Terms Used In Michigan Laws 451.424

  • Contract: A legal written agreement that becomes binding when signed.
  • Creditor: means a person for whose benefit a licensee collects and disperses money. See Michigan Laws 451.412
  • Debt management: means the planning and management of the financial affairs of a debtor and the receipt of money from the debtor for distribution to 1 or more of the debtor's creditors in payment or partial payment of the debtor's obligations. See Michigan Laws 451.412
  • Debtor: means a person from which money is collected for the benefit of a creditor of the debtor. See Michigan Laws 451.412
  • Department: means the department of insurance and financial services. See Michigan Laws 451.412
  • Director: means the director of the department or his or her authorized representative. See Michigan Laws 451.412
  • Licensee: means a person that is licensed, or is required to be licensed, under this act to perform debt management services and is located inside or outside the boundaries of this state. See Michigan Laws 451.412
  (1) A contract between a licensee and debtor shall include all of the following:
  (a) Each creditor to which payments will be made and the amount owed each creditor. A licensee may rely on records of the debtor and other information available to it to determine the amount owed to a creditor.
  (b) The total amount of the licensee’s charges.
  (c) The beginning and termination dates of the contract.
  (d) The principal amount and approximate interest charges of the debtor’s obligations to be paid under the debt management plan.
  (e) The name and address of the licensee and of the debtor.
  (f) Any other provisions or disclosures that the director determines are necessary for the protection of the debtor and the proper conduct of business by a licensee.
  (2) Unless otherwise approved by the department and except for an amount due for 1 or more monthly fees, a closeout fee, credit reports, or educational products or materials, a licensee shall distribute to the creditors of the debtor, at least monthly, all money received from a debtor or on behalf of a debtor unless otherwise directed by the debtor.
  (3) By submitting a written request to the licensee, a debtor may add or remove 1 or more debt obligations from a contract at any time. If the licensee determines after preparing an updated budget analysis that the debtor can reasonably fulfill the requirements of the debt management plan, the licensee may amend the contract as requested by the debtor.
  (4) If a debtor’s contract with a licensee expires and 1 or more debt obligations included in that contract are not yet liquidated, the licensee may extend or enter into an additional contract with the debtor if the licensee determines that the debt management plan is suitable for the debtor.