30-9A-620. Acceptance of collateral in full or partial satisfaction -- compulsory disposition of collateral. (1) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (7), a secured party may accept collateral in full or partial satisfaction of the obligation it secures only if:

(a) the debtor consents to the acceptance under subsection (3);

(b) the secured party does not receive, within the time set forth in subsection (4), a notification of objection to the proposal authenticated by:

(i) a person to which the secured party was required to send a proposal under 30-9A-621; or

(ii) any other person, other than the debtor, holding an interest in the collateral subordinate to the security interest that is the subject of the proposal;

(c) if the collateral is consumer goods, the collateral is not in the possession of the debtor when the debtor consents to the acceptance; and

(d) subsection (5) does not require the secured party to dispose of the collateral.

(2) A purported or apparent acceptance of collateral under this section is ineffective unless:

(a) the secured party consents to the acceptance in an authenticated record or sends a proposal to the debtor; and

(b) the conditions of subsection (1) are met.

(3) For purposes of this section:

(a) a debtor consents to an acceptance of collateral in partial satisfaction of the obligation it secures only if the debtor agrees to the terms of the acceptance in a record authenticated after default; and

(b) a debtor consents to an acceptance of collateral in full satisfaction of the obligation it secures only if the debtor agrees to the terms of the acceptance in a record authenticated after default or the secured party:

(i) sends to the debtor after default a proposal that is unconditional or subject only to a condition that collateral not in the possession of the secured party be preserved or maintained;

(ii) in the proposal, proposes to accept collateral in full satisfaction of the obligation it secures; and

(iii) does not receive a notification of objection authenticated by the debtor within 20 days after the proposal is sent.

(4) To be effective under subsection (1)(b), a notification of objection must be received by the secured party:

(a) in the case of a person to which the proposal was sent pursuant to 30-9A-621, within 20 days after notification was sent to that person; and

(b) in other cases:

(i) within 20 days after the last notification was sent pursuant to 30-9A-621; or

(ii) if a notification was not sent, before the debtor consents to the acceptance under subsection (3).

(5) A secured party that has taken possession of collateral shall dispose of the collateral pursuant to 30-9A-610 within the time specified in subsection (6) if:

(a) 60% of the cash price has been paid in the case of a purchase-money security interest in consumer goods; or

(b) 60% of the principal amount of the obligation secured has been paid in the case of a nonpurchase-money security interest in consumer goods.

(6) To comply with subsection (5), the secured party shall dispose of the collateral:

(a) within 90 days after taking possession; or

(b) within any longer period to which the debtor and all secondary obligors have agreed by authenticating a record including a statement to that effect after default.

(7) In a consumer transaction, a secured party may not accept collateral in partial satisfaction of the obligation it secures.

History: En. Sec. 117, Ch. 305, L. 1999; Sec. 30-9-620, MCA 1999; redes. 30-9A-620 by Code Commissioner, 2001.