Ch. 469

LAWS OF MARYLAND

(A)  ANY CONSUMER WHO HAS REASON TO BELIEVE THAT THIS
SUBTITLE HAS BEEN VIOLATED BY ANY CREDIT SERVICES BUSINESS OR BY
ANY OTHER PERSON MAY FILE A WRITTEN COMPLAINT SETTING FORTH THE
DETAILS OF THE ALLEGED VIOLATION WITH THE COMMISSIONER.

(B)  AFTER RECEIVING THE COMPLAINT, THE COMMISSIONER MAY
INSPECT THE PERTINENT BOOKS, RECORDS, LETTERS AND CONTRACTS OF
ANY CREDIT SERVICES BUSINESS, AND OF ANY PERSON WHO HAS FURNISHED
INFORMATION TO THE CREDIT SERVICES BUSINESS RELATING TO THE
SPECIFIC WRITTEN COMPLAINT.

(C)  THE COMMISSIONER MAY INVESTIGATE THE COMPLAINT AND HOLD
A HEARING IN ACCORDANCE WITH § 11-413 OF THE FINANCIAL
INSTITUTIONS ARTICLE.

(D)  THE COMMISSIONER MAY:

(1)  HOLD A HEARING ON THE COMPLAINT AT A TIME AND
PLACE IN THIS STATE REASONABLY CONVENIENT TO THE PARTIES
INVOLVED;

(2)  SUBPOENA WITNESSES;

(3)  TAKE DEPOSITIONS OF WITNESSES RESIDING WITHOUT
THE STATE, IN THE MANNER PROVIDED FOR WITNESSES' IN CIVIL ACTIONS
IN COURTS OF RECORD;

(4)  ADMINISTER OATHS;

(5)  ISSUE ORDERS FOR COMPLIANCE WITH THIS SUBTITLE;
AND

(6)  ISSUE CEASE AND DESIST ORDERS, AFTER FINDING A
PATTERN AND PRACTICE OF VIOLATION OF THIS SUBTITLE.

(E)  (1) THE COMMISSIONER SHALL GIVE TO THE CREDIT SERVICES
BUSINESS, OR THE -SALES PERSON, AGENT, REPRESENTATIVE, OR
INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR ACTING ON BEHALF OF THE CREDIT SERVICES
BUSINESS AGAINST WHOM A COMPLAINT IS FILED WRITTEN NOTICE OF THE
COMPLAINT AND THE TIME AND PLACE OF ANY HEARING.

(2) THE NOTICE SHALL:

(I)  BE IN WRITING; AND

(II)  BE SENT BY CERTIFIED MAIL, TO THE
PRINCIPAL PLACE OF BUSINESS OF THE CREDIT SERVICES BUSINESS OR
THE PRINCIPAL PLACE OF BUSINESS OR RESIDENCE ADDRESS OF THE
SALESPERSON, AGENT, REPRESENTATIVE, OR INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR
ACTING ON BEHALF OF THE CREDIT SERVICES BUSINESS, AT LEAST 10
DAYS PRIOR TO THE DATE OF THE HEARING.

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