Subdivision 1. Location information. A lessor in communication with any person other than the lessee for the purpose of acquiring information as to the location of a lessee shall:

(1) identify the lessor and state that the lessor is confirming or correcting location information concerning the lessee;

(2) not communicate with any person more than once unless requested to do so by the person or unless the lessor reasonably believes that the earlier response is erroneous or incomplete and that the person now had correct or complete location information;

(3) not communicate by postcard;

(4) not use any language or symbol on any envelope or in the contents of any communication that indicates that the communication relates to the recovery or repossession of property; and

(5) not communicate with any person other than the lessee's attorney, after the lessor knows the lessee is represented by an attorney with regard to the rental-purchase agreement and has knowledge of, or can readily ascertain, the attorney's name and address, unless the attorney fails to respond within a reasonable period of time to communication from the lessor or unless the attorney consents to direct communication with the lessee.

Subd. 2. Time and place. Without the prior consent of the lessee given directly to the lessor or the express permission of a court of competent jurisdiction, a lessor may not communicate with a lessee in connection with the recovery or repossession of property:

(1) at the lessee's place of employment; or

(2) at any unusual time or place or a time or place known or which should be known to be inconvenient to the lessee. In the absence of knowledge of circumstances to the contrary, a lessor shall assume that the convenient time for communicating with a lessee is after 8:00 a.m. and before 9:00 p.m., local time, at the lessee's location.

Subd. 3. Authorized communications. A lessor may not communicate, in connection with the rental-purchase agreement, with any person other than the lessee, the lessee's attorney, or the lessor's attorney, except as reasonably necessary to acquire location information concerning the lessee as provided under subdivision 1, or upon prior consent of the lessee given directly to the lessor, or upon express permission of a court of competent jurisdiction, or as reasonably necessary to effectuate a postjudgment judicial remedy.

Subd. 4. Ceasing communication. If a lessee notifies the lessor in writing that the lessee wishes the lessor to cease further communication with the lessee, the lessor shall not communicate further with the lessee with respect to the rental-purchase agreement, except:

(1) to advise the lessee that the lessor's further efforts are being terminated;

(2) to notify the lessee that the lessor may invoke specified remedies allowable by law which are ordinarily invoked by the lessor; or

(3) where necessary to effectuate any postjudgment remedy.

Subd. 5. Harassment or abuse. A lessor may not harass, oppress, or abuse any person in connection with a rental-purchase agreement. The following conduct is a violation of this subdivision:

(1) the use or threat of use of violence or the criminal means to harm the physical person, reputation, or property of any person;

(2) the use of obscene, profane, or abusive language;

(3) causing a telephone to ring, or engaging any person in telephone conversation repeatedly or continuously with intent to annoy, abuse, or harass any person; and

(4) the placement of telephone calls without disclosure of the caller's identity.

History: 1990 c 527 s 9