reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
V.I. Code tit. 12A, § 332 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 12A - Consumer Code|Chapter 6 - Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices|§ 332. Recovery of costs

 The court may award to a prevailing party, as part of the judgment, a sum equal to the aggregate amount of costs and expenses, including reasonable attorney's fees based on actual time expended, determined by the court to have been reasonably incurred by the prevailing attorney for, or in connection with, the prosecution of the action.
V.I. Code tit. 12A, § 333 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 12A - Consumer Code|Chapter 6 - Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices|§ 333. Exemptions

 Nothing in this chapter applies to any of the following: (a) Actions or transactions specifically authorized by laws administered by any regulatory body or officer acting under statutory authority of this territory or the United States; (b) Acts done by the publisher, owner, agent, or employee of a newspaper, periodical or radio or television station in the publication or dissemination of an advertisement, when the owner, agent or employee did not have knowledge of the false, misleading or deceptive character of the advertisement, did not prepare the advertisement, or did not have a direct financial interest in the sale or distribution of the advertised product or service; (c)  (1) The communication of any false, misleading or deceptive information, provided by the seller of real estate located in the Virgin Islands, by a real estate salesman or broker licensed under The Real Estate Brokers and Salesmen Act, title 27 Virgin Islands Code § 421 et seq., unless the salesman or broker knows of the false, misleading or deceptive character of such information. (2) This subsection is effective as to any communication, whenever occurring; (d) Claims seeking damages for conduct that results in bodily injury, death, or damage to property other than the property that is the subject of the practice claimed to be unlawful. This subsection applies to causes of action filed on or after its effective date. (e)  (1) The communication of any false, misleading, or deceptive information by an insurance producer, registered firm, or limited insurance representative, as those terms are defined in the title 22 Virgin Islands Code, or by an insurance agency or brokerage house concerning the sale, placement, procurement, renewal, binding, cancellation of, or terms of any type of insurance or any policy of insurance unless the insurance producer has actual knowledge of the false, misleading, or deceptive character of the information. This provision shall be effective as to any communications, whenever occurring. (2) This subsection applies to all causes of action that accrue on or after the effective date of this chapter.
V.I. Code tit. 12A, § 334 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 12A - Consumer Code|Chapter 6 - Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices|§ 334. Waiver or modification

 Any waiver or modification of the rights, provisions, or remedies of this chapter is void and unenforceable.
V.I. Code tit. 12A, § 335 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 12A - Consumer Code|Chapter 6 - Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices|§ 335. Severability

 If any provision of this chapter or the application thereof to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the invalidity does not affect other provisions or applications of the chapter which can be given effect without the invalid provision or application, and to this end the provisions of this chapter are severable.
V.I. Code tit. 12A, § 336 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 12A - Consumer Code|Chapter 6 - Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices|§ 336. Statute of limitations

 The statute of limitations under this Chapter is governed by Title 5 Virgin Islands Code § 31(3)(B).
V.I. Code tit. 12A, § 401 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 12A - Consumer Code|Chapter 7 - Uniform Debt Services Management|§ 401. Short title

 This chapter may be cited as the Virgin Islands Uniform Debt-Management Services Act.
V.I. Code tit. 12A, § 403 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 12A - Consumer Code|Chapter 7 - Uniform Debt Services Management|§ 403. Exempt agreements and persons

 (a) This chapter does not apply to an agreement with an individual who the provider has no reason to know resides in the Virgin Islands at the time of the agreement. (b) This chapter does not apply to a provider to the extent that the provider: (1) provides or agrees to provide debt-management, educational, or counseling services to an individual who the provider has no reason to know resides in the Virgin Islands at the time the provider agrees to provide the services; or (2) receives no compensation for debt-management services from or on behalf of the individuals to whom it provides the services or from their creditors. (c) This chapter does not apply to the following persons or their employees when the person or the employee is engaged in the regular course of the person's business or profession: (1) a judicial officer, a person acting under an order of a court or an administrative agency, or an assignee for the benefit of creditors; (2) a bank; (3) an affiliate, as defined in Section 402(1)(B)(i), of a bank if the affiliate is regulated by a federal or state banking regulatory authority; or (4) a title insurer, escrow company, or other person that provides bill-paying services if the provision of debt-management services is incidental to the bill-paying services.
V.I. Code tit. 12A, § 404 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 12A - Consumer Code|Chapter 7 - Uniform Debt Services Management|§ 404. Registration

 (a) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (b), a provider may not provide debt-management services to an individual who the provider reasonably should know resides in the Virgin Islands at the time the provider agrees to provide the services, unless the provider is registered under this chapter. (b) If a provider is registered under this chapter, subsection (a) does not apply to an employee or agent of the provider. (c) The Lieutenant Governor shall maintain and publicize a list of the names of all registered providers.
V.I. Code tit. 12A, § 405 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 12A - Consumer Code|Chapter 7 - Uniform Debt Services Management|§ 405. Application for registration: form, fee, and accompanying documents

 (a) An application for registration as a provider must be in a form prescribed by the Lieutenant Governor. (b) Subject to adjustment of dollar amounts pursuant to section 432(f), an application for registration as a provider must be accompanied by: (1) the fee established by the Lieutenant Governor; (2) the bond required by section 413; (3) identification of all trust accounts required by section 422 and an irrevocable consent authorizing the Lieutenant Governor to review and examine the trust accounts; (4) evidence of insurance in the amount of $250,000: (A) against the risks of dishonesty, fraud, theft, and other misconduct on the part of the applicant or a director, employee, or agent of the applicant; (B) issued by an insurance company authorized to do business in the Virgin Islands and rated at least A or equivalent by a nationally recognized rating organization approved by the Lieutenant Governor; (C) with a deductible not exceeding $5,000; (D) payable for the benefit of the applicant, the Government of the Virgin Islands, and individuals who are residents of the Virgin Islands, as their interests may appear; and (E) not subject to cancellation by the applicant or the insurer until 60 days after written notice has been given to the Lieutenant Governor; (5)  (A) proof of compliance with title 27 Virgin Islands Code, chapter 9; (B) a record consenting to the jurisdiction of the Virgin Islands containing; (C) the name, physical address, and other contact information of its registered agent in the Virgin Islands for purposes of service of process; or (D) the appointment of the Lieutenant Governor as agent of the provider for purposes of service of process; and (6) if the applicant is organized as a not-for-profit entity or is exempt from taxation under the Internal Revenue Code, 26 U.S.C. Section 501, evidence of not-for-profit status, tax-exempt status, or both, as applicable.
V.I. Code tit. 12A, § 407 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 12A - Consumer Code|Chapter 7 - Uniform Debt Services Management|§ 407. Application for registration: obligation to update information

 An applicant or registered provider shall notify the Lieutenant Governor within 10 days after a change in the information specified in section 405(b)(4) or (6) or 406(1), (3), (6), (12), or (13).
V.I. Code tit. 12A, § 408 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 12A - Consumer Code|Chapter 7 - Uniform Debt Services Management|§ 408. Application for registration: public information

 Except for the information required by section 406(7), (14), and (17) and the addresses required by section 406(4), the Lieutenant Governor shall make the information in an application for registration as a provider available to the public.
V.I. Code tit. 12A, § 409 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 12A - Consumer Code|Chapter 7 - Uniform Debt Services Management|§ 409. Certificate of registration: issuance or denial

 (a) Except as otherwise provided in subsections (c) and (d), the Lieutenant Governor shall issue a certificate of registration as a provider to a person that complies with sections 405 and 406. (b) If an applicant has otherwise complied with sections 405 and 406, including a timely effort to obtain the information required by section 406(14) but the information has not been received, the Lieutenant Governor may issue a temporary certificate of registration that expires no later than 180 days after issuance. (c) The Lieutenant Governor may deny registration if: (1) the application contains information that is materially erroneous or incomplete; (2) an officer, director, or owner of the applicant has been convicted of a crime, or suffered a civil judgment, involving dishonesty or the violation of state or federal securities laws; (3) the applicant or any of its officers, directors, or owners has defaulted in the payment of money collected for others; or (4) the Lieutenant Governor finds that the financial responsibility, experience, character, or general fitness of the applicant or its owners, directors, employees, or agents does not warrant belief that the business will be operated in compliance with this chapter. (d) The Lieutenant Governor shall deny registration if, with respect to an applicant that is organized as a not-for-profit entity or has obtained tax-exempt status under the Internal Revenue Code, 26 U.S.C. Section 501, the applicant's board of directors is not independent of the applicant's employees and agents. (e) Subject to adjustment of the dollar amount pursuant to section 432(f), a board of directors is not independent for purposes of subsection (d) if more than one-fourth of its members: (1) are affiliates of the applicant, as defined in section 402(1)(A) or (B)(i), (ii), (iv), (v), (vi), or (vii); or (2) after the date 10 years before first becoming a director of the applicant, were employed by or directors of a person that received from the applicant more than $25,000 in either the current year or the preceding year.
V.I. Code tit. 12A, § 410 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 12A - Consumer Code|Chapter 7 - Uniform Debt Services Management|§ 410. Certificate of registration: timing

 (a) The Lieutenant Governor shall approve or deny an initial registration as a provider within 120 days after an application is filed. In connection with a request pursuant to section 406(19) for additional information, the Lieutenant Governor may extend the 120-day period for not more than 60 days. Within seven days after denying an application, the Lieutenant Governor, in a record, shall inform the applicant of the reasons for the denial. (b)  (1) If the Lieutenant Governor denies an application for registration as a provider or does not act on an application within the time prescribed in subsection (a), the applicant may appeal and request a hearing by filing a written request for an appeal to the Lieutenant Governor within 10 days after the receipt of the notice of denial or expiration of the time prescribed in subsection (a) for the Commission's decision. The Lieutenant Governor shall appoint a hearing officer who shall conduct a fair hearing pursuant to procedures prescribed by regulations promulgated pursuant to 3 V.I.C., chapter 35. (2) Pursuant to title 5 V.I.C., chapter 97, a petition for writ or review may be filed in the Superior Court of the Virgin Islands in the case of any person aggrieved by a final decision of the Lieutenant Governor to deny an application for registration if all administrative remedies as are provided by this section have been exhausted (c) Subject to sections 411(d) and 434, a registration as a provider is valid for one year.
V.I. Code tit. 12A, § 412 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 12A - Consumer Code|Chapter 7 - Uniform Debt Services Management|§ 412. Registration in another state

 If a provider holds a license or certificate of registration in another state authorizing it to provide debt-management services, the provider may submit a copy of that license or certificate and the application for it instead of an application in the form prescribed by section 405(a), 406, or 411(b). The Lieutenant Governor shall accept the application and the license or certificate from the other state as an application for registration as a provider or for renewal of registration as a provider, as appropriate, in the Virgin Islands, if: (1) the application in the other state contains information substantially similar to or more comprehensive than that required in an application submitted in the Virgin Islands; (2) the applicant provides the information required by section 406(1), (3), (10), (12), and (13); and (3) the applicant, under penalty of false statement, certifies that the information contained in the application is current or, to the extent it is not current, supplements the application to make the information current.
V.I. Code tit. 12A, § 414 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 12A - Consumer Code|Chapter 7 - Uniform Debt Services Management|§ 414. Bond required: substitute

 (a) Instead of the surety bond required by section 413, a provider may deliver to the Lieutenant Governor, in the amount required by section 413(b), and, except as otherwise provided in paragraph (2)(A), payable or available to Virgin Islands and to individuals who reside in the Virgin Islands when they agree to receive debt-management services from the provider, as their interests may appear, if the provider or its agent does not comply with this chapter: (1) a certificate of insurance (A) issued by an insurance company authorized to do business in the Virgin Islands and rated at least A or equivalent by a nationally recognized rating organization approved by the Lieutenant Governor; and (B) with no deductible, or if the provider supplies a bond in the amount of $5,000, a deductible not exceeding $5,000; or (2) with the approval of the Lieutenant Governor: (A) an irrevocable letter of credit, issued or confirmed by a bank approved by the Lieutenant Governor, payable upon presentation of a certificate by the Lieutenant Governor stating that the provider or its agent has not complied with this chapter or (B) bonds or other obligations of the United States or guaranteed by the United States or bonds or other obligations of the Virgin Islands or a political subdivision of Virgin Islands, to be deposited and maintained with a bank approved by the Lieutenant Governor for this purpose. (b) If a provider furnishes a substitute pursuant to subsection (a), the provisions of section 413(a), (c), (d), and (e) apply to the substitute.
V.I. Code tit. 12A, § 415 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 12A - Consumer Code|Chapter 7 - Uniform Debt Services Management|§ 415. Requirement of good faith

 A provider shall act in good faith in all matters under this chapter.
V.I. Code tit. 12A, § 416 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 12A - Consumer Code|Chapter 7 - Uniform Debt Services Management|§ 416. Customer service

 A provider that is required to be registered under this chapter shall maintain a toll-free communication system, staffed at a level that reasonably permits an individual to speak to a certified counselor, certified debt specialist, or customer-service representative, as appropriate, during ordinary business hours.
V.I. Code tit. 12A, § 420 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 12A - Consumer Code|Chapter 7 - Uniform Debt Services Management|§ 420. Cancellation of agreement; waiver

 (a) An individual may cancel an agreement before midnight of the third business day after the individual assents to it, unless the agreement does not comply with subsection (b) or section 419 or 428, in which event the individual may cancel the agreement within 30 days after the individual assents to it. To exercise the right to cancel, the individual must give notice in a record to the provider. Notice by mail is given when mailed. (b) An agreement must be accompanied by a form that contains in bold-face type, surrounded by bold black lines:You may cancel this agreement, without any penalty or obligation, at any time before midnight of the third business day that begins the day after you agree to it by electronic communication or by signing it.To cancel this agreement during this period, send an e-mail to address of provider or mail or deliver a signed, dated copy of this E-mail notice, or any other written notice to Name of provider at ____ before midnight on Address of provider    DateIf you cancel this agreement within the 3-day period, we will refund all money you already have paid us.You also may terminate this agreement at any later time, but we may not be required to refund fees you have paid us.I cancel this agreement,Print your nameSignatureDate (c) If a personal financial emergency necessitates the disbursement of an individual's money to one or more of the individual's creditors before the expiration of three days after an agreement is signed, an individual may waive the right to cancel. To waive the right, the individual must send or deliver a signed, dated statement in the individual's own words describing the circumstances that necessitate a waiver. The waiver must explicitly waive the right to cancel. A waiver by means of a standard-form record is void.
V.I. Code tit. 12A, § 421 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 12A - Consumer Code|Chapter 7 - Uniform Debt Services Management|§ 421. Required language

 Unless the Lieutenant Governor, by rule, provides otherwise, the disclosures and documents required by this chapter must be in English. If a provider communicates with an individual primarily in a language other than English, the provider must furnish a translation into the other language of the disclosures and documents required by this chapter.
V.I. Code tit. 12A, § 424 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 12A - Consumer Code|Chapter 7 - Uniform Debt Services Management|§ 424. Voluntary contributions

 A provider may not solicit a voluntary contribution from an individual or an affiliate of the individual for any service provided to the individual. A provider may accept voluntary contributions from an individual but, until 30 days after completion or termination of a plan, the aggregate amount of money received from or on behalf of the individual may not exceed the total amount the provider may charge the individual under section 423.
V.I. Code tit. 12A, § 425 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 12A - Consumer Code|Chapter 7 - Uniform Debt Services Management|§ 425. Voidable agreements

 (a) If a provider imposes a fee or other charge or receives money or other payments not authorized by section 423 or 24, the individual may void the agreement and recover as provided in section 435. (b) If a provider is not registered as required by this chapter when an individual assents to an agreement, the agreement is voidable by the individual. (c) If an individual voids an agreement under subsection (b), the provider does not have a claim against the individual for breach of contract or for restitution.
V.I. Code tit. 12A, § 426 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 12A - Consumer Code|Chapter 7 - Uniform Debt Services Management|§ 426. Termination of agreements

 (a) If an individual who has entered into an agreement fails for 60 days to make payments required by the agreement, a provider may terminate the agreement. (b) If a provider or an individual terminates an agreement, the provider shall immediately return to the individual: (1) any money of the individual held in trust for the benefit of the individual; and (2) 65 percent of any portion of the set-up fee received pursuant to section 423(d)(2) which has not been credited against settlement fees.
V.I. Code tit. 12A, § 427 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 12A - Consumer Code|Chapter 7 - Uniform Debt Services Management|§ 427. Periodic reports and retention of records

 (a) A provider shall provide the accounting required by subsection (b): (1) upon cancellation or termination of an agreement; and (2) before cancellation or termination of any agreement: (A) at least once each month; and (B) within five business days after a request by an individual, but the provider need not comply with more than one request in any calendar month. (b) A provider, in a record, shall provide each individual for whom it has established a plan an accounting of the following information: (1) the amount of money received from the individual since the last report; (2) the amounts and dates of disbursement made on the individual's behalf, or by the individual upon the direction of the provider, since the last report to each creditor listed in the plan; (3) the amounts deducted from the amount received from the individual; (4) the amount held in reserve; and (5) if, since the last report, a creditor has agreed to accept as payment in full an amount less than the principal amount of the debt owed by the individual: (A) the total amount and terms of the settlement; (B) the amount of the debt when the individual assented to the plan; (C) the amount of the debt when the creditor agreed to the settlement; and (D) the calculation of a settlement fee. (c) A provider shall maintain records for each individual for whom it provides debt-management services for five years after the final payment made by the individual and produce a copy of them to the individual within a reasonable time after a request for them. The provider may use electronic or other means of storage of the records.
V.I. Code tit. 12A, § 429 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 12A - Consumer Code|Chapter 7 - Uniform Debt Services Management|§ 429. Notice of litigation

 No later than 30 days after a provider has been served with notice of a civil action for violation of this chapter by or on behalf of an individual who resides in the Virgin Islands at either the time of an agreement or the time the notice is served, the provider shall notify the Lieutenant Governor in a record that it has been sued.
V.I. Code tit. 12A, § 430 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 12A - Consumer Code|Chapter 7 - Uniform Debt Services Management|§ 430. Advertising

 (a) If the agreements of a provider contemplate that creditors will reduce finance charges or fees for late payment, default, or delinquency and the provider advertises debt-management services, the provider shall disclose, in an easily comprehensible manner, that using a debt-management plan, may make it harder for the individual to obtain credit. (b) If the agreements of a provider contemplate that creditors will settle for less than the full principal amount of debt and the provider advertises debt-management services, the provider shall disclose, in an easily comprehensible manner, the information specified in section 417(d)(3) and (4).