2019 Missouri Revised Statutes
Title XXVI - Trade and Commerce
Chapter 407 - Merchandising Practices
Section 407.638 Prohibited activities.

Effective 28 Aug 1991

407.638. Prohibited activities. — A credit services organization, a salesperson, agent or representative of a credit services organization, or an independent contractor who sells or attempts to sell the services of a credit services organization may not:

(1) Charge a buyer or receive from a buyer money or other valuable consideration before completing performance of all services the credit services organization has agreed to perform for the buyer, unless the credit services organization has obtained in accordance with section 407.639 a surety bond in the amount required by subsection 4 of section 407.639, issued by a surety company authorized to do business in this state, or has established and maintained a surety account at a federally insured bank or savings and loan association located in this state in which the amount required by subsection 5 of section 407.639 is held in trust as required by section 407.639;

(2) Charge a buyer or receive from a buyer money or other valuable consideration solely for referral of the buyer to a retail seller who will or may extend credit to the buyer if the credit that is or will be extended to the buyer is substantially the same as that available to the general public;

(3) Make or use a false or misleading representation in the offer or sale of the services of a credit services organization, including:

(a) Guaranteeing to "erase bad credit" or words to that effect unless the representation clearly discloses that this can be done only if the credit history is inaccurate or obsolete; and

(b) Guaranteeing an extension of credit regardless of the person's previous credit problem or credit history unless the representation clearly discloses the eligibility requirements for obtaining an extension of credit;

(4) Engage, directly or indirectly, in a fraudulent or deceptive act, practice or course of business in connection with the offer or sale of the services of a credit services organization;

(5) Make, or advise a buyer to make, a statement with respect to a buyer's credit worthiness, credit standing, or credit capacity that is false or misleading or that should be known by the exercise of reasonable care to be false or misleading, to a consumer reporting agency or to a person who has extended credit to a buyer or to whom a buyer is applying for an extension of credit;

(6) Advertise or cause to be advertised, in any manner whatsoever, the services of a credit services organization without filing a registration statement with the director of finance, unless otherwise provided by this chapter.

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(L. 1991 S.B. 112 § 3)