(a) In this section:

(1) “Explanation” means a record that contains all of the following:

(A) States the amount of the surplus or deficiency.

(B) Provides an explanation in accordance with subdivision (c) of how the secured party calculated the surplus or deficiency.

(C) States, if applicable, that future debits, credits, charges, including additional credit service charges or interest, rebates, and expenses may affect the amount of the surplus or deficiency.

(D) Provides a telephone number or mailing address from which additional information concerning the transaction is available.

(2) “Request” means a record that is all of the following:

(A) Signed by a debtor or consumer obligor.

(B) Requesting that the recipient provide an explanation.

(C) Sent after disposition of the collateral under Section 9610.

(b) In a consumer-goods transaction in which the debtor is entitled to a surplus or a consumer obligor is liable for a deficiency under Section 9615, the secured party shall do either of the following:

(1) Send an explanation to the debtor or consumer obligor, as applicable, after the disposition and in accordance with both of the following:

(A) Before or when the secured party accounts to the debtor and pays any surplus or first makes demand in a record on the consumer obligor after the disposition for payment of the deficiency.

(B) Within 14 days after receipt of a request.

(2) In the case of a consumer obligor who is liable for a deficiency, within 14 days after receipt of a request, send to the consumer obligor a record waiving the secured party’s right to a deficiency.

(c) To comply with subparagraph (B) of paragraph (1) of subdivision (a), an explanation must provide the following information in the following order:

(1) The aggregate amount of obligations secured by the security interest under which the disposition was made, and, if the amount reflects a rebate of unearned interest or credit service charge, an indication of that fact, calculated as of a specified date in accordance with either of the following:

(A) If the secured party takes or receives possession of the collateral after default, not more than 35 days before the secured party takes or receives possession.

(B) If the secured party takes or receives possession of the collateral before default or does not take possession of the collateral, not more than 35 days before the disposition.

(2) The amount of proceeds of the disposition.

(3) The aggregate amount of the obligations after deducting the amount of proceeds.

(4) The amount, in the aggregate or by type, and types of expenses, including expenses of retaking, holding, preparing for disposition, processing, and disposing of the collateral, and attorney’s fees secured by the collateral which are known to the secured party and relate to the current disposition.

(5) The amount, in the aggregate or by type, and types of credits, including rebates of interest or credit service charges, to which the obligor is known to be entitled and which are not reflected in the amount in paragraph (1).

(6) The amount of the surplus or deficiency.

(d) A particular phrasing of the explanation is not required. An explanation complying substantially with the requirements of subdivision (a) is sufficient, even if it includes minor errors that are not seriously misleading.

(e) A debtor or consumer obligor is entitled without charge to one response to a request under this section during any six-month period in which the secured party did not send to the debtor or consumer obligor an explanation pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (b). The secured party may require payment of a charge not exceeding twenty-five dollars ($25) for each additional response.

(Amended by Stats. 2023, Ch. 210, Sec. 68. (SB 95) Effective January 1, 2024.)