reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
9 V.S.A. § 2479a
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 9 - Commerce and Trade|Chapter 63 - Consumer Protection|§ 2479a. Truth in advertising and producing musical performances

§ 2479a. Truth in advertising and producing musical performances|(a) As used in this section:  (1) "Performing group" means a vocal or instrumental group that uses the name of another group that has previously released a commercial sound recording under that name. (2) "Recording group" means a vocal or instrumental group in which at least one of the members previously released a commercial sound recording under that group's name and in which the member or members have a legal right by virtue of use or operation under the group name without having abandoned the name or affiliation with the group. (3) "Sound recording" means a disc, tape, or other phono-recording material on which a series of musical, spoken, or other sounds has been embodied.   (b) No person shall advertise or conduct a live musical performance or production in Vermont through false, deceptive, or misleading affiliation, connection, or association with a performing group or a recording group, except under one or more of the following requirements:  (1) The performing group is the authorized registrant and owner of a federal service mark for the group name registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. (2) At least one member of the performing group was a member of the recording group and has a legal right by virtue of use or operation under the group name and has not abandoned the name or affiliation with the group. (3) The live musical performance or production is conspicuously identified in all advertising and promotion as a salute or tribute to the recording group, and the name of the performing group is different from the recording group. (4) The performance or production is expressly authorized by the recording group.   (c) The Attorney General or State's Attorney has the same authority to make rules, conduct civil investigations, and bring civil actions with respect to violations of subsection (b) of this section as provided under subchapter 1 of this chapter. Each performance or production or advertisement found to be a violation of subsection (b) of this section shall constitute a separate violation. (Added 2007, No. 109 (Adj. Sess.), § 1.)
9 V.S.A. § 2480c
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 9 - Commerce and Trade|Chapter 63 - Consumer Protection|§ 2480c. Charges for certain disclosures by credit reporting agencies

§ 2480c. Charges for certain disclosures by credit reporting agencies|(a) A credit reporting agency shall not impose a charge for:  (1) providing the information required to be disclosed under subsection 2480b(a) of this title, once every 12 months; (2) providing the notice required under subsection 2480d(g) of this title (notice of results of reinvestigation); or (3) notifying any person designated by the consumer pursuant to 15 U.S.C. § 1681i of the deletion of information that is found to be inaccurate or that can no longer be verified.   (b) For all other disclosures to consumers of information available to users pertaining to the consumer the credit reporting agency may impose a reasonable charge, not to exceed $7.50, on the consumer. (Added 1991, No. 246 (Adj. Sess.), § 1.)
9 V.S.A. § 2480e
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 9 - Commerce and Trade|Chapter 63 - Consumer Protection|§ 2480e. Consumer consent

§ 2480e. Consumer consent|(a) A person shall not obtain the credit report of a consumer unless:  (1) the report is obtained in response to the order of a court having jurisdiction to issue such an order; or (2) the person has secured the consent of the consumer, and the report is used for the purpose consented to by the consumer.   (b) Credit reporting agencies shall adopt reasonable procedures to ensure maximum possible compliance with subsection (a) of this section.(c) Nothing in this section shall be construed to affect:  (1) the ability of a person who has secured the consent of the consumer pursuant to subdivision (a)(2) of this section to include in his or her request to the consumer permission to also obtain credit reports, in connection with the same transaction or extension of credit, for the purpose of reviewing the account, increasing the credit line on the account, for the purpose of taking collection action on the account, or for other legitimate purposes associated with the account; and (2) the use of credit information for the purpose of prescreening, as defined and permitted from time to time by the Federal Trade Commission. (Added 1991, No. 246 (Adj. Sess.), § 1.)
9 V.S.A. § 2480f
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 9 - Commerce and Trade|Chapter 63 - Consumer Protection|§ 2480f. Violations

§ 2480f. Violations|(a) A violation of this subchapter or rules adopted under this subchapter is deemed to be a violation of section 2453 of this title. This section shall not be construed to limit a credit reporting agency's liability under any other law.(b) A consumer aggrieved by a violation of this subchapter or rules adopted under this subchapter may bring an action in Superior Court for the consumer's damages, injunctive relief, punitive damages in the case of a willful violation, and reasonable costs and attorney's fees. In the case of a violation by a credit reporting agency, or in the case of a willful violation by any person, the court, in addition, may issue an award for the consumer's actual damages or $100.00, whichever is greater. In considering the amount of punitive damages, the court may consider, among other relevant factors:  (1) the extent to which a credit reporting agency failed to consider relevant information provided by the consumer during any reinvestigation of information in the consumer's file; and (2) the extent to which a credit reporting agency maintained and complied with procedures designed to ensure compliance with the requirements of this subchapter.   (c) The Attorney General has the same authority to make rules, conduct civil investigations, and bring civil actions with respect to any alleged violations of this subchapter as is provided under subchapter 1 of this chapter. (Added 1991, No. 246 (Adj. Sess.), § 1.)
9 V.S.A. § 2480g
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 9 - Commerce and Trade|Chapter 63 - Consumer Protection|§ 2480g. Exemptions

§ 2480g. Exemptions|(a) The provisions of this subchapter shall not apply to education loans made, guaranteed, or serviced by the Vermont Student Assistance Corporation pursuant to 16 V.S.A. chapter 87.(b) The provisions of section 2480e of this title shall not apply to the Office of Child Support services when investigating a child support case pursuant to Title IV-D of the Social Security Act and 33 V.S.A. § 4102.(c) The provisions of section 2480e of this title shall not apply to credit transactions entered into prior to January 1, 1993.(d) The provisions of section 2480e of this title shall not apply to the Department of Taxes, its agents, or assigns:  (1) where the Department has reason to believe that the taxpayer is liable for delinquent taxes, and the Department is seeking the taxpayer's credit report in furtherance of the investigation or collection of such delinquent taxes; or (2) where the Department is seeking the taxpayer's credit report in furtherance of the collection of a debt owed by the taxpayer to the State of Vermont. (Added 1991, No. 246 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; amended 1997, No. 50, § 1, eff. June 26, 1997.)
9 V.S.A. § 2480i
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 9 - Commerce and Trade|Chapter 63 - Consumer Protection|§ 2480i. Credit reporting agency duties if security freeze in place

§ 2480i. Credit reporting agency duties if security freeze in place|If a security freeze is in place, a credit reporting agency shall not change any of the following official information in a credit report without sending a written confirmation of the change to the consumer within 30 days of the change being posted to the consumer's file: name, date of birth, Social Security number, and address. Written confirmation is not required for technical modifications of a consumer's official information, including name and street abbreviations, complete spellings, or transposition of numbers or letters. In the case of an address change, the written confirmation shall be sent to both the new address and the former address. (Added 2003, No. 155 (Adj. Sess.), § 3, eff. July 1, 2005.)
9 V.S.A. § 2480j
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 9 - Commerce and Trade|Chapter 63 - Consumer Protection|§ 2480j. Persons not required to place security freeze

§ 2480j. Persons not required to place security freeze|The following persons are not required to place in a credit report a security freeze pursuant to section 2480h of this title; provided, however, that any person that is not required to place a security freeze on a credit report under the provisions of subdivision (3) of this section shall be subject to any security freeze placed on a credit report by another credit reporting agency from which it obtains information:  (1) A check services or fraud prevention services company, which reports on incidents of fraud or issues authorizations for the purpose of approving or processing negotiable instruments, electronic fund transfers, or similar methods of payment. (2) A deposit account information service company, which issues reports regarding account closures due to fraud, substantial overdrafts, ATM abuse, or similar negative information regarding a consumer to inquiring banks or other financial institutions for use only in reviewing a consumer request for a deposit account at the inquiring bank or financial institution. (3) A credit reporting agency that:  (A) acts only to resell credit information by assembling and merging information contained in a database of one or more credit reporting agencies; and (B) does not maintain a permanent database of credit information from which new credit reports are produced. (Added 2003, No. 155 (Adj. Sess.), § 3, eff. July 1, 2005.)
9 V.S.A. § 2480k
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 9 - Commerce and Trade|Chapter 63 - Consumer Protection|§ 2480k. Complaints to law enforcement agencies

§ 2480k. Complaints to law enforcement agencies|A person who has learned or reasonably suspects that his or her personal identifying information has been unlawfully used by another, as described in 13 V.S.A. § 2030(a), may make a complaint about the unlawful use of personal identifying information to the State Police or to the person's local law enforcement agency. The law enforcement agency shall take the complaint and provide the complainant with a copy of the complaint, the name of the law enforcement officer taking the complaint, and an incident number or case number assigned to the complaint by the law enforcement agency. If the suspected crime was committed in a different jurisdiction, the law enforcement agency shall take the complaint and provide the complainant with a copy of the complaint, the name of the law enforcement officer taking the complaint, and an incident number or case number assigned to the complaint by the law enforcement agency and refer the complaint to a law enforcement agency in that different jurisdiction. (Added 2003, No. 155 (Adj. Sess.), § 3, eff. July 1, 2005.)
9 V.S.A. § 2480l
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 9 - Commerce and Trade|Chapter 63 - Consumer Protection|§ 2480l. Verification of change of consumer's address for preapproved offers of credit

§ 2480 l. Verification of change of consumer's address for preapproved offers of credit|A credit card issuer that mails an offer or solicitation to receive a credit card and, in response, receives a completed application for a credit card that lists an address that is substantively different from the address on the offer or solicitation shall make a commercially reasonable attempt to verify the change of address, which may include checking addresses on other open accounts. (Added 2003, No. 155 (Adj. Sess.), § 3, eff. July 1, 2005.)
9 V.S.A. § 2480m
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 9 - Commerce and Trade|Chapter 63 - Consumer Protection|§ 2480m. Limitations on use of Social Security numbers

§ 2480m. Limitations on use of Social Security numbers|Prior to posting or requiring the posting of a document in a place of general public circulation, an agency, board, department, commission, committee, branch, instrumentality, or authority of the State, or an agency, board, committee, department, branch, instrumentality, commission, or authority of any political subdivision of the State shall take all reasonable steps to redact any Social Security numbers from the document. Files and records made available to the public in accordance with and pursuant to 24 V.S.A. § 1165 are not considered posted in a place of general public circulation for the purposes of this section. (Added 2003, No. 155 (Adj. Sess.), § 3, eff. July 1, 2005.)
9 V.S.A. § 2480n
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 9 - Commerce and Trade|Chapter 63 - Consumer Protection|§ 2480n. Credit report files of deceased persons

§ 2480n. Credit report files of deceased persons|(a) An executor, administrator, or other person authorized to act on behalf of an estate of a deceased person may request that a credit reporting agency indicate on the deceased person's credit reporting file that the person is deceased. The credit reporting agency shall indicate on the deceased person's credit reporting file that the person is deceased within five business days of receipt of the following documentation from the executor, administrator, or other person authorized to act on behalf of the estate of the deceased person:  (1) a certificate of death, or a certificate of appointment, letters testamentary, or other order from the Probate Division of the Superior Court authorizing the executor, administrator, or other person to act on behalf of the estate of the deceased person; and (2) a request to indicate on the deceased person's credit reporting file that the person is deceased.   (b) The credit reporting agency may remove the indication placed on the person's file pursuant to subsection (a) of this section if the credit reporting agency finds that the indication was placed on the person's file through material misrepresentation of fact. If the credit reporting agency intends to remove the indication pursuant to this subsection, the credit reporting agency shall notify the executor, administrator, or other person authorized to act on behalf of the estate in writing prior to removing the indication. (Added 2003, No. 155 (Adj. Sess.), § 3, eff. July 1, 2005; amended 2009, No. 154 (Adj. Sess.), § 238a, eff. Feb. 1, 2011.)
9 V.S.A. § 2480o
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 9 - Commerce and Trade|Chapter 63 - Consumer Protection|§ 2480o. Definitions

§ 2480o. Definitions|As used in this subchapter:  (1) "Electronic payment system" means an entity that directly or through licensed members, processors, or agents provides the proprietary services, infrastructure, and software that route information and data to facilitate transaction authorization, clearance, and settlement, and that merchants are required to access in order to accept a specific brand of general-purpose credit cards, charge cards, debit cards, or stored-value cards as payment for goods and services. (2) "Merchant" means a person or entity that, in Vermont:  (A)(i) does business; or  (ii) offers goods or services for sale; and  (B) has a physical presence. (Added 2009, No. 116 (Adj. Sess.), § 2, eff. Jan. 1, 2011.)
9 V.S.A. § 2480p
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 9 - Commerce and Trade|Chapter 63 - Consumer Protection|§ 2480p. Electronic payment systems

§ 2480p. Electronic payment systems|With respect to transactions involving Vermont merchants, no electronic payment system may directly or through any agent, processor, or member of the system:  (1) impose any requirement, condition, penalty, or fine in a contract with a merchant to inhibit the ability of any merchant to provide a discount or other benefit for payment through the use of a card of another electronic payment system, cash, check, debit card, stored-value card, charge card, or credit card rather than another form of payment; (2) impose any requirement, condition, penalty, or fine in a contract with a merchant to prevent the ability of any merchant to set a minimum dollar value of no more than $10.00 for its acceptance of a form of payment, provided that if a minimum dollar value is set by a merchant, it shall be prominently displayed and printed in not less than 16-point boldface type at the point of sale; (3) impose any requirement, condition, penalty, or fine in a contract with a merchant to inhibit the ability of any merchant to decide to accept an electronic payment system at one or more of its locations but not at others. (Added 2009, No. 116 (Adj. Sess.), § 2, eff. Jan. 1, 2011.)
9 V.S.A. § 2480q
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 9 - Commerce and Trade|Chapter 63 - Consumer Protection|§ 2480q. Penalties

§ 2480q. Penalties|(a) The following penalties shall apply to violations of this subchapter:  (1) Any electronic payment system found to have violated section 2480p of this subchapter shall reimburse all affected merchants for all fines related to the prohibitions described in section 2480p of this subchapter that were collected from affected merchants directly or through any agent, processor, or member of the system during the period of time in which the electronic payment system was in violation and shall be liable for a civil penalty of $10,000.00 per fine levied in violation of section 2480p of this subchapter. (2) Any merchant whose rights under this subchapter have been violated may maintain a civil action for damages or equitable relief as provided for in this section, including attorney's fees, if any. (3) A violation of section 2480p of this subchapter shall be deemed a violation of section 2453 of this title. The Attorney General has the same authority to conduct civil investigations, enter into assurances of discontinuance, and bring civil actions as provided under subchapter 1 of this chapter.   (b) These penalties shall not apply to entities acting exclusively as agents, processors, or members that are not electronic payment systems. (Added 2009, No. 116 (Adj. Sess.), § 2, eff. Jan. 1, 2011; amended 2011, No. 109 (Adj. Sess.), § 2, eff. May 8, 2012; 2011, No. 136 (Adj. Sess.), § 1a, eff. May 18, 2012.)
9 V.S.A. § 2480r
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 9 - Commerce and Trade|Chapter 63 - Consumer Protection|§ 2480r. Severability

§ 2480r. Severability|If any provision of this subchapter or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the invalidity does not affect other provisions or applications of this subchapter that can be given effect without the invalid provision or application, and, to this end, the provisions of this subchapter are severable. (Added 2009, No. 116 (Adj. Sess.), § 2, eff. Jan. 1, 2011.)
9 V.S.A. § 2480aa
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 9 - Commerce and Trade|Chapter 63 - Consumer Protection|§ 2480aa. Legislative intent; public policy

§ 2480aa. Legislative intent; public policy|Structured settlement agreements, which provide for payments to a person over a period of time, are often used in the settlement of actions such as personal injury or medical claims and serve a number of valid purposes, including protection of persons from economic victimization and ensuring a person's ability to provide for his or her future needs and obligations. It is the policy of this State that such agreements, which have often been approved by a court, should not be set aside lightly or without good reason. (Added 2011, No. 168 (Adj. Sess.), § 1.)
9 V.S.A. § 2480cc
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 9 - Commerce and Trade|Chapter 63 - Consumer Protection|§ 2480cc. Required disclosures to payee

§ 2480cc. Required disclosures to payee|Not less than 10 days prior to the date on which a payee signs a transfer agreement, the transferee shall provide to the payee a separate disclosure statement in bold type in a size no smaller than 14 points setting forth:  (1) the amounts and due dates of the structured settlement payments to be transferred; (2) the aggregate amount of such payments; (3) the discounted present value of the payments to be transferred, which shall be identified as the "calculation of current value of the transferred structured settlement payments under federal standards for valuing annuities," and the amount of the applicable federal rate used in calculating such discounted present value; (4) the gross advance amount and the annual discount rate, compounded monthly, used to determine such figure; (5) an itemized listing of all applicable transfer expenses, other than attorney's fees and related disbursements payable by the payee in connection with the transferee's application for approval of the transfer, and the transferee's best estimate of the amount of any such fees and disbursements; (6) the net advance amount; (7) the amount of any penalties or liquidated damages payable by the payee in the event of any breach of the transfer agreement by the payee, as well as a description of any other financial penalties the payee might incur with the transferee as a result of such a breach; and (8) a statement that the payee has the right to cancel the transfer agreement, without penalty or further obligation, at any time before the date on which a court enters a final order approving the transfer agreement. (Added 2011, No. 168 (Adj. Sess.), § 1.)
9 V.S.A. § 2480dd
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 9 - Commerce and Trade|Chapter 63 - Consumer Protection|§ 2480dd. Approval of transfers of structured settlement payment rights

§ 2480dd. Approval of transfers of structured settlement payment rights|(a) No direct or indirect transfer of structured settlement payment rights shall be effective and no structured settlement obligor or annuity issuer shall be required to make any payment directly or indirectly to any transferee of structured settlement payment rights unless the transfer has been approved in advance in a final court order based on express findings by the court that:  (1) the transfer is in the best interests of the payee taking into account the welfare and support of the payee's dependents, considering all relevant factors, including:  (A) the payee's ability to understand the financial terms and consequences of the transfer; (B) the payee's capacity to meet his or her financial obligations, including the potential need for future medical treatment; (C) the need, purpose, or reason for the transfer; and (D) whether the transfer is fair and reasonable, considering the discount rate used to calculate the gross advance amount, the fees and expenses imposed on the payee, and whether the payee obtained more than one quote for the same or a substantially similar transfer.  (2)(A) the payee has been advised in writing by the transferee to seek independent professional advice regarding the financial advisability of the transfer and the other financial options available to the payee, if any, and:  (B)(i) that the payee has in fact received such advice; or  (ii) that such advice is unnecessary for good cause shown.   (3) the transfer does not contravene any applicable statute or the order of any court or other government authority.   (b) Any agreement to transfer future payments arising under a workers' compensation claim is prohibited.(c) At the hearing on the transfer the court may, in its sole discretion, continue the hearing and require the payee to seek independent professional advice if the court determines that obtaining such advice should be required based on the circumstances of the payee or the terms of the transaction. If the court determines that independent professional advice should be required, the court may order that the costs incurred by a payee for independent professional advice be paid by the transferee, the payee, or another party, provided that the amount to be paid by the transferee shall not exceed $1,500.00. (Added 2011, No. 168 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; amended 2021, No. 20, § 22.)