reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
RI Gen L § 19-14.8-33 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 19 - Financial Institutions|Chapter 19-14.8 - Uniform Debt-Management Services Act|Section 19-14.8-33 - Administrative remedies.

§ 19-14.8-33. Administrative remedies.(a) The director may enforce this chapter and rules adopted under this chapter by taking one or more of the following actions:(1) Ordering a provider or a director, employee, or other agent of a provider to cease and desist from any violations;(2) Ordering a provider or a person who or that has caused a violation to correct the violation, including making restitution of money or property to a person aggrieved by a violation;(3) Subject to adjustment of the dollar amount pursuant to § 19-14.8-32(f), imposing on a provider or a person who or that has caused a violation a civil penalty not exceeding ten thousand dollars ($10,000) for each violation;(4) Prosecuting a civil action to:(A) Enforce an order; or(B) Obtain restitution or an injunction or other equitable relief, or both;(5) Intervening in an action brought under § 19-14.8-35.(b) Subject to adjustment of the dollar amount pursuant to § 19-14.8-32(f), if a person violates or knowingly authorizes, directs, or aids in the violation of a final order issued under subsection (a)(1) or (a)(2), the director may impose a civil penalty not exceeding twenty thousand dollars ($20,000) for each violation.(c) The director may maintain an action to enforce this chapter in any county.(d) The director may recover the reasonable costs of enforcing the chapter under subsections (a) — (c), including attorney's fees based on the hours reasonably expended and the hourly rates for attorneys of comparable experience in the community.(e) In determining the amount of a civil penalty to impose under subsection (a) or (b), the director shall consider the seriousness of the violation; the good faith of the violator; any previous violations by the violator; the deleterious effect of the violation on the public; the net worth of the violator; and any other factor the director considers relevant to the determination of the civil penalty.History of Section.P.L. 2006, ch. 243, § 3; P.L. 2006, ch. 291, § 3.
RI Gen L § 19-14.8-34 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 19 - Financial Institutions|Chapter 19-14.8 - Uniform Debt-Management Services Act|Section 19-14.8-34 - Suspension, revocation or nonrenewal of registration.

§ 19-14.8-34. Suspension, revocation or nonrenewal of registration.(a) In this section, "insolvent" means:(1) Having generally ceased to pay debts in the ordinary course of business other than as a result of good-faith dispute;(2) Being unable to pay debts as they become due; or(3) Being insolvent within the meaning of the federal bankruptcy law, 11 U.S.C. § 101 et seq., as amended.(b) The director may suspend, revoke, or deny renewal of a provider's registration if:(1) A fact or condition exists that, if it had existed when the registrant applied for registration as a provider, would have been a reason for denying registration;(2) The provider has committed a material violation of this chapter or a rule or order of the director under this chapter;(3) The provider is insolvent;(4) The provider or an employee or affiliate of the provider has refused to permit the director to make an examination authorized by this chapter, failed to comply with § 19-14.8-32(b)(2) within fifteen (15) days after request, or made a material misrepresentation or omission in complying with § 19-14.8-32(b)(2); or(5) The provider has not responded within a reasonable time and in an appropriate manner to communications from the director.(c) If a provider does not comply with § 19-14.8-22(f) or if the director otherwise finds that the public health or safety or general welfare requires emergency action, the director may order a summary suspension of the provider's registration, effective on the date specified in the order.(d) If the director suspends, revokes, or denies renewal of the registration of a provider, the director may seek a court order authorizing seizure of any or all of the money in a trust account required by § 19-14.8-22, books, records, accounts, and other property of the provider that are located in this state.(e) If the director suspends or revokes a provider's registration, the provider may appeal and request a hearing pursuant to chapter 35 of title 42.History of Section.P.L. 2006, ch. 243, § 3; P.L. 2006, ch. 291, § 3.
RI Gen L § 19-14.8-35 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 19 - Financial Institutions|Chapter 19-14.8 - Uniform Debt-Management Services Act|Section 19-14.8-35 - Private enforcement.

§ 19-14.8-35. Private enforcement.(a) If an individual voids an agreement pursuant to § 19-14.8-25(b), the individual may recover in a civil action all money paid or deposited by, or on behalf of, the individual pursuant to the agreement, except amounts paid to creditors, in addition to the recovery under subsections (c)(3) and (c)(4).(b) If an individual voids an agreement pursuant to § 19-14.8-25(a), the individual may recover in a civil action three (3) times the total amount of the fees, charges, money, and payments made by the individual to the provider, in addition to the recovery under subsection (c)(4).(c) Subject to subsection (d), an individual with respect to whom a provider violates this chapter may recover in a civil action from the provider and any person that caused the violation:(1) Compensatory damages for injury, including noneconomic injury, caused by the violation;(2) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (d) of this section and subject to adjustment of the dollar amount pursuant to § 19-14.8-32(f), with respect to a violation of § 19-14.8-17, § 19-14.8-19, § 19-14.8-20, § 19-14.8-21, § 19-14.8-22, § 19-14.8-23, § 19-14.8-24, § 19-14.8-27, or § 19-14.8-28(a), (b), or (d), the greater of the amount recoverable under subsection (c)(1) or five thousand dollars ($5,000);(3) Punitive damages; and(4) Reasonable attorney's fees and costs.(d) In a class action, except for a violation of § 19-14.8-28(a)(5), the minimum damages provided in subsection (c)(2) do not apply.(e) In addition to the remedy available under subsection (c), if a provider violates an individual's rights under § 19-14.8-20, the individual may recover in a civil action all money paid or deposited by or on behalf of the individual pursuant to the agreement, except for amounts paid to creditors.(f) A provider is not liable under this section for a violation of this chapter if the provider proves that the violation was not intentional and resulted from a good-faith error notwithstanding the maintenance of procedures reasonably adapted to avoid the error. An error of legal judgment with respect to a provider's obligations under this chapter is not a good-faith error. If, in connection with a violation, the provider has received more money than authorized by an agreement or this chapter, the defense provided by this subsection is not available unless the provider refunds the excess within two (2) business days of learning of the violation.(g) The director shall assist an individual in enforcing a judgment against the surety bond or other security provided under § 19-14.8-13 or § 19-14.8-14.History of Section.P.L. 2006, ch. 243, § 3; P.L. 2006, ch. 291, § 3.
RI Gen L § 19-14.8-36 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 19 - Financial Institutions|Chapter 19-14.8 - Uniform Debt-Management Services Act|Section 19-14.8-36 - Violation of unfair or deceptive practices statute.

§ 19-14.8-36. Violation of unfair or deceptive practices statute.If an act or practice of a provider violates both this chapter and either chapter 13.1 of title 6, an individual may not recover under both for the same act or practice.History of Section.P.L. 2006, ch. 243, § 3; P.L. 2006, ch. 291, § 3.
RI Gen L § 19-14.8-37 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 19 - Financial Institutions|Chapter 19-14.8 - Uniform Debt-Management Services Act|Section 19-14.8-37 - Statute of limitations.

§ 19-14.8-37. Statute of limitations.(a) An action or proceeding brought pursuant to § 19-14.8-33(a), (b), or (c) must be commenced within four (4) years after the conduct that is the basis of the director's complaint.(b) An action brought pursuant to § 19-14.8-35 must be commenced within two (2) years after the latest of:(1) The individual's last transmission of money to a provider;(2) The individual's last transmission of money to a creditor at the direction of the provider;(3) The provider's last disbursement to a creditor of the individual;(4) The provider's last accounting to the individual pursuant to § 19-14.8-27(a);(5) The date on which the individual discovered or reasonably should have discovered the facts giving rise to the individual's claim; or(6) Termination of actions or proceedings by the director with respect to a violation of the chapter.(c) The period prescribed in subsection (b)(5) is tolled during any period during which the provider or, if different, the defendant has materially and willfully misrepresented information required by this chapter to be disclosed to the individual, if the information so misrepresented is material to the establishment of the liability of the defendant under this chapter.History of Section.P.L. 2006, ch. 243, § 3; P.L. 2006, ch. 291, § 3.
RI Gen L § 19-14.8-38 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 19 - Financial Institutions|Chapter 19-14.8 - Uniform Debt-Management Services Act|Section 19-14.8-38 - Uniformity of application and construction.

§ 19-14.8-38. Uniformity of application and construction.In applying and construing this chapter, consideration must be given to the need to promote uniformity of the law with respect to its subject matter among states that enact it.History of Section.P.L. 2006, ch. 243, § 3; P.L. 2006, ch. 291, § 3.
RI Gen L § 19-14.8-39 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 19 - Financial Institutions|Chapter 19-14.8 - Uniform Debt-Management Services Act|Section 19-14.8-39 - Relation to Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act.

§ 19-14.8-39. Relation to Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act.This chapter modifies, limits, and supersedes the federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act (15 U.S.C. § 7001 et seq.) but does not modify, limit, or supersede § 101(c) of that act (15 U.S.C. § 7001(c)) or authorize electronic delivery of any of the notices described in § 103(b) of that act (15 U.S.C. § 7003(b)).History of Section.P.L. 2006, ch. 243, § 3; P.L. 2006, ch. 291, § 3.
RI Gen L § 19-14.8-40 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 19 - Financial Institutions|Chapter 19-14.8 - Uniform Debt-Management Services Act|Section 19-14.8-40 - Transitional provisions - Application to existing transactions.

§ 19-14.8-40. Transitional provisions — Application to existing transactions.Transactions entered into before this chapter takes effect and the rights, duties, and interests resulting from them may be completed, terminated, or enforced as required or permitted by a law amended, repealed, or modified by this chapter as though the amendment, repeal, or modification had not occurred.History of Section.P.L. 2006, ch. 243, § 3; P.L. 2006, ch. 291, § 3.
RI Gen L § 19-14.8-41 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 19 - Financial Institutions|Chapter 19-14.8 - Uniform Debt-Management Services Act|Section 19-14.8-41 - Severability.

§ 19-14.8-41. Severability.If any provision of this chapter or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the invalidity does not affect other provisions or applications of this chapter that can be given effect without the invalid provision or application, and to this end the provisions of this chapter are severable.History of Section.P.L. 2006, ch. 243, § 3; P.L. 2006, ch. 291, § 3.
RI Gen L § 19-14.8-42 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 19 - Financial Institutions|Chapter 19-14.8 - Uniform Debt-Management Services Act|Section 19-14.8-42 - [Reserved.]

§ 19-14.8-42. [Reserved.]History of Section.P.L. 2006, ch. 243, § 3; P.L. 2006, ch. 291, § 3.
RI Gen L § 19-14.8-43 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 19 - Financial Institutions|Chapter 19-14.8 - Uniform Debt-Management Services Act|Section 19-14.8-43 - Official comments.

§ 19-14.8-43. Official comments.It is the intention of the general assembly that the official comments to this chapter represent the express legislative intent of the general assembly and shall be used as a guide for interpretation of this chapter.History of Section.P.L. 2006, ch. 243, § 3; P.L. 2006, ch. 291, § 3.
RI Gen L § 19-14.9-1 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 19 - Financial Institutions|Chapter 19-14.9 - Rhode Island Fair Debt Collection Practices Act|Section 19-14.9-1 - Short title.

§ 19-14.9-1. Short title.This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Rhode Island Fair Debt Collection Practices Act".History of Section.P.L. 2007, ch. 427, § 1.
RI Gen L § 19-14.9-2 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 19 - Financial Institutions|Chapter 19-14.9 - Rhode Island Fair Debt Collection Practices Act|Section 19-14.9-2 - Purpose.

§ 19-14.9-2. Purpose.The purpose of this chapter is to establish standards, by defining unfair or deceptive acts or practices, for the collection of debts from consumers within the state of Rhode Island, and to establish requirements for the registering and supervision of debt collectors.History of Section.P.L. 2007, ch. 427, § 1.
RI Gen L § 19-14.9-4 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 19 - Financial Institutions|Chapter 19-14.9 - Rhode Island Fair Debt Collection Practices Act|Section 19-14.9-4 - Acquisition of location information.

§ 19-14.9-4. Acquisition of location information.Any debt collector communicating with any person, other than the consumer, for the purpose of acquiring location information about the consumer shall:(a) Identify himself/herself, state that he/she is confirming or correcting location information concerning the consumer, and, only if expressly requested, identify his/her employer;(b) Not state that such consumer owes any debt;(c) Not communicate with any such person more than once unless requested to do so by such person or unless the debt collector reasonably believes that the earlier response of such person is erroneous or incomplete and that such person now has correct or complete location information;(d) Not communicate by post card;(e) Not use any language or symbol on any envelope or in the contents of any communication effected by the mails or telegram that indicates that the debt collector is in the debt collection business or that the communication relates to the collection of a debt; and(f) After the debt collector knows the consumer is represented by an attorney with regard to the subject debt and has knowledge of, or can readily ascertain, such attorney's name and address, not communicate with any person other than that attorney, unless the attorney fails to respond within a reasonable period of time to communication from the debt collector.History of Section.P.L. 2007, ch. 427, § 1.
RI Gen L § 19-14.9-5 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 19 - Financial Institutions|Chapter 19-14.9 - Rhode Island Fair Debt Collection Practices Act|Section 19-14.9-5 - Communication in connection with debt collection.

§ 19-14.9-5. Communication in connection with debt collection.(1) Without the prior consent of the consumer given directly to the debt collector or the express permission of a court of competent jurisdiction, a debt collector may not communicate with a consumer in connection with the collection of any debt:(a) At any unusual time or place or a time or place known or which should be known to be inconvenient to the consumer. In the absence of knowledge of circumstances to the contrary, a debt collector shall assume that the convenient time for communicating with a consumer is after 8 o'clock A.M. and before 9 o'clock P.M. local time at the consumer's location;(b) If the debt collector knows the consumer is represented by an attorney with respect to such debt and has knowledge of, or can readily ascertain, such attorney's name and address, unless the attorney fails to respond within a reasonable period of time to a communication from the debt collector or unless the attorney consents to direct communication with the consumer; or(c) At the consumer's place of employment if the debt collector knows or has reason to know that the consumer's employer prohibits the consumer from receiving such communication.(2) Except as provided in § 19-14.9-4, without the prior consent of the consumer given directly to the debt collector, or the express permission of a court of competent jurisdiction, or as reasonably necessary to effectuate a postjudgment judicial remedy, a debt collector may not communicate, in connection with the collection of any debt, with any person other than the consumer, his/her attorney, a consumer reporting agency if otherwise permitted by law, the creditor, the attorney of the creditor, or the attorney of the debt collector.(3) If a consumer notifies a debt collector in writing that the consumer refuses to pay a debt or that the consumer wishes the debt collector to cease further communication with the consumer, the debt collector shall not communicate further with the consumer with respect to such debt, except:(a) To advise the consumer that the debt collector's further efforts are being terminated;(b) To notify the consumer that the debt collector or creditor may invoke specified remedies that are ordinarily invoked by such debt collector or creditor; or(c) Where applicable, to notify the consumer that the debt collector or creditor intends to invoke a specified remedy.If such notice from the consumer is made by mail, notification shall be complete upon receipt.(4) For the purpose of this section, the term "consumer" shall also include the consumer's spouse, parent (if the consumer is a minor), guardian, executor, or administrator.History of Section.P.L. 2007, ch. 427, § 1.
RI Gen L § 19-14.9-6 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 19 - Financial Institutions|Chapter 19-14.9 - Rhode Island Fair Debt Collection Practices Act|Section 19-14.9-6 - Harassment or abuse.

§ 19-14.9-6. Harassment or abuse.A debt collector may not engage in any conduct the natural consequence of which is to harass, oppress, or abuse any person in connection with the collection of a debt. Such conduct shall include, but not be limited to:(a) Using or threatening to use violence or other criminal means to harm the physical person, reputation, or property of any person;(b) Using obscene or profane language or language the natural consequence of which is to abuse the hearer or reader;(c) Advertising for sale of any debt to coerce payment of the debt;(d) Causing a telephone to ring or engaging any person in telephone conversation repeatedly or continuously with intent to annoy, abuse, or harass any person at the called number; or(e) Except as provided in § 19-14.9-4, placing telephone calls without meaningful disclosure of the caller's identity.History of Section.P.L. 2007, ch. 427, § 1.
RI Gen L § 19-14.9-8 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 19 - Financial Institutions|Chapter 19-14.9 - Rhode Island Fair Debt Collection Practices Act|Section 19-14.9-8 - Unfair practices.

§ 19-14.9-8. Unfair practices.A debt collector may not use unfair or unconscionable means to collect or attempt to collect any debt. Such unfair or unconscionable means shall include, but not be limited to:(a) Collecting any amount (including any interest, fee, charge, or expense incidental to the principal obligation) unless such amount is expressly authorized by the agreement creating the debt or permitted by law;(b) Publishing, or causing to be published, for general circulation, the name of a consumer or any lists of consumers, or threatening to do so;(c) Requesting or demanding from a consumer a postdated check, draft, order for withdrawal, or other similar instrument in payment for the debt or any portion thereof, or negotiating such instrument before the due date of the instrument;(d) Depositing, or threatening to deposit, any postdated check or other postdated payment instrument prior to the date on such check or instrument;(e) Causing charges to be made to any person for communications by concealment of the true purpose of the communication. Such charges include, but are not limited to, collect telephone calls and fees. However, this section shall not prohibit a debt collector from communicating with a consumer by way of a consumer's wireless telephone;(f) Taking, or threatening to take, any nonjudicial action to effect dispossession or disablement of property if:(1) There is no present right to possession of the property claimed as collateral through an enforceable security interest;(2) There is no present intention to take possession of the property;(3) The property is exempt by law from such dispossession or disablement;(g) Communicating with a consumer regarding a debt by post card;(h) Using any language or symbol, other than the debt collector's address, on any envelope when communicating with a consumer by use of the mails or by telegram, except that a debt collector may use his/her business name if such name does not indicate that he/she is in the debt collection business;(i) Representing that an existing obligation of a consumer may be increased by the addition of attorney's fees, investigation fees, service fees, or any other fees or charges, if in fact such fees or charges may not legally be added to the existing obligation;(j) Soliciting or obtaining any written statement or acknowledgment in any form containing an affirmation of any obligation by a consumer who has been adjudicated bankrupt, without clearly and conspicuously disclosing the nature and consequences of such affirmation;(k) Reporting to a consumer reporting agency on its transactions or experiences with a consumer in the debt collector's name. However, a debt collector may, with the express written authorization of the creditor, report to a consumer reporting agency in the creditor's name.History of Section.P.L. 2007, ch. 427, § 1.