1. (1) The following persons when engaged in the regular course of their respective businesses and professions:

   1. (i) An attorney at law who is admitted to the Maryland Bar while the attorney at law is providing professional legal services in an attorney- client relationship;
   2. (ii) An escrow agent;
   3. (iii) A certified public accountant;
   4. (iv) A banking institution, other-state bank, national banking association, credit union, or savings and loan association;

   5. (v) A person that:

      1. 1. Provides a bill payer service, as defined in § 12-401 of this title;
      2. 2. Does not initiate any contract with individual creditors of a debtor to compromise a debt or arrange a new payment schedule; and
      3. 3. Does not provide any debt counseling services;
   6. (vi) A person that provides an accelerated mortgage payment service, as defined in § 12-401 of this title;
   7. (vii) A title insurer, title insurance agency, or abstract company; or
   8. (viii) A judicial officer or a person acting under a court order;
2. (2) A person while performing services incidental to the dissolution, winding up, or liquidation of a partnership, corporation, or other business enterprise;
3. (3) A trade or mercantile association acting in the course of arranging the adjustment of debts with a business establishment;

4. (4)

   1. (i) A mortgage lender, as defined in § 11-501 of this article:

      1. 1. That is licensed by the Commissioner; and
      2. 2. While engaged in the mortgage lending business, as defined in § 11-501 of this article; or
   2. (ii) An employee of a mortgage lender; or

5. (5) A collection agency, as defined in § 7-101 of the Business Regulation Article:

   1. (i) That is licensed by the State Collection Agency Licensing Board; and
   2. (ii) While engaged in the collection agency business, as defined in § 7-101 of the Business Regulation Article.

This subtitle does not apply to:

Added by Acts 2011, c. 280, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2011; Acts 2011, c. 281, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2011.