reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
SC Code § 37-5-117 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 37 - Consumer Protection Code|Chapter 5 - Remedies And Penalties|Section 37-5-117. Lien, or submission of debt to credit bureau or reporting agency, by health care services provider; notice required; penalties.

 A provider of health care services must give twenty days prior notice before submitting a debt to a credit bureau or credit reporting agency or filing a lien against real or personal property, and the debtor must be notified by mail of the creditor's intention. Failure to comply with this requirement is punishable by a fine of not less than one hundred dollars for each occurrence.  HISTORY: 1992 Act No. 295, Section 2.
SC Code § 37-5-205 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 37 - Consumer Protection Code|Chapter 5 - Remedies And Penalties|Section 37-5-205. Refunds and penalties as setoff to obligation.

 Refunds or penalties to which the debtor is entitled pursuant to this part may be set off against the debtor's obligation, and may be raised as a defense to a suit on the obligation without regard to the time limitations prescribed by this subdivision.  HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 8-800.355; 1974 (58) 2879.
SC Code § 37-5-301 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 37 - Consumer Protection Code|Chapter 5 - Remedies And Penalties|Section 37-5-301. Wilfull violations.

 (1) A lender who wilfully makes charges in excess of those permitted by applicable law is guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction may be sentenced to pay a fine not exceeding five thousand dollars, or to imprisonment not exceeding one year, or both.  (2) A person, other than a supervised financial organization, who wilfully engages in the business of making loans without a license, where a license is required, is guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction may be sentenced to pay a fine not exceeding five thousand dollars, or imprisonment not exceeding one year, or both.  (3) A person who wilfully engages in the business of making consumer credit sales, consumer leases, or consumer loans, or of taking assignments of rights against debtors arising therefrom and undertakes direct collection of payments or enforcement of these rights, without complying with the provisions of this title concerning notification (Section 37-6-202) or payment of fees (Section 37-6-203), is guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction may be sentenced to pay a fine not exceeding one hundred dollars.  HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 8-800.361; 1974 (58) 2879; 1976 Act No. 686 Section 41.
SC Code § 37-5-302 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 37 - Consumer Protection Code|Chapter 5 - Remedies And Penalties|Section 37-5-302. Disclosure violations.

 A person is guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction may be sentenced to pay a fine not exceeding five thousand dollars, or to imprisonment not exceeding one year, or both, if he wilfully and knowingly  (1) gives false or inaccurate information or fails to provide information which he is required to disclose under the provisions of the Federal Truth in Lending Act,  (2) uses any rate table or chart, the use of which is authorized by the provisions of the Federal Truth in Lending Act, in a manner which consistently understates the annual percentage rate determined according to those provisions; or  (3) otherwise fails to comply with any requirement of the provisions on disclosure of the Federal Truth in Lending Act.  The criminal liability of a person under this section is in lieu of and not in addition to his criminal liability under the Federal Truth in Lending Act; no prosecution of a person with respect to the same violation may be maintained pursuant to both this section and the Federal Truth in Lending Act.  HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 8-800.362; 1974 (58) 2879.
SC Code § 37-5-303 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 37 - Consumer Protection Code|Chapter 5 - Remedies And Penalties|Section 37-5-303. Fraudulent use of cards.

 (1) For the purposes of this section:  (a) "credit card" means a seller credit card or a lender credit card or similar arrangement as defined in this title; and  (b) "debit card" means a card or device issued by a supervised financial organization pursuant to an arrangement whereby the card or device enables the customer to obtain cash, goods, services or anything else of value.  (2) Any person who knowingly uses or attempts or conspires to use any counterfeit, altered, forged, lost, stolen or fraudulently obtained credit or debit card to obtain money, goods, services or anything else of value is guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be fined not more than five thousand dollars or imprisoned not more than one year, or both.  HISTORY: 1976 Act No. 686 Section 42.
SC Code § 37-6-101 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 37 - Consumer Protection Code|Chapter 6 - Administration|Section 37-6-101. Short title.

 This chapter shall be known and may be cited as South Carolina Consumer Protection Code - Administration.  HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 8-800.371; 1974 (58) 2879.
SC Code § 37-6-102 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 37 - Consumer Protection Code|Chapter 6 - Administration|Section 37-6-102. Applicability.

 This part applies to persons in this State who:  (1) make or solicit consumer credit sales, consumer leases, consumer loans, and consumer rental-purchase agreements;  (2) directly collect payments from or enforce rights against debtors arising from sales, leases, loans, or agreements specified in item (1), wherever they are made; or  (3) are subject to this title or action by the administrator.  HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 8-800.372; 1974 (58) 2879; 1985 Act No. 121, Section 17; 2016 Act No. 244 (H.5040), Section 8, eff June 5, 2016.  Effect of Amendment  2016 Act No. 244, Section 8, in the introductory sentence, deleted "who" following "persons"; and added (3), relating to the administrator.
SC Code § 37-6-103 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 37 - Consumer Protection Code|Chapter 6 - Administration|Section 37-6-103. "Administrator" defined.

 "Administrator" means the officer appointed by the Commission on Consumer Affairs to administer this title (part 5 of this chapter).  HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 8-800.373; 1974 (58) 2879.
SC Code § 37-6-105 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 37 - Consumer Protection Code|Chapter 6 - Administration|Section 37-6-105. Administrative powers with respect to supervised financial organizations.

 (1) With respect to supervised financial organizations, the powers of examination and investigation (Sections 37-3-506, 37-6-106 and 37-6-118) and administrative enforcement (Section 37-6-108) shall be exercised by the official or agency to whose supervision the organization is subject. All other powers of the administrator under this title may be exercised by him with respect to a supervised financial organization.  (2) If the administrator receives a complaint concerning noncompliance with this title by a supervised financial organization he shall refer the complaint to the official or agency having supervisory authority over the organization concerned. The administrator may, in connection with a complaint received by him concerning noncompliance with this title by a supervised financial organization, obtain specific relevant information about the supervised financial organization involved in the complaint from the appropriate supervisory agency or official. Nothing herein shall be construed to prohibit the administrator from taking any legal action he is otherwise empowered to take under this title.  (3) The administrator and any official or agency of this State having supervisory authority over a supervised financial organization are authorized and directed to consult and assist one another in maintaining compliance with this title. They may jointly pursue investigations, prosecute suits, and take other official action, as they deem appropriate, if either of them otherwise is empowered to take the action.  HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 8-800.375; 1974 (58) 2879; 1976 Act No. 686 Section 44; 1982 Act No. 385, Section 52.
SC Code § 37-6-106 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 37 - Consumer Protection Code|Chapter 6 - Administration|Section 37-6-106. Investigatory powers.

 (1) If the administrator has probable cause to believe that a person has engaged in an act which is subject to action by the administrator, he may make an investigation to determine if the act has been committed, and, to the extent necessary for this purpose, may administer oaths or affirmations, and, upon his own motion or upon request of any party, may subpoena witnesses, compel their attendance, adduce evidence, and require the production of any matter which is relevant to the investigation, including the existence, description, nature, custody, condition, and location of any books, documents, or other tangible things and the identity and location of persons having knowledge of relevant facts, or any other matter reasonably calculated to lead to the discovery of admissible evidence.  (2) If the person's records are located outside this State, the person at his option shall either make them available to the administrator at a convenient location within this State or pay the reasonable and necessary expenses for the administrator or his representative to examine them at the place where they are maintained. The administrator may designate representatives, including comparable officials of the State in which the records are located, to inspect them on his behalf.  (3) Upon failure without lawful excuse to obey a subpoena or to give testimony and upon reasonable notice to all persons affected, the administrator may apply to the Administrative Law Court for an order compelling compliance.  (4) The administrator shall not make public the name or identity of a person whose acts or conduct he investigates pursuant to this section or the facts disclosed in the investigation, but this subsection does not apply to disclosures in actions or enforcement proceedings pursuant to this title.  HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 8-800.376; 1974 (58) 2879; 2005 Act No. 128, Section 3, 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 § 37-6-107 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 37 - Consumer Protection Code|Chapter 6 - Administration|Section 37-6-107. Administrative actions.

 Except as otherwise provided, the Administrative Procedures Act applies to and governs all administrative action taken pursuant to this chapter or the Part on Supervised Loans (Part 5) of the chapter on Loans (Chapter 3).  HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 8-800.377; 1974 (58) 2879; 1976 Act No. 686 Section 45; 2016 Act No. 244 (H.5040), Section 9, eff June 5, 2016.  Effect of Amendment  2016 Act No. 244, Section 9, substituted "the Administrative Procedures Act" for "the Part on Administrative Procedure and Judicial Review (Part 4) of this chapter".
SC Code § 37-6-109 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 37 - Consumer Protection Code|Chapter 6 - Administration|Section 37-6-109. Assurance of discontinuance.

 If it is claimed that a person has engaged in conduct subject to an order by the administrator (Section 37-6-108) or by a court (Sections 37-6-110 through 37-6-112), the administrator may accept an assurance in writing that the person will not engage in the conduct in the future. If a person giving an assurance of discontinuance fails to comply with its terms, the assurance is evidence that prior to the assurance he engaged in the conduct described in the assurance.  HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 8-800.379; 1974 (58) 2879.
SC Code § 37-6-110 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 37 - Consumer Protection Code|Chapter 6 - Administration|Section 37-6-110. Injunctions against violations of title.

 The administrator may bring a civil action to restrain any person from violating this title and for other appropriate relief including, but not limited to, the following: to prevent a person from using or employing practices prohibited by this title, to reform contracts to conform to this title, and to rescind contracts into which a person has induced a consumer to enter by conduct violating this title, even though a consumer is not a party to the action. An action under this section may be joined with an action under the provisions on civil actions by the administrator (Section 37-6-113).  HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 8-800.380; 1974 (58) 2879; 1976 Act No. 686 Section 46; 2016 Act No. 244 (H.5040), Section 11, eff June 5, 2016.  Effect of Amendment  2016 Act No. 244, Section 11, inserted commas following "relief including", "not limited to", and "to this title"; and substituted "person" for "creditor".
SC Code § 37-6-111 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 37 - Consumer Protection Code|Chapter 6 - Administration|Section 37-6-111. Injunctions against unconscionable agreements and fraudulent or unconscionable conduct.

 (1) The administrator may bring a civil action to restrain a person to whom this title applies from engaging in a course of:  (a) making or enforcing unconscionable terms or provisions of consumer credit transactions;  (b) fraudulent or unconscionable conduct in inducing consumers to enter into consumer credit transactions;  (c) conduct of any of the types specified in item (a) or (b) with respect to transactions that give rise to or that lead persons to believe will give rise to consumer credit transactions; or  (d) fraudulent or unconscionable conduct in the collection of debts arising from consumer credit transactions.  (2) In an action brought pursuant to this section the court may grant relief only if it finds:  (a) that the respondent has made unconscionable agreements or has engaged or is likely to engage in a course of fraudulent or unconscionable conduct;  (b) that the respondent's agreements have caused or are likely to cause or the conduct of the respondent has caused or is likely to cause injury to consumers or debtors; and  (c) that the respondent has been able to cause or will be able to cause the injury primarily because the transactions involved are credit transactions.  (3) In applying subsection (1)(a), (b), and (c), consideration shall be given to each of the factors specified in the provisions on unconscionability with respect to a transaction that is, gives rise to, or that a person leads the debtor to believe will give rise to, a consumer credit transaction (subsection (2) of Section 37-5-108), among others.  (4) In an action brought pursuant to this section, a charge or practice expressly permitted by law is not in itself unconscionable.  HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 8-800.381; 1974 (58) 2879; 1976 Act No. 686 Section 47; 2001 Act No. 82, Section 3, eff July 20, 2001.
SC Code § 37-6-112 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 37 - Consumer Protection Code|Chapter 6 - Administration|Section 37-6-112. Temporary relief.

 With respect to an action brought to enjoin violations of the title (Section 37-6-110) or unconscionable agreements or fraudulent or unconscionable conduct (Section 37-6-111), the administrator may apply to the court for appropriate temporary relief against a respondent, pending final determination of proceedings. If the court finds after a hearing held upon notice to the respondent that there is reasonable cause to believe that the respondent is engaging in or is likely to engage in conduct sought to be restrained, it may grant any temporary relief or restraining order it deems appropriate.  HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 8-800.382; 1974 (58) 2879.
SC Code § 37-6-115 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 37 - Consumer Protection Code|Chapter 6 - Administration|Section 37-6-115. Remedies not affected.

 The grant of powers to the administrator in this chapter does not affect remedies available to consumers under this title or under other principles of law or equity.  HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 8-800.385; 1974 (58) 2879; 2016 Act No. 244 (H.5040), Section 13, eff June 5, 2016.  Effect of Amendment  2016 Act No. 244, Section 13, substituted "consumers" for "debtors".
SC Code § 37-6-116 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 37 - Consumer Protection Code|Chapter 6 - Administration|Section 37-6-116. Venue.

 The administrator may bring actions or proceedings in a court in a county in which an act on which the action or proceeding is based occurred or in a county in which respondent resides or transacts business.  HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 8-800.386; 1974 (58) 2879.
SC Code § 37-6-119 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 37 - Consumer Protection Code|Chapter 6 - Administration|Section 37-6-119. Trade practices targeting vulnerable adults prohibited; penalties.

 (A) For the purpose of this section:  (1) "Personal identifying information" has the same meaning as provided in Section 16-13-510(D).  (2) "Vulnerable adult" has the same meaning as provided in Section 43-35-10(11).  (B) A person shall not knowingly or wilfully solicit or obtain by deception, intimidation, undue influence, or false, misleading, or deceptive acts or practices:  (1) the money or property of a vulnerable adult; or  (2) the personal identifying information of a vulnerable adult for the purposes of committing financial identity fraud or identity fraud as defined in Section 16-13-510.  (C) A vulnerable adult, a person legally authorized, or the estate of an injured vulnerable adult may file a civil action to enforce the provisions of this section and may recover three times the amount of actual damages or three thousand dollars for each violation, whichever is greater, as well as reasonable attorney's fees and court costs. In addition, a person seeking damages pursuant to this section may pursue a civil action to enjoin and restrain future acts constituting a violation of this statute.  (D) For violations of this section, the administrator may issue an administrative order to cease and desist, to return property or money received in violation of this section, and to impose penalties of up to ten thousand dollars per violation. The administrator may bring a civil action seeking equitable relief. Penalties received shall be retained by the administrator for administration of this title.  (E) Upon conviction, a person violating this section is guilty of:  (1) a misdemeanor, if the total value of the money or property obtained or sought to be obtained is two thousand dollars or less. The person must be fined not less than one thousand dollars, or imprisoned for not more than thirty days, or both;  (2) a felony, if the total value of money or property obtained or sought to be obtained is more than two thousand dollars but less than ten thousand dollars. The person must be fined in the discretion of the court or imprisoned for not more than five years, or both; or  (3) a felony, if the total value of the money or property obtained or sought to be obtained is ten thousand dollars or more. The person must be fined in the discretion of the court or imprisoned for not more than ten years, or both.  (F) Violations of this section may be considered grounds for revocation, suspension, or nonrenewal of a professional license or registration issued by an agency of this State.  (G) A violation of this section is considered a violation of Section 39-5-20.  (H) The remedial provisions of this chapter are cumulative of and in addition to any action at law or equity taken by the administrator.  HISTORY: 2018 Act No. 162 (S.1041), Section 1, eff May 3, 2018.
SC Code § 37-6-201 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 37 - Consumer Protection Code|Chapter 6 - Administration|Section 37-6-201. Applicability.

 This part applies to a person engaged in this State in making consumer credit sales, consumer leases, consumer loans, or consumer rental-purchase agreements and to a person having an office or place of business in this State who takes assignments of and undertakes direct collection of payments from or enforcement of rights against debtors arising from these sales, leases, or loans.  HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 8-800.401; 1974 (58) 2879; 1985 Act No. 121, Section 18.
SC Code § 37-6-202 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 37 - Consumer Protection Code|Chapter 6 - Administration|Section 37-6-202. Notification.

 (1) Persons subject to this part shall file notification with the administrator within thirty days after commencing business in this State, and, thereafter, on or before January thirty-first of each year. The notification shall state:  (a) name of the person;  (b) name in which business is transacted if different from (a);  (c) address of principal office, which may be outside this State;  (d) address of all offices or retail stores, if any, in this State at which consumer credit sales, consumer leases, or consumer loans are made, or in the case of a person taking assignments of obligations, the offices or places of business within this State at which business is transacted;  (e) if consumer credit sales, consumer leases, or consumer loans are made otherwise than at an office or retail store in this State, a brief description of the manner in which they are made;  (f) address of designated agent upon whom service of process may be made in this State (Section 37-1-203); and  (2) If information in a notification becomes inaccurate after filing, no further notification is required until the following January thirty-first.  HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 8-800.402; 1974 (58) 2879.
SC Code § 37-6-203 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 37 - Consumer Protection Code|Chapter 6 - Administration|Section 37-6-203. Fees.

 A person required to file notification shall pay on or before January thirty-first of each year to the administrator an annual fee of one hundred twenty dollars for that year, for each address in this State listed in the notification. The fee for any one person must be not less than one hundred twenty dollars. A person who does not extend credit pursuant to written contracts and a person whose annual gross volume of business does not exceed one hundred fifty thousand dollars is exempt from any fee and from the notification requirements of Section 37-6-202. A person engaged in making consumer credit sales or consumer leases who is also engaged in making consumer rental-purchase agreements is only required to pay one one hundred twenty dollar fee for each location. The Department of Consumer Affairs shall retain thirty dollars of each fee to offset the cost of administration and enforcement of this chapter.  HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 8-800.403; 1974 (58) 2879; 1975 (59) 316; 1977 Act No. 219 Pt II Section 32; 1979 Act No. 80 Section 1; 1985 Act No. 121, Section 20; 1987 Act No. 56 Section 3; 1991 Act No. 142, Section 22; 2008 Act No. 353, Section 2, Pt 16D, eff July 1, 2009.