Ch. 620

LAWS OF MARYLAND

PROPERTY, IF IN EITHER CASE THE AVERAGE PAYMENT ALLOCABLE TO A
PAYMENT PERIOD IS NOT CHANGED BY MORE THAN 25 PERCENT;

(2)  A DEFERRAL OR EXTENSION OF 1 OR MORE RENTAL
PAYMENTS, OR PORTIONS OF A RENTAL PAYMENT;

(3)  A REDUCTION IN CHARGES IN THE RENTAL-PURCHASE
AGREEMENT; OR

(4)  A RENTAL-PURCHASE AGREEMENT INVOLVED IN A COURT
PROCEEDING.

12-1109.

(A)   AN ADVERTISEMENT FOR A RENTAL-PURCHASE AGREEMENT THAT
REFERS TO OR STATES THE DOLLAR AMOUNT OF ANY PAYMENT AND THE
RIGHT TO ACQUIRE OWNERSHIP FOR ANY 1 SPECIFIC ITEM SHALL
CLEARLY AND CONSPICUOUSLY STATE, AS APPLICABLE:

(1)  THAT THE TRANSACTION ADVERTISED IS A
RENTAL-PURCHASE AGREEMENT;

(2)  THE TOTAL COST AND THE NUMBER OF PAYMENTS
NECESSARY TO ACQUIRE OWNERSHIP; AND

(3)  THAT THE CONSUMER ACQUIRES NO OWNERSHIP RIGHT IF
THE TOTAL AMOUNT NECESSARY TO ACQUIRE OWNERSHIP IS NOT PAID.

(B)  ANY OWNER, EMPLOYEE, OR AGENT OF ANY MEDIUM IN WHICH AN
ADVERTISEMENT APPEARS OR THROUGH WHICH IT IS DISSEMINATED MAY NOT
BE LIABLE FOR VIOLATIONS UNDER THIS SECTION.

(C)  THE REQUIREMENTS UNDER SUBSECTION (A) OF THIS SECTION
DO NOT APPLY TO AN ADVERTISEMENT THAT:

(1)  DOES NOT REFER TO OR STATE THE AMOUNT OF ANY
PAYMENT; OR

(2)  IS PUBLISHED IN THE YELLOW PAGES OF A TELEPHONE
DIRECTORY OR IN ANY SIMILAR DIRECTORY OF BUSINESS.

12-1110.

(A)  A PERSON WHO WILLFULLY AND INTENTIONALLY VIOLATES ANY
PROVISION OF THIS SUBTITLE IS GUILTY OF A MISDEMEANOR AND ON
CONVICTION IS SUBJECT TO A FINE NOT TO EXCEED $500 PER
VIOLATION.

(B)  FOR A VIOLATION OF A PROVISION OF THIS SUBTITLE, A
CONSUMER UNDER A RENTAL-PURCHASE AGREEMENT MAY RECOVER FROM THE
LESSOR COMMITTING THE VIOLATION, OR MAY SET OFF BY WAY OF A
COUNTERCLAIM IN AN ACTION BROUGHT BY THE LESSOR OR ITS ASSIGNEE,
AN AMOUNT EQUAL TO THE GREATER OF:

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