(a)        If a credit repair business uses any untrue or misleading statements in connection with a credit repair contract, fails to fully comply with the requirements of this Article, or fails to comply with the terms of the contract or any obligation arising therefrom, then, upon written notice to the credit repair business, the consumer may void the contract, and shall be entitled to receive from the credit repair business all sums paid to the credit repair business, and recover any additional damages including reasonable attorneys’ fees.

(b)        Any waiver by a consumer of any of the provisions of this Article shall be deemed void and unenforceable by a credit repair business.

(c)        Upon complaint of any person that a credit repair business has violated the provisions of this Article, the superior court shall have jurisdiction to enjoin that defendant from further such violations.

(d)       In a proceeding involving this Article, the burden of proving an exemption or an exception from the definition of a credit repair business shall be borne by the person claiming the exemption or exception.

(e)        The remedies provided herein shall be in addition to any other remedies provided for by law or in equity.

(f)        The violation of any provision of this Article shall constitute an unfair trade practice under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 75-1.1 and the violation of any provision of this Article shall constitute a Class I felony.? (1991, c. 327; 1993, c. 539, s. 1283; 1994, Ex. Sess., c. 24, s. 14(c).)