Learn About The Law
Get help with your legal needs
FindLaw’s Learn About the Law features thousands of informational articles to help you understand your options. And if you’re ready to hire an attorney, find one in your area who can help.
Current as of January 01, 2025 | Updated by Findlaw Staff
(a) A licensee may not:
(1) Purchase any debt or obligation of a consumer;
(2) Lend money or provide credit to a consumer;
(3) Obtain a mortgage or other security interest in property owned by a consumer;
(4) Operate as a collection agency, as defined in § 7-101 of the Business Regulation Article;
(5) Structure a debt management services agreement in a manner that would result in a negative amortization of any of the consumer's debts;
(6) Make any false, misleading, or deceptive representations or omissions of information in connection with the offer, sale, or performance of any service;
(7) Offer, pay, or give a substantial gift, bonus, premium, reward, or other compensation to a person for referring a prospective customer to the licensee;
(8) Offer an incentive, including a gift, bonus, premium, reward, or other compensation, to a consumer for executing a debt management services agreement with the licensee;
(9) Charge for or provide credit insurance;
(10) Compromise any debts of a consumer unless the licensee has obtained the prior written approval of the consumer, and the compromise benefits the consumer;
(11) Enter into a contract or fee-for-service arrangement with a person owned, controlled by, or affiliated with an officer, a director, or an employee of the debt management services provider, or with a relative of an officer, a director, or an employee, that benefits an officer, a director, or an employee of the debt management services provider;
(12) Advertise, display, distribute, broadcast, televise, or otherwise publish debt management service rates, terms, or services in a false, misleading, or deceptive manner;
(13) Pay an incentive to an employee for enrolling a consumer in a debt management services plan or agreement; or
(14) Violate any provision of federal or State law governing debt management services or other related services.
(b)(1) Notwithstanding any other provision of State law, a licensee may not, directly or indirectly, collect any fee for referring, advising, procuring, arranging, or assisting a consumer in obtaining any extension of credit or other consumer service from a lender or service provider if the licensee, or any owner, officer, director, principal, or employee of the licensee, is an owner, partner, director, officer, or employee of the lender or service provider.
(2) This subsection does not prohibit a licensee from referring, advising, procuring, arranging, or assisting a consumer in obtaining any extension of credit or other consumer service from a lender or service provider of which the licensee, or any owner, officer, director, principal, or employee of the licensee, is an owner, partner, director, officer, or employee, if:
(i) The licensee does not directly or indirectly collect any fee; and
(ii) The consumer is provided with a written disclosure of the relationship.
Cite this article: FindLaw.com - Maryland Code, Financial Institutions § 12-920 - last updated January 01, 2025 | https://codes.findlaw.com/md/financial-institutions/md-code-fin-inst-sect-12-920/
FindLaw Codes may not reflect the most recent version of the law in your jurisdiction. Please verify the status of the code you are researching with the state legislature before relying on it for your legal needs.
A free source of state and federal court opinions, state laws, and the United States Code. For more information about the legal concepts addressed by these cases and statutes, visit FindLaw’s Learn About the Law.
Get help with your legal needs
FindLaw’s Learn About the Law features thousands of informational articles to help you understand your options. And if you’re ready to hire an attorney, find one in your area who can help.
Search our directory by legal issue
Enter information in one or both fields (Required)