In this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires:

Terms Used In North Dakota Code 51-18-01

  • 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.
  • following: when used by way of reference to a chapter or other part of a statute means the next preceding or next following chapter or other part. See North Dakota Code 1-01-49
  • Gift: A voluntary transfer or conveyance of property without consideration, or for less than full and adequate consideration based on fair market value.
  • Lease: A contract transferring the use of property or occupancy of land, space, structures, or equipment in consideration of a payment (e.g., rent). Source: OCC
  • Organization: includes a foreign or domestic association, business trust, corporation, enterprise, estate, joint venture, limited liability company, limited liability partnership, limited partnership, partnership, trust, or any legal or commercial entity. See North Dakota Code 1-01-49
  • Partnership: A voluntary contract between two or more persons to pool some or all of their assets into a business, with the agreement that there will be a proportional sharing of profits and losses.
  • Partnership: includes a limited liability partnership registered under chapter 45-22. See North Dakota Code 1-01-49
  • Person: means an individual, organization, government, political subdivision, or government agency or instrumentality. See North Dakota Code 1-01-49
  • Property: includes property, real and personal. See North Dakota Code 1-01-49
  • State: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the territories. See North Dakota Code 1-01-49
  • United States: includes the District of Columbia and the territories. See North Dakota Code 1-01-49
  • written: include "typewriting" and "typewritten" and "printing" and "printed" except in the case of signatures and when the words are used by way of contrast to typewriting and printing. See North Dakota Code 1-01-37

1.    “Consumer goods or services” means goods or services purchased, leased, or rented primarily for personal, family, or household purposes, including courses of instruction or training regardless of the purpose for which they are taken.

2.    “Person” includes a corporation, limited liability company, company, partnership, firm, association, or society, as well as a natural person. When the word “person” is used to designate the party whose property may be the subject of a criminal or public offense, the term includes the United States, this state, or any territory, state, or country, or any political subdivision of this state which may lawfully own any property, or a public or private corporation, limited liability company, or partnership or association. When the word “person” is used to designate the violator or offender of any law, it includes corporation, limited liability company, partnership, or any association of persons.

3.    “Personal solicitation sale” means a sale, lease, or rental of consumer goods or services in which the seller or the seller’s representative solicits the sale, lease, or rental, by telephone or in person, and the buyer’s agreement or offer to purchase is made at a place other than the place of business of the person soliciting the same and that agreement or offer to purchase is there given to the seller or the seller’s representative. A transaction is not a personal solicitation sale if it is made pursuant to prior negotiations between the parties at a business establishment at a fixed location where goods or services are offered or exhibited for sale, lease, or rental.

4.    “Seller” means a person who makes a personal solicitation sale.

5.    “Seller’s representative” means a person who makes a personal solicitation sale on behalf of a seller.

6.    “Telepromoter” means any person who, individually, through salespersons or agents, or through the use of an automatic dialing-announcing device initiates telephone contact with a consumer or who by written notice requests that the consumer contact the person by telephone and who represents one or more of the following:

a.    That if the consumer buys one or more items from the telepromoter, the consumer will also receive additional or other items, whether or not of the same type as purchased, without further cost or at a cost which the seller states or implies is less than the regular price of those items.

b.    That a consumer will receive a prize, premium, or gift if the telepromoter also encourages the consumer to do either of the following:

(1) Purchase or rent any goods or services.

(2) Pay any money, including a delivery or handling charge.

c.    That the consumer has in any manner been specially selected to receive the written notice or the offer contained in the written notice.

The term does not include any nonprofit or charitable organization exempt from federal taxation under section 501(c)(3) of the United States Internal Revenue Code [26 U.S.C. § 501(c)(3)].