[Congressional Bills 107th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2498 Introduced in House (IH)]







107th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 2498

 To amend the Consumer Credit Protection Act to protect consumers from 
  inadequate disclosures and certain abusive practices in rent-to-own 
                 transactions, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             July 12, 2001

  Ms. Waters introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
                    Committee on Financial Services

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To amend the Consumer Credit Protection Act to protect consumers from 
  inadequate disclosures and certain abusive practices in rent-to-own 
                 transactions, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Rent-To-Own Reform Act of 2001''.

SEC. RENT-TO-OWN PROTECTION ACT.

    The Consumer Credit Protection Act (15 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.) is 
amended by adding at the end the following new title:

                  ``TITLE X--RENT-TO-OWN TRANSACTIONS

``Sec.
``1001. Short title.
``1002. Findings and purposes.
``1003. Definitions.
``1004. Application of State laws regarding fees, charges, guarantees, 
                            and warranties to rent-to-own transactions.
``1005. Application of Federal laws to rent-to-own transactions.
``1006. Disclosures.
``1007. Prohibitions and enforcement.
``1008. Civil liability.
``1009. Application of this title.
``1010. Regulations.
``1011. Relationship to other laws.

``SEC. 1001. SHORT TITLE.

    ``This title may be cited as the `Rent-To-Own Protection Act'.

``SEC. 1002. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES.

    ``(a) Findings.--The Congress finds the following:
            ``(1) The rent-to-own industry targets its products 
        primarily to low income and minority neighborhoods.
            ``(2) The majority of rent-to-own customers enter into 
        rent-to-own contracts with the intention of owning the goods 
        for which they are contracting.
            ``(3) Rent-to-own dealers often fail to disclose key terms 
        of rent-to-own contracts, and engage in unfair collection 
        practices.
            ``(4) Of primary significance, rent-to-own dealers do not 
        provide customers with the protections afforded purchasers in 
        retail installment sales under State and Federal laws, and 
        often charge excessive fees and interest rates.
    ``(b) Purposes.--The purposes of this title are the following:
            ``(1) Provide consumers in rent-to-own transactions the 
        range of protections provided under State and Federal laws to 
        individuals that acquire goods in other consumer credit sales, 
        while recognizing and preserving consumers' unilateral right to 
        terminate.
            ``(2) Require rent-to-own contracts, and tags affixed to 
        items available for acquisition in rent-to-own transactions, to 
        disclose material terms of those transactions.
            ``(3) Prohibit rent-to-own dealers and collection agents 
        hired by those dealers from engaging in abusive collection 
        practices.

``SEC. 1003. DEFINITIONS.

    ``For purposes of this title, the following definitions shall 
apply:
            ``(1) Board.--The term `Board' means the Board of Governors 
        of the Federal Reserve System.
            ``(2) Cash price.--The term `cash price' means--
                    ``(A) the bona fide retail price for an item or 
                service in sales by a seller to consumers who pay the 
                full price in one payment, respectively--
                            ``(i) before taking possession of the item, 
                        or
                            ``(ii) for receipt of the service other 
                        than in a rent-to-own transaction,
                as indicated by actual sales of such item or service by 
                the seller; and
                    ``(B) in the case of a seller that does not 
                regularly engage in such sales of the item or service, 
                respectively--
                            ``(i) the average cash retail price of the 
                        item or a similar item in the community; or
                            ``(ii) the estimated bona fide retail value 
                        of the service.
            ``(3) Consumer.--The term `consumer'--
                    ``(A) when used as an adjective, means for use by 
                an individual primarily for personal, family, or 
                household purposes; and
                    ``(B) when used as a noun, means an individual who 
                is the lessee or bailee under a rent-to-own contract.
            ``(4) Credit.--The term `credit'--
                    ``(A) includes the right granted by a seller to a 
                consumer to obtain possession of an item of consumer 
                goods under a rent-to-own contract before payment of 
                the total amount that is required to be paid to acquire 
                ownership of the item; and
                    ``(B) is deemed to be a fixed sum equal to--
                            ``(i) the total of payments for the item 
                        required to obtain ownership of the item under 
                        the contract; minus
                            ``(ii) the sum of--
                                    ``(I) the cash price;
                                    ``(II) any fees specifically 
                                allowable under State law, except 
                                finance charges, interest, or a time 
                                price differential; and
                                    ``(III) the termination fee under 
                                section 1004.
            ``(5) Rent-to-own contract.--The term `rent-to-own 
        contract' means a contract in the form of a terminable lease or 
        bailment of an item of consumer goods, under which--
                    ``(A) a consumer--
                            ``(i) has the right of possession and use 
                        of the item; and
                            ``(ii) has the option to renew the contract 
                        periodically by making payments specified in 
                        the contract; and
                    ``(B) a seller agrees, in writing or orally, to 
                transfer ownership of the item to the consumer upon the 
                fulfillment of all obligations of the consumer under 
                the contract for that transfer.
            ``(6) Rent-to-own transaction.--The term `rent-to-own 
        transaction' means the lease or bailment of an item of consumer 
        goods under a rent-to-own contract.
            ``(7) Seller.--The term `seller' means--
                    ``(A) a person--
                            ``(i) who regularly makes consumer goods 
                        available under rent-to-own contracts; and
                            ``(ii) to whom payments are payable under 
                        those contracts; and
                    ``(B) an assignee of such a person.
            ``(8) State.--The term `State' means any State, the 
        Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the District of Columbia, and any 
        territory or possession of the United States.

``SEC. 1004. APPLICATION OF STATE LAWS REGARDING FEES, CHARGES, 
              GUARANTEES, AND WARRANTIES TO RENT-TO-OWN TRANSACTIONS.

    ``(a) In General.--Subject to subsection (b), a seller in a rent-
to-own transaction may not take, receive, or assess any interest, 
finance charge, or other fee for the transaction that is in excess of 
the interest, fees, or finance charges that may be charged under the 
laws of the State in which the seller is located which--
            ``(1) establish a maximum rate or amount of interest, 
        finance charge, or time-price differential that may be charged 
        in connection with a credit sale or retail installment sale for 
        the same or a similar item;
            ``(2) establish the types of fees and the maximum amount of 
        fees that a seller may charge in connection with a credit sale 
        or retail installment sale for the same or a similar item; or
            ``(3) establish the types of credit insurance and the 
        maximum amount of premiums that can be charged for credit 
        insurance in connection with a credit sale or a retail 
        installment sale for the same or a similar item.
    ``(b) Additional Termination Charges and Fees.--
            ``(1) Charges and fees authorized.--In addition to fees and 
        charges authorized under subsection (a), a seller in a rent-to-
        own transaction may charge--
                    ``(A) a termination fee in accordance with 
                paragraph (2), if in exchange the consumer is given the 
                right to terminate the rent-to-own contract for the 
                transaction at any time without regard to whether the 
                consumer has completed payment of the fee; and
                    ``(B) fees that are reasonable in relation to the 
                cash price of the good, for recovery of the items that 
                are the subject of the contract and that are not 
                voluntarily returned to the seller upon the termination 
                of the contract.
            ``(2) Termination fee.--A termination fee under paragraph 
        (1)(A)--
                    ``(A) shall not exceed 5 percent of the cash price 
                under the contract;
                    ``(B) shall be disclosed in the contract;
                    ``(C) may be paid at the time the contract is 
                entered into or over the life of the contract; and
                    ``(D) shall be calculated as part of the finance 
                charge as determined under section 106 of the Truth in 
                Lending Act.
            ``(3) Recovery fees.--A recovery fee under paragraph (1)(B) 
        shall be disclosed in the contract.
            ``(4) Effect of termination.--The termination of a rent-to-
        own contract by a consumer in accordance with a right of 
        termination given to the consumer in exchange for a termination 
fee under subsection (a)(1) is deemed to satisfy the consumer's 
obligation for all payments and fees due under the contract, except 
fees and charges under the contract that become due before the date of 
termination.
    ``(c) Guarantees and Warranties.--All guarantees and warranties 
established or required under the laws of a State for goods sold 
pursuant to a consumer credit sale or retail installment sale apply to 
goods which are the subject of a rent-to-own transaction in the State.

``SEC. 1005. APPLICATION OF FEDERAL LAWS TO RENT-TO-OWN TRANSACTIONS.

    ``The following Federal laws apply to a rent-to-own transaction, as 
follows:
            ``(1) Truth in lending act.--The Truth in Lending Act 
        applies as such Act applies to a consumer credit transaction 
        that is a credit sale (as that term is defined in that Act).
            ``(2) Equal credit opportunity act.--The Equal Credit 
        Opportunity Act applies as such Act applies to credit 
        transactions. For purposes of that application--
                    ``(A) a consumer shall be treated as an applicant; 
                and
                    ``(B) a seller shall be treated as a creditor.
            ``(3) Fair debt collection practices act.--The Fair Debt 
        Collection Practices Act applies to the collection of payments 
        owed that arise from a rent-to-own transaction, unless those 
        payments are collected by any person specified in subparagraphs 
        (A) through (F) of section 803(6) of such Act. For purposes of 
        that application, payments owed shall be treated as debt.
            ``(4) Fair credit reporting act.--The Fair Credit Reporting 
        Act applies as such Act applies to a credit transaction and to 
any extension or denial of credit.

``SEC. 1006. DISCLOSURES.

    ``(a) Disclosures on Goods.--A seller shall include on each item in 
the place of business of the seller that is available for purchase 
pursuant to a rent-to-own transaction the following information:
            ``(1) The cash price of the item.
            ``(2) An itemization of services offered under a rent-to-
        own contract for the item, and the cash price of each service.
            ``(3) The annual percentage rate of the item under a rent-
        to-own contract, determined under section 107 of the Truth in 
        Lending Act.
            ``(4) The weekly, biweekly, monthly, or other incremental 
        payment applicable under the rent-to-own contract for the 
        transaction and the number of payments.
            ``(5) The total of payments required to be paid to acquire 
        ownership of the item under a rent-to-own contract for the 
        transaction, determined under regulations under the Truth in 
        Lending Act.
            ``(6) Specification of whether the item is new or used.
    ``(b) Disclosures Upon Contracting.--A seller shall provide to a 
consumer in writing, at the time the seller and consumer enter into a 
rent-to-own contract for an item, the information referred to in 
subsection (a) for the item and the contract.

``SEC. 1007. PROHIBITIONS AND ENFORCEMENT.

    ``(a) Prohibitions.--A person who is a seller under a rent-to-own 
contract with a consumer shall not--
            ``(1) threaten or invoke criminal prosecution of a consumer 
        for any matter related to the contract, unless there is clear 
        and convincing evidence that the goods that are the subject of 
        the contract are being held by the consumer with an intent to 
        defraud the seller;
            ``(2) use threats or coercion to collect or attempt to 
        collect any amounts alleged to be due from the consumer;
            ``(3) engage in any conduct, the natural consequence of 
        which is to oppress, harass, or abuse any person in connection 
        with an attempt to collect amounts owed by the consumer under 
        the contract;
            ``(4) unreasonably disclose information to third parties 
        regarding amounts owed by the consumer;
            ``(5) make any fraudulent, deceptive, or misleading 
        representation to obtain information about the consumer or to 
        collect amounts owed by the consumer;
            ``(6) use any unconscionable means to collect or attempt to 
        collect a debt owed to the seller;
            ``(7) advertise, announce, solicit, or otherwise represent 
        as free or available without charge (including by use of other 
        words of similar meaning) any service under the contract for 
        which the seller charges the consumer, including any service 
        for which a charge is collected by inclusion in the amount 
        required to be paid under the contract;
            ``(8) use, for purposes of complying with any State or 
        Federal law governing rent-to-own transactions (other than a 
        State or Federal tax law) any definition of the term `cash 
        price' other than the definition under section 1003(2);
            ``(9) engage in any act or practice which is unfair or 
        deceptive in connection with a rent-to-own transaction; or
            ``(10) violate any regulation issued by the Board under 
        subsection (c)(1).
    ``(b) Enforcement.--
            ``(1) Enforcement.--Compliance with the requirements under 
        this title shall be enforced by the Federal Trade Commission. 
        All functions and powers of the Federal Trade Commission under 
        the Federal Trade Commission Act shall be available to the 
        Commission to enforce compliance with this title by any person, 
        irrespective of whether the person is engaged in commerce or 
        meets any other jurisdictional tests in the Federal Trade 
        Commission Act, including the power to enforce the provisions 
        of this title in the same manner as if the violation had been a 
        violation of a Federal Trade Commission trade regulation rule.
            ``(2) Treatment of violations.--For the purpose of the 
        exercise by the Federal Trade Commission of the functions and 
        powers of such Commission under the Federal Trade Commission 
        Act, a violation of any requirement or prohibition under this 
        title is deemed to be an unfair or deceptive act or practice in 
        commerce in violation of that Act.
    ``(c) Regulations.--
            ``(1) Board.--The Board shall issue such regulations as are 
        necessary or appropriate for implementing subsection (a), 
        including regulations describing specific practices by a seller 
        that are prohibited by paragraphs (1) through (9) of that 
        subsection.
            ``(2) Federal trade commission.--The Federal Trade 
        Commission shall issue regulations implementing subsection (b).

``SEC. 1008. CIVIL LIABILITY.

    ``(a) Liability for Failure To Properly Disclose Terms.--Any seller 
who fails to comply with a requirement under section 1006 is liable to 
the consumer in an amount equal to the sum of--
            ``(1) actual damages sustained by the consumer as a result 
        of the failure;
            ``(2) $250 for each failure; and
            ``(3) all costs of the action and reasonable attorney fees, 
        as determined by the court.
    ``(b) Other Liability.--A seller that violates this title or fails 
to comply with any requirement imposed under this title, other than 
under section 1006, shall be liable to the consumer in an amount equal 
to the sum of--
            ``(1) actual damages sustained by the consumer as a result 
        of the violation;
            ``(2) $2,500 for each violation; and
            ``(3) all costs of the action and reasonable attorney fees, 
        as determined by the court.
    ``(c) Jurisdiction and Limitation.--An action under this title may 
be brought in any United States district court or in any other court of 
competent jurisdiction, within 24 months after the date of the 
violation or failure that is the subject of the action. This subsection 
does not bar a person from asserting a violation of this title in an 
action to collect amounts alleged to be due from the person which is 
brought more than 2 years after the date of the occurrence of the 
violation as a matter of defense by recoupment or set-off in such 
action.

``SEC. 1009. APPLICATION OF THIS TITLE.

    ``(a) In General.--This title shall apply to rent-to-own contracts 
entered into after the date of the issuance of regulations by the Board 
under section 1010.
    ``(b) Motor Vehicles.--This title shall not apply to any lease or 
sale of a motor vehicle entered into after the date of the enactment of 
the Rent-To-Own Reform Act of 2001 that, if entered into on the day 
before that date of enactment, would have been subject to chapter 5 of 
the Truth in Lending Act.

``SEC. 1010. REGULATIONS.

    ``The Board shall issue such regulations as may be necessary to 
implement this Act (including regulations under section 1007(c)(1)), by 
not later than 12 months after the date of the enactment of the Rent-
To-Own Reform Act of 2001.

``SEC. 1011. RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER LAWS.

    ``(a) State Law.--This title does not annul, alter, or affect, or 
exempt any person subject to the provisions of this title from 
complying with, the laws of any State with respect to rent-to-own 
transactions, except to the extent that those laws are inconsistent 
with any provision of this title, and then only to the extent of the 
inconsistency.
    ``(b) Consumer Lease Provisions of Truth in Lending Act.--Chapter 5 
of the Truth in Lending Act, relating to consumer leases, shall not 
apply to a rent-to-own transaction except the lease or sale of a motor 
vehicle that, if entered into on the day before the date of the 
enactment of the Rent-To-Own Reform Act of 2001, would have been 
subject to that chapter.''.
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