(A) A written contract is required. A service that requires any payment, fee, or other consideration may not be provided by a credit counseling organization for a consumer unless a written and dated contract for the purchase of those services, which meets the requirements of subsections (B) and (C), has been signed by the consumer. This section does not apply to the setup fee described in Section 37-7-109(A).

(B) A contract referred to in subsection (A) does not meet the requirements of this subsection unless it includes in writing:

(1) the name, address, and phone number of the consumer and licensee;

(2) a reasonable estimate of all payments and fees to be made by the consumer to the credit counseling organization over the term of the contract, including a maximum amount;

(3) a schedule of payments, including the amount and due date of each payment, that the consumer shall make to the licensee for disbursement to the consumer's creditors, and the terms applicable to any late payment of, or default on, the amount;

(4) full and detailed description of the services to be performed by the credit counseling organization including all guarantees of performance and an estimate of the date by which the performance of the services to be performed by the organization are to be completed or the length of the period necessary to perform those services. This period must not exceed five years from the original date of entering the contract;

(5) a list of each participating creditor of the consumer to which payments are to be made by the licensee under the debt management plan. At the time of execution of the DMP, a licensee shall have a good faith belief that the creditors listed in the DMP are to participate in the DMP. A licensee shall advise the consumer of changes by the creditor in accepting payments under the DMP within two business days upon learning of the changes. The listing must include the:

(a) amount owed to each creditor;

(b) amount of each payment;

(c) date on which each payment is to be made; and

(d) anticipated payoff date for each creditor;

(6) a list of each creditor not participating in the DMP; and

(7) a conspicuous statement in bold-face type, in immediate proximity to the space reserved for consumer's signature on the contract, that reads as follows: 'You may cancel this contract without penalty or obligation for any reason and at any time by giving ten days' written notice of rescission to the licensee. Once your services are canceled, you are entitled to a refund of all unexpended funds you have paid to the credit counseling organization'.

(C) The written contract must also contain a disclosure that the:

(1) licensee also may receive compensation from the consumer's creditors for providing credit counseling services to the consumer;

(2) licensee may not require, as a condition of entering into a DMP, a consumer to purchase any other product or service, or solicit or offer to sell any other product or service to the consumer during the term of the DMP;

(3) licensee may not require a voluntary contribution from a consumer for a service provided by the licensee to the consumer; and

(4) consumer may contact the department if the consumer has complaints about the credit counseling services received. The current phone number for the department must be included in the contract.

(D) The licensee must cancel a debt management agreement upon consumer request at any time for any reason. A consumer must give at least ten days' notice to the licensee of a request to cancel. A consumer who cancels a debt management agreement is entitled to a full refund of all unexpended funds that the consumer has paid to the licensee.

HISTORY: 2005 Act No. 111, Section 1, eff 6 month after approval by the Governor (became law without the Governor's signature on June 2, 2005).