A licensee or unlicensed person or entity making payday loans may not commit, or have committed on behalf of the licensee or unlicensed person or entity, any of the following acts:
- (1) Threatening to use or using the criminal process in this or any other state to collect on the loan.
- (2) Using any device or agreement that would have the effect of charging or collecting more fees or charges than allowed by this Act, including, but not limited to, entering into a different type of transaction with the consumer.
- (3) Engaging in unfair, deceptive, or fraudulent practices in the making or collecting of a payday loan.
- (4) Using or attempting to use the check provided by the consumer in a payday loan as collateral for a transaction not related to a payday loan.
- (5) Knowingly accepting payment in whole or in part of a payday loan through the proceeds of another payday loan provided by any licensee, except as provided in subsection (c) of Section 2.5.
- (6) Knowingly accepting any security, other than that specified in the definition of payday loan in Section 1-10, for a payday loan.
- (7) Charging any fees or charges other than those specifically authorized by this Act.
- (8) Threatening to take any action against a consumer that is prohibited by this Act or making any misleading or deceptive statements regarding the payday loan or any consequences thereof.
- (9) Making a misrepresentation of a material fact by an applicant for licensure in obtaining or attempting to obtain a license.
(10) Including any of the following provisions in loan documents required by subsection (b) of Section 2-20:
- (A) a confession of judgment clause;
- (B) a waiver of the right to a jury trial, if applicable, in any action brought by or against a consumer, unless the waiver is included in an arbitration clause allowed under subparagraph (C) of this paragraph (11);
- (C) a mandatory arbitration clause that is oppressive, unfair, unconscionable, or substantially in derogation of the rights of consumers; or
- (D) a provision in which the consumer agrees not to assert any claim or defense arising out of the contract.
- (11) Selling any insurance of any kind whether or not sold in connection with the making or collecting of a payday loan.
- (12) Taking any power of attorney.
- (13) Taking any security interest in real estate.
- (14) Collecting a delinquency or collection charge on any installment regardless of the period in which it remains in default.
- (15) Collecting treble damages on an amount owing from a payday loan.
- (16) Refusing, or intentionally delaying or inhibiting, the consumer's right to enter into a repayment plan pursuant to this Act.
- (17) Charging for, or attempting to collect, attorney's fees, court costs, or arbitration costs incurred in connection with the collection of a payday loan.
- (18) Making a loan in violation of this Act.
- (19) Garnishing the wages or salaries of a consumer who is a member of the military.
- (20) Failing to suspend or defer collection activity against a consumer who is a member of the military and who has been deployed to a combat or combat-support posting.
- (21) Contacting the military chain of command of a consumer who is a member of the military in an effort to collect on a payday loan.
- (22) Making or offering to make any loan other than a payday loan or a title-secured loan, provided however, that to make or offer to make a title-secured loan, a licensee must obtain a license under the Consumer Installment Loan Act.
- (23) Making or offering a loan in violation of the Predatory Loan Prevention Act.
(Source: P.A. 101-658, eff. 3-23-21.)