(1) In the case of extensions of credit under a revolving loan account plan which are subject to a variable rate and are secured by a consumer's principal dwelling, the index or other rate of interest to which changes in the annual percentage rate are related shall be based on an index or rate of interest which is publicly available and is not under the control of the creditor.

(2) A creditor may not unilaterally terminate any account under a revolving loan account plan under which extensions of credit are secured by a consumer's principal dwelling and require the immediate repayment of any outstanding balance at such time, except in the case of:

(a)fraud or material misrepresentation on the part of the consumer in connection with the account;

(b)failure by the consumer to meet the repayment terms of the agreement for any outstanding balance; or

(c)any other action or failure to act by the consumer which adversely affects the creditor's security for the account or any right of the creditor in such security.

This subsection does not apply to reverse mortgage transactions.

(3)(a)No revolving loan account plan under which extensions of credit are secured by a consumer's principal dwelling may contain a provision which permits a creditor to change unilaterally any term required to be disclosed under subsection (1) of Section 3-309.2 of this title or any other term, except a change in insignificant terms such as the address of the creditor for billing purposes.

(b)Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (a) of this subsection, a creditor may make any of the following changes:

(i)Change the index and margin applicable to extensions of credit under such plan if the index used by the creditor is no longer available and the substitute index and margin would result in a substantially similar interest rate,

(ii)Prohibit additional extensions of credit or reduce the credit limit applicable to an account under the plan during any period in which the value of the consumer's principal dwelling which secures any outstanding balance is significantly less than the original appraisal value of the dwelling,

(iii)Prohibit additional extensions of credit or reduce the credit limit applicable to the account during any period in which the creditor has reason to believe that the consumer will be unable to comply with the repayment requirements of the account due to a material change in the consumer's financial circumstances,

(iv)Prohibit additional extensions of credit or reduce the credit limit applicable to the account during any period in which the consumer is in default with respect to any material obligation of the consumer under the agreement,

(v)Prohibit additional extensions of credit or reduce the credit limit applicable to the account during any period in which:

(aa)the creditor is precluded by government action from imposing the annual percentage rate provided for in the account agreement, or

(bb)any government action is in effect which adversely affects the priority of the creditor's security interest in the account to the extent that the value of the creditor's secured interest in the property is less than one hundred twenty percent (120%) of the amount of the credit limit applicable to the account.

(vi)Any change that will benefit the consumer.

(c)Upon the request of the consumer and at the time an agreement is entered into by a consumer to open an account under a revolving loan account plan under which extensions of credit are secured by the consumer's principal dwelling, the consumer shall be given a list of the categories of contract obligations which are deemed by the creditor to be material obligations of the consumer under the agreement for purposes of subparagraph (iv) of paragraph (b) of this subsection.

(d)(i)For purposes of subparagraph (vi) of paragraph (b) of this subsection, a change shall be deemed to benefit the consumer if the change is unequivocally beneficial to the consumer and the change is beneficial through the entire term of the agreement,

(ii)The Administrator may, by rule, determine categories of changes that benefit the consumer.

(4) If any term or condition described in subsection (1) of Section 3-309.2 of this title which is disclosed to a consumer in connection with an application to open an account under a revolving loan account plan described in such section, other than a variable feature of the plan, changes before the account is opened, and if, as a result of such change, the consumer elects not to enter into the plan agreement, the creditor shall refund all fees paid by the consumer in connection with such application.

(5)(a)No nonrefundable fee may be imposed by a creditor or any other person in connection with any application by a consumer to establish an account under any revolving loan account plan which provides for extensions of credit which are secured by a consumer's principal dwelling before the end of the three-day period beginning on the date such consumer receives the disclosure required under subsection (1) of Section 2-310.2 of this title and the pamphlet required under subsection (3) of Section 2-310.2 of this title with respect to such application.

(b)For purposes of determining when a nonrefundable fee may be imposed in accordance with this subsection if the disclosures and pamphlet referred to in paragraph (a) of this subsection are mailed to the consumer, the date of the receipt of the disclosures by such consumer shall be deemed to be three (3) business days after the date of mailing by the creditor.

Added by Laws 1990, c. 260, § 26, operative July 1, 1990. Amended by Laws 2000, c. 217, § 11, eff. July 1, 2000.