation of Trade|Chapter 93 - Regulation of Trade and Certain Enterprises|Section 51 - Consumer Report; Circumstances Under Which Reporting Agency May Furnish

Section 51. (a) A consumer reporting agency may furnish a consumer report under the following circumstances and no other:  (1) in response to the order of a court having jurisdiction to issue such an order; or  (2) in accordance with the written instructions of the consumer to whom it relates; or  (3) to a person which it reasonably believes:  (i) intends to use the information in connection with a credit transaction involving the consumer on whom the information is to be furnished and involving the extension of credit to, or review or collection of an account of, the consumer; or  (ii) intends to use the information for employment purposes; or  (iii) intends to use the information in connection with the underwriting of insurance involving the consumer; or  (iv) intends to use the information in connection with a determination of the consumer's eligibility, or continuing eligibility, for a license or other benefit granted by a governmental instrumentality required by law to consider an applicant's financial responsibility or status; or  (v) intends to use the information in connection with a transaction either entered into or being negotiated with a consumer, if by the terms of the transaction either party transfers an interest in real or personal property, pays money or renders services, or becomes obligated so to transfer property, pay money or render services; provided, however, that the consumer who is the subject of the report, except in the case of the rental or lease of residential property, has provided permission in writing or in the same manner in which the transaction was negotiated or entered into, that a consumer report may be requested in connection with the transaction; or  (vi) intends to use the information for the enforcement of child support orders under chapter one hundred and nineteen A; or  (b) A consumer reporting agency may furnish information for the purposes of a credit transaction under subclause (i) of clause (3) of paragraph (a) where the credit transaction is not initiated by the consumer, only if:  (1) the consumer authorizes the consumer reporting agency to furnish the consumer credit report to the person; or  (2) the proposed transaction involves a firm offer of credit to the consumer, the consumer reporting agency has complied with the provisions of section fifty-one A, and the consumer has not elected to have his name excluded from any list of names provided by the consumer reporting agency for purposes of reporting in connection with the potential issuance of firm offers of credit and the agency only provides the name and address of the consumer and information pertaining to a consumer which is not identified or identifiable with particular accounts or transactions of the consumer.
MA Gen L ch 93 § 51b (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XV - Regulation of Trade|Chapter 93 - Regulation of Trade and Certain Enterprises|Section 51b - Consumer Report; Consent of Consumer Required for User to Obtain, Use or Seek Report; Disclosure of Reason for Accessing Report

Section 51B. This section shall not apply to users who acquire from consumer reporting agencies a consumer report pursuant to section 51 and 15 U.S.C. section 1681b.  A user shall not obtain, use or seek the consumer report of a consumer unless the user: (i) obtains the prior written, verbal or electronic consent of the consumer, as is appropriate for the manner in which the transaction or extension of credit was negotiated or entered into; and (ii) discloses, prior to obtaining the consumer's consent, the user's reason for accessing the consumer report to the consumer.  Nothing shall prohibit a user who has already secured the consent of the consumer, or an investor or potential investor of an existing credit obligation, from obtaining a consumer report in connection with: (i) the same transaction; (ii) reviewing an existing account; (iii) increasing the credit line on an existing account; (iv) taking collection action on an existing account; (v) providing products and services or offering of products and services to an existing consumer's account.  A user shall not require or request that a consumer waive this section and any such waiver shall be void. Failure to comply with this section shall constitute an unfair practice under clause (a) of section 2 of chapter 93A.  Notwithstanding the restrictions of this section, the department of children and families shall be permitted to obtain a consumer report for any child in the department's custody who is 14 years of age or older without obtaining the consent of the child or disclosing to the child the department's reason for accessing the consumer report in order to fulfill the department's obligations pursuant to 42 U.S.C. 675(5)(I), Public Law 113–183 and section 52A, or any other similar requirement of federal or state law.  The department of consumer affairs and business regulation may promulgate regulations interpreting and applying this section.
MA Gen L ch 93 § 52 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XV - Regulation of Trade|Chapter 93 - Regulation of Trade and Certain Enterprises|Section 52 - Information Not to Be Contained in Consumer Report; Exceptions

Section 52. (a) Except as authorized under subsection (b) no consumer reporting agency shall make any consumer report containing any of the following items of information:  (1) Bankruptcies which, from date of adjudication of the most recent bankruptcy, antedate the report by more than fourteen years.  (2) Suits and judgments which, from date of entry, antedate the report by more than seven years or until the governing statute of limitations has expired, whichever is the longer period.  (3) Paid tax liens which, from date of payment, antedate the report by more than seven years.  (4) Accounts placed for collection or charged to profit and loss which antedate the report by more than seven years.  (5) Records of arrest, indictment, or conviction of crime which, from date of disposition, release, or parole, antedate the report by more than seven years.  (6) Any other adverse item of information which antedates the report by more than seven years.  (b) The provisions of subsection (a) are not applicable in the case of any consumer credit report to be used in connection with—  (1) a credit transaction involving, or which may reasonably be expected to involve, a principal amount of fifty thousand dollars or more; or  (2) the underwriting of life insurance involving, or which may reasonably be expected to involve, a face amount of fifty thousand dollars or more.
MA Gen L ch 93 § 52a (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XV - Regulation of Trade|Chapter 93 - Regulation of Trade and Certain Enterprises|Section 52a - Child Support Arrearages; Information Furnished to Consumer Reporting Agencies; Notice to Obligor

Section 52A. The IV–D agency, as set forth in chapter 119A, shall report periodically to consumer reporting agencies the name of any non-custodial parent who is delinquent in the payment of child support, and the amount of overdue support owed by the parent, subject to the requirements of the following paragraph. The IV–D agency shall report information only to an entity that has furnished satisfactory evidence that the entity is a consumer reporting agency.  Before reporting the name of any person who is delinquent in the payment of child support to a consumer reporting agency, the IV–D agency shall afford the person notice and due process pursuant to sections 6 and 17 of chapter 119A. Nothing in this section shall impair the rights of any obligor under federal or state law regarding consumer credit reports or consumer credit reporting agencies.
MA Gen L ch 93 § 53 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XV - Regulation of Trade|Chapter 93 - Regulation of Trade and Certain Enterprises|Section 53 - Investigative Consumer Report; Disclosures to Consumer

Section 53. (a) A person may not procure or cause to be prepared an investigative consumer report on any consumer unless:  (1) it is clearly and accurately disclosed in writing to the consumer, prior to requesting the consumer reporting agency to prepare the report, that an investigative consumer report commonly includes information as to the consumer's character, general reputation, personal characteristics, and mode of living, and the disclosure includes the precise nature and scope of the investigation requested and the right to have a copy of the report upon request; and  (2) the consumer provides the person requesting the report written permission to obtain the investigative consumer report prior to the person making such request to the consumer reporting agency.  (b) The consumer reporting agency shall upon the request of the consumer provide to the consumer a copy of such report upon its completion.  (c) No person may be held liable for any violation of paragraph (a) if he proves by a preponderance of the evidence that at the time of the violation he maintained reasonable procedures to assure compliance with said paragraph (a).
MA Gen L ch 93 § 54 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XV - Regulation of Trade|Chapter 93 - Regulation of Trade and Certain Enterprises|Section 54 - Procedures to Be Maintained by Reporting Agency

Section 54. (a) Every consumer reporting agency shall maintain reasonable procedures designed to avoid violations of section fifty-two and to limit the furnishing of consumer reports to the purposes listed under section fifty-one. These procedures shall require that prospective users of the information identify themselves, certify the purposes for which the information is sought, and certify that the information will be used for no other purpose. Every consumer reporting agency shall make a reasonable effort to verify the identity of a new prospective user and the uses certified by such prospective user prior to furnishing such user a consumer report. No consumer reporting agency may furnish a consumer report to any person if it has reasonable grounds for believing that the consumer report will not be used for a purpose listed in section fifty-one.  (b) Whenever a consumer reporting agency prepares or disseminates a consumer report it shall follow reasonable procedures to assure maximum possible accuracy of the information concerning the individual about whom the report relates.
MA Gen L ch 93 § 55 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XV - Regulation of Trade|Chapter 93 - Regulation of Trade and Certain Enterprises|Section 55 - Consumer Identifying Information; Furnishing to Governmental Agency by Consumer Reporting Agency

Section 55. Notwithstanding sections 51 and 62A, a consumer reporting agency may furnish identifying information respecting any consumer, limited to his name, address, former addresses, places of employment, or former places of employment, to a governmental agency.