(A) A written contract is required. A service that requires any payment, fee, or other consideration may not be provided by a credit counseling organization for a consumer unless a written and dated contract for the purchase of those services, which meets the requirements of subsections (B) and (C), has been signed by the consumer. This section does not apply to the setup fee described in § 37-7-109(A).

(B) A contract referred to in subsection (A) does not meet the requirements of this subsection unless it includes in writing:

Terms Used In South Carolina Code 37-7-110

  • Consumer: means consumer as defined in § 37-1-301(10). See South Carolina Code 37-7-101
  • Contract: A legal written agreement that becomes binding when signed.
  • Credit counseling organization: means a person providing or offering to provide to consumers credit counseling services for a fee, compensation, or gain, or in the expectation of a fee, compensation, or gain, including debt management plans. See South Carolina Code 37-7-101
  • Creditor: means the person who grants credit in a consumer credit transaction or, except as otherwise provided, an assignee of a creditor's right to payment, but the term does not in itself impose on an assignee an obligation of his assignor. See South Carolina Code 37-7-101
  • Department: means the South Carolina Department of Consumer Affairs. See South Carolina Code 37-7-101
  • DMP: means a program in which an organization agrees to engage in debt settlement or debt pooling and distribution services on behalf of a consumer with the consumer's creditors and under which the consumer gives money or control of his funds to the organization for distribution to the consumer's creditors. See South Carolina Code 37-7-101
  • Licensee: means a person licensed pursuant to this chapter. See South Carolina Code 37-7-101
  • 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.
  • Rescission: The cancellation of budget authority previously provided by Congress. The Impoundment Control Act of 1974 specifies that the President may propose to Congress that funds be rescinded. If both Houses have not approved a rescission proposal (by passing legislation) within 45 days of continuous session, any funds being withheld must be made available for obligation.

(1) the name, address, and phone number of the consumer and licensee;

(2) a reasonable estimate of all payments and fees to be made by the consumer to the credit counseling organization over the term of the contract, including a maximum amount;

(3) a schedule of payments, including the amount and due date of each payment, that the consumer shall make to the licensee for disbursement to the consumer’s creditors, and the terms applicable to any late payment of, or default on, the amount;

(4) full and detailed description of the services to be performed by the credit counseling organization including all guarantees of performance and an estimate of the date by which the performance of the services to be performed by the organization are to be completed or the length of the period necessary to perform those services. This period must not exceed five years from the original date of entering the contract;

(5) a list of each participating creditor of the consumer to which payments are to be made by the licensee under the debt management plan. At the time of execution of the DMP, a licensee shall have a good faith belief that the creditors listed in the DMP are to participate in the DMP. A licensee shall advise the consumer of changes by the creditor in accepting payments under the DMP within two business days upon learning of the changes. The listing must include the:

(a) amount owed to each creditor;

(b) amount of each payment;

(c) date on which each payment is to be made; and

(d) anticipated payoff date for each creditor;

(6) a list of each creditor not participating in the DMP; and

(7) a conspicuous statement in bold-face type, in immediate proximity to the space reserved for consumer’s signature on the contract, that reads as follows: ‘You may cancel this contract without penalty or obligation for any reason and at any time by giving ten days’ written notice of rescission to the licensee. Once your services are canceled, you are entitled to a refund of all unexpended funds you have paid to the credit counseling organization’.

(C) The written contract must also contain a disclosure that the:

(1) licensee also may receive compensation from the consumer’s creditors for providing credit counseling services to the consumer;

(2) licensee may not require, as a condition of entering into a DMP, a consumer to purchase any other product or service, or solicit or offer to sell any other product or service to the consumer during the term of the DMP;

(3) licensee may not require a voluntary contribution from a consumer for a service provided by the licensee to the consumer; and

(4) consumer may contact the department if the consumer has complaints about the credit counseling services received. The current phone number for the department must be included in the contract.

(D) The licensee must cancel a debt management agreement upon consumer request at any time for any reason. A consumer must give at least ten days’ notice to the licensee of a request to cancel. A consumer who cancels a debt management agreement is entitled to a full refund of all unexpended funds that the consumer has paid to the licensee.