24-4.5-2-201. Credit service charge for consumer credit sales other than revolving charge accounts

IN Code § 24-4.5-2-201 (2019) (N/A)
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Sec. 201. Credit Service Charge for Consumer Credit Sales other than Revolving Charge Accounts — (1) With respect to a consumer credit sale, other than a sale pursuant to a revolving charge account, a seller may contract for and receive a credit service charge not exceeding that permitted by this section.

(2) The credit service charge, calculated according to the actuarial method, may not exceed the equivalent of the greater of:

(a) the total of:

(i) thirty-six percent (36%) per year on that part of the unpaid balances of the amount financed which is two thousand dollars ($2,000) or less;

(ii) twenty-one percent (21%) per year on that part of the unpaid balances of the amount financed which is more than two thousand dollars ($2,000) but does not exceed four thousand dollars ($4,000); and

(iii) fifteen percent (15%) per year on that part of the unpaid balances of the amount financed which is more than four thousand dollars ($4,000); or

(b) twenty-five percent (25%) per year on the unpaid balances of the amount financed.

(3) This section does not limit or restrict the manner of contracting for the credit service charge, whether by way of add-on, discount, or otherwise, so long as the rate of the credit service charge does not exceed that permitted by this section. If the sale is precomputed:

(a) the credit service charge may be calculated on the assumption that all scheduled payments will be made when due; and

(b) the effect of prepayment is governed by the provisions on rebate upon prepayment in section 210 of this chapter.

(4) For the purposes of this section, the term of a sale agreement commences with the date the credit is granted or, if goods are delivered or services performed more than thirty (30) days after that date, with the date of commencement of delivery or performance except as set forth below:

(a) Delays attributable to the customer. Where the customer requests delivery after the thirty (30) day period or where delivery occurs after the thirty (30) day period for a reason attributable to the customer (including but not limited to failure to close on a residence or failure to obtain lease approval), the term of the sale agreement shall commence with the date credit is granted.

(b) Partial Deliveries. Where any portion of the order has been delivered within the thirty (30) day period, the term of the sale agreement shall commence with the date credit is granted.

Differences in the lengths of months are disregarded and a day may be counted as one-thirtieth (1/30) of a month. Subject to classifications and differentiations the seller may reasonably establish, a part of a month in excess of fifteen (15) days may be treated as a full month if periods of fifteen (15) days or less are disregarded and that procedure is not consistently used to obtain a greater yield than would otherwise be permitted.

(5) Subject to classifications and differentiations the seller may reasonably establish, the seller may make the same credit service charge on all amounts financed within a specified range. A credit service charge so made does not violate subsection (2) if:

(a) when applied to the median amount within each range, it does not exceed the maximum permitted by subsection (2); and

(b) when applied to the lowest amount within each range, it does not produce a rate of credit service charge exceeding the rate calculated according to paragraph (a) by more than eight percent (8%) of the rate calculated according to paragraph (a).

(6) Notwithstanding subsection (2), the seller may contract for and receive a minimum credit service charge of not more than thirty dollars ($30). The minimum credit service charge allowed under this subsection may be imposed only if:

(a) the debtor prepays in full a consumer credit sale, refinancing, or consolidation, regardless of whether the sale, refinancing, or consolidation is precomputed;

(b) the sale, refinancing, or consolidation prepaid by the debtor is subject to a credit service charge that:

(i) is contracted for by the parties; and

(ii) does not exceed the rate prescribed in subsection (2); and

(c) the credit service charge earned at the time of prepayment is less than the minimum credit service charge contracted for under this subsection.

(7) The amounts of two thousand dollars ($2,000) and four thousand dollars ($4,000) in subsection (2) are subject to change pursuant to the provisions on adjustment of dollar amounts (IC 24-4.5-1-106). However, notwithstanding IC 24-4.5-1-106(1), the Reference Base Index to be used under this subsection is the Index for October 2012.

(8) The amount of thirty dollars ($30) in subsection (6) is subject to change under the provisions on adjustment of dollar amounts (IC 24-4.5-1-106). However, notwithstanding IC 24-4.5-1-106(1), the Reference Base Index to be used under this subsection is the Index for October 1992.

Formerly: Acts 1971, P.L.366, SEC.3. As amended by Acts 1981, P.L.219, SEC.1; P.L.14-1992, SEC.15; P.L.79-1998, SEC.26; P.L.80-1998, SEC.4; P.L.10-2006, SEC.4 and P.L.57-2006, SEC.4; P.L.145-2008, SEC.23; P.L.91-2013, SEC.1.