Subtitle 1 Unit Pricing 14-101 – 14-107
Subtitle 2 Consumer Debt Collection 14-201 – 14-204
Subtitle 3 Door-to-Door Sales 14-301 – 14-306
Subtitle 4 Maryland Service Contracts and Consumer Products Guaranty Act 14-401 – 14-410
Subtitle 4A Vehicle Protection Products Act 14-4A-01 – 14-4A-14
Subtitle 5 Fine Prints 14-501 – 14-505
Subtitle 6 Gold and Silver 14-601 – 14-608
Subtitle 7 Secondhand Watches 14-701 – 14-706
Subtitle 8 Used Radio and Television Sets 14-801 – 14-803
Subtitle 9 Kosher Products 14-901 – 14-907
Subtitle 10 Automotive Repair Facilities 14-1001 – 14-1009
Subtitle 11 Layaway Sales 14-1101 – 14-1110
Subtitle 12 Consumer Credit Reporting Agencies 14-1201 – 14-1227
Subtitle 12A Waterproofing 14-12A-01 – 14-12A-04
Subtitle 12B Health Club Services 14-12B-01 – 14-12B-08
Subtitle 13 Miscellaneous Provisions 14-1301 – 14-1327
Subtitle 14 Motor Vehicle Manufacturers’ Warranty Adjustment Programs 14-1401 – 14-1403
Subtitle 15 Automotive Warranty Enforcement Act 14-1501 – 14-1504
Subtitle 16 Video Movie Sales and Rentals 14-1601 – 14-1603
Subtitle 17 Denial of Credit – Disclosure 14-1701 – 14-1706
Subtitle 18 Merchandise Delivery 14-1801 – 14-1806
Subtitle 19 Maryland Credit Services Businesses Act 14-1901 – 14-1916
Subtitle 20 Consumer Motor Vehicle Leasing Contracts 14-2001 – 14-2010
Subtitle 21 Rental Motor Vehicles – Collision Damage Waivers 14-2101
Subtitle 22 Maryland Telephone Solicitations Act 14-2201 – 14-2205
Subtitle 23 Automotive Crash Parts Act 14-2301 – 14-2304
Subtitle 24 Vacation Club Membership 14-2401 – 14-2403
Subtitle 25 Hearing Aid Sales Act 14-2501 – 14-2506
Subtitle 25A Hearing Aids and Telephones 14-25A-01
Subtitle 26 Maryland Door-to-Door Solicitations Act 14-2601 – 14-2603
Subtitle 27 The Motorized Wheelchair Warranty Enforcement Act 14-2701 – 14-2706
Subtitle 28 Products Made by the Blind 14-2801 – 14-2807
Subtitle 29 False Advertising and Related Crimes 14-2901 – 14-2903
Subtitle 30 Commercial Electronic Mail 14-3001 – 14-3003
Subtitle 31 Maryland Household Goods Movers Act 14-3101 – 14-3106
Subtitle 32 Maryland Telephone Consumer Protection Act 14-3201 – 14-3202
Subtitle 33 Maryland Immigration Consultant Act 14-3301 – 14-3306
Subtitle 34 The Social Security Number Privacy Act 14-3401 – 14-3402
Subtitle 35 Maryland Personal Information Protection Act 14-3501 – 14-3508
Subtitle 36 Halal Food Products 14-3601 – 14-3604
Subtitle 37 Online Child Safety Act 14-3701 – 14-3706
Subtitle 38 Refund Anticipation Loans and Checks 14-3801 – 14-3807
Subtitle 39 Transparency in Consumer Arbitrations Act 14-3901 – 14-3905
Subtitle 40 Interference With Internet Ticket Sales 14-4001 – 14-4004
Subtitle 41 Financial Consumer Protection 14-4101 – 14-4104
Subtitle 42 Mobile Home Retail Sales 14-4201 – 14-4205
Subtitle 43 Senior and Vulnerable Adult Asset Recovery Unit 14-4301 – 14-4304
Subtitle 44 Maryland Genetic Information Privacy Act 14-4401 – 14-4408
Subtitle 45 Telephone Solicitations 14-4501 – 14-4503

Terms Used In Maryland Code > COMMERCIAL LAW > Title 14 - Miscellaneous Consumer Protection Provisions

  • Administrator: includes an executor and a personal representative. See
  • Adult: means an individual at least 18 years old. See
  • Advice and consent: Under the Constitution, presidential nominations for executive and judicial posts take effect only when confirmed by the Senate, and international treaties become effective only when the Senate approves them by a two-thirds vote.
  • Affidavit: A written statement of facts confirmed by the oath of the party making it, before a notary or officer having authority to administer oaths.
  • Amendment: A proposal to alter the text of a pending bill or other measure by striking out some of it, by inserting new language, or both. Before an amendment becomes part of the measure, thelegislature must agree to it.
  • Annual percentage rate: The cost of credit at a yearly rate. It is calculated in a standard way, taking the average compound interest rate over the term of the loan so borrowers can compare loans. Lenders are required by law to disclose a card account's APR. Source: FDIC
  • Answer: The formal written statement by a defendant responding to a civil complaint and setting forth the grounds for defense.
  • Appeal: A request made after a trial, asking another court (usually the court of appeals) to decide whether the trial was conducted properly. To make such a request is "to appeal" or "to take an appeal." One who appeals is called the appellant.
  • Appraisal: A determination of property value.
  • Appropriation: The provision of funds, through an annual appropriations act or a permanent law, for federal agencies to make payments out of the Treasury for specified purposes. The formal federal spending process consists of two sequential steps: authorization
  • Arrest: Taking physical custody of a person by lawful authority.
  • Assets: (1) The property comprising the estate of a deceased person, or (2) the property in a trust account.
  • Attachment: A procedure by which a person's property is seized to pay judgments levied by the court.
  • Bail: Security given for the release of a criminal defendant or witness from legal custody (usually in the form of money) to secure his/her appearance on the day and time appointed.
  • Bankruptcy: Refers to statutes and judicial proceedings involving persons or businesses that cannot pay their debts and seek the assistance of the court in getting a fresh start. Under the protection of the bankruptcy court, debtors may discharge their debts, perhaps by paying a portion of each debt. Bankruptcy judges preside over these proceedings.
  • Beneficiary: A person who is entitled to receive the benefits or proceeds of a will, trust, insurance policy, retirement plan, annuity, or other contract. Source: OCC
  • certified mail: includes "registered mail"; and

    (3) "registered mail" includes "certified mail". See
  • Complaint: A written statement by the plaintiff stating the wrongs allegedly committed by the defendant.
  • Conviction: A judgement of guilt against a criminal defendant.
  • Corporation: A legal entity owned by the holders of shares of stock that have been issued, and that can own, receive, and transfer property, and carry on business in its own name.
  • County: means a county of the State or Baltimore City. See
  • Credit report: A detailed report of an individual's credit history prepared by a credit bureau and used by a lender in determining a loan applicant's creditworthiness. Source: OCC
  • Credit Score: A number, roughly between 300 and 800, that measures an individual's credit worthiness. The most well-known type of credit score is the FICO score. This score represents the answer from a mathematical formula that assigns numerical values to various pieces of information in your credit report. Source: OCC
  • Damages: Money paid by defendants to successful plaintiffs in civil cases to compensate the plaintiffs for their injuries.
  • de novo: means judicial review based on an administrative record and any additional evidence that would be authorized by § 10-222(f) and (g) of the State Government Article. See
  • Deed: The legal instrument used to transfer title in real property from one person to another.
  • Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.
  • Devise: To gift property by will.
  • Discovery: Lawyers' examination, before trial, of facts and documents in possession of the opponents to help the lawyers prepare for trial.
  • Dismissal: The dropping of a case by the judge without further consideration or hearing. Source:
  • Equitable: Pertaining to civil suits in "equity" rather than in "law." In English legal history, the courts of "law" could order the payment of damages and could afford no other remedy. See damages. A separate court of "equity" could order someone to do something or to cease to do something. See, e.g., injunction. In American jurisprudence, the federal courts have both legal and equitable power, but the distinction is still an important one. For example, a trial by jury is normally available in "law" cases but not in "equity" cases. Source: U.S. Courts
  • Escrow: Money given to a third party to be held for payment until certain conditions are met.
  • Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
  • Ex officio: Literally, by virtue of one's office.
  • Fair Credit Reporting Act: A federal law, established in 1971 and revised in 1997, that gives consumers the right to see their credit records and correct any mistakes. Source: OCC
  • Fair Debt Collection Practices Act: The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act is a set of United States statutes added as Title VIII of the Consumer Credit Protection Act. Its purpose is to ensure ethical practices in the collection of consumer debts and to provide consumers with an avenue for disputing and obtaining validation of debt information in order to ensure the information's accuracy. It is often used in conjunction with the Fair Credit Reporting Act. Source: OCC
  • Fair market value: The price at which an asset would change hands in a transaction between a willing, informed buyer and a willing, informed seller.
  • Fiduciary: A trustee, executor, or administrator.
  • Finance charge: The total cost of credit a customer must pay on a consumer loan, including interest. The Truth in Lending Act requires disclosure of the finance charge. Source: OCC
  • Fiscal year: The fiscal year is the accounting period for the government. For the federal government, this begins on October 1 and ends on September 30. The fiscal year is designated by the calendar year in which it ends; for example, fiscal year 2006 begins on October 1, 2005 and ends on September 30, 2006.
  • Foreclosure: A legal process in which property that is collateral or security for a loan may be sold to help repay the loan when the loan is in default. Source: OCC
  • Fraud: Intentional deception resulting in injury to another.
  • gift: includes an inter vivos gift, inter vivos endowment, bequest, devise, legacy, or testamentary endowment of any interest in real or personal property. See
  • Gift: A voluntary transfer or conveyance of property without consideration, or for less than full and adequate consideration based on fair market value.
  • Grantor: The person who establishes a trust and places property into it.
  • Guarantor: A party who agrees to be responsible for the payment of another party's debts should that party default. Source: OCC
  • Guardian: A person legally empowered and charged with the duty of taking care of and managing the property of another person who because of age, intellect, or health, is incapable of managing his (her) own affairs.
  • Indemnification: In general, a collateral contract or assurance under which one person agrees to secure another person against either anticipated financial losses or potential adverse legal consequences. Source: FDIC
  • Indictment: The formal charge issued by a grand jury stating that there is enough evidence that the defendant committed the crime to justify having a trial; it is used primarily for felonies.
  • Injunction: An order of the court prohibiting (or compelling) the performance of a specific act to prevent irreparable damage or injury.
  • Intangible property: Property that has no intrinsic value, but is merely the evidence of value such as stock certificates, bonds, and promissory notes.
  • Interest rate: The amount paid by a borrower to a lender in exchange for the use of the lender's money for a certain period of time. Interest is paid on loans or on debt instruments, such as notes or bonds, either at regular intervals or as part of a lump sum payment when the issue matures. Source: OCC
  • Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
  • Liabilities: The aggregate of all debts and other legal obligations of a particular person or legal entity.
  • Lien: A claim against real or personal property in satisfaction of a debt.
  • Litigation: A case, controversy, or lawsuit. Participants (plaintiffs and defendants) in lawsuits are called litigants.
  • Local department of social services: includes the Montgomery County government. See
  • minor: means an individual under the age of 18 years. See
  • Mortgage: The written agreement pledging property to a creditor as collateral for a loan.
  • National Bank: A bank that is subject to the supervision of the Comptroller of the Currency. The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency is a bureau of the U.S. Treasury Department. A national bank can be recognized because it must have "national" or "national association" in its name. Source: OCC
  • Oath: A promise to tell the truth.
  • Obligation: An order placed, contract awarded, service received, or similar transaction during a given period that will require payments during the same or a future period.
  • Oversight: Committee review of the activities of a Federal agency or program.
  • Personal property: All property that is not real property.
  • Personal representative: includes an administrator and an executor. See
  • Plaintiff: The person who files the complaint in a civil lawsuit.
  • Power of attorney: A written instrument which authorizes one person to act as another's agent or attorney. The power of attorney may be for a definite, specific act, or it may be general in nature. The terms of the written power of attorney may specify when it will expire. If not, the power of attorney usually expires when the person granting it dies. Source: OCC
  • Precedent: A court decision in an earlier case with facts and law similar to a dispute currently before a court. Precedent will ordinarily govern the decision of a later similar case, unless a party can show that it was wrongly decided or that it differed in some significant way.
  • Prosecute: To charge someone with a crime. A prosecutor tries a criminal case on behalf of the government.
  • Quorum: The number of legislators that must be present to do business.
  • Restitution: The court-ordered payment of money by the defendant to the victim for damages caused by the criminal action.
  • Service of process: The service of writs or summonses to the appropriate party.
  • Settlement: Parties to a lawsuit resolve their difference without having a trial. Settlements often involve the payment of compensation by one party in satisfaction of the other party's claims.
  • Statute: A law passed by a legislature.
  • Statute of limitations: A law that sets the time within which parties must take action to enforce their rights.
  • Subpoena: A command to a witness to appear and give testimony.
  • Testify: Answer questions in court.
  • Tort: A civil wrong or breach of a duty to another person, as outlined by law. A very common tort is negligent operation of a motor vehicle that results in property damage and personal injury in an automobile accident.
  • Trial: A hearing that takes place when the defendant pleads "not guilty" and witnesses are required to come to court to give evidence.
  • Trustee: A person or institution holding and administering property in trust.
  • Truth in Lending Act: The Truth in Lending Act is a federal law that requires lenders to provide standardized information so that borrowers can compare loan terms. In general, lenders must provide information on Source: OCC
  • Uniform Commercial Code: A set of statutes enacted by the various states to provide consistency among the states' commercial laws. It includes negotiable instruments, sales, stock transfers, trust and warehouse receipts, and bills of lading. Source: OCC
  • Venue: The geographical location in which a case is tried.
  • veteran: includes , if the individual is eligible under 38 U. See