2015 New Hampshire Revised Statutes
Title XXXVI - PAWNBROKERS AND MONEYLENDERS
Chapter 399-A - REGULATION OF SMALL LOANS, TITLE LOANS, AND PAYDAY LOANS
Section 399-A:13 - Provisions Applicable to Payday Loan Lenders.

[RSA 399-A:13 effective until January 1, 2016; see also RSA 399-A:13 set out below.]     399-A:13 Provisions Applicable to Payday Loan Lenders. –
    I. Each lender shall conspicuously post in its licensed location a schedule of interest charges, with examples using a $300 loan payable in 14 days and 30 days. Payday loans shall incur interest only. No other charges or fees shall apply to or be collected on payday loans.
    II. Each payday loan shall be evidenced by a written loan agreement, which shall be signed by the borrower and a person authorized by the lender to sign such agreements and dated the same day the loan is made and disbursed. The loan agreement shall set forth, at a minimum:
       (a) The principal amount of the loan.
       (b) The interest charged.
       (c) The annual percentage rate, which shall be stated using that term, applicable to the transaction calculated in accordance with Federal Reserve Board Regulation Z.
       (d) Evidence of receipt from the borrower of a check or other account debit authorization, dated the same date, as security for the loan, stating the amount of the check, if a check or other account debit authorization was given by the borrower.
       (e) An agreement by the lender not to present the check or other account debit authorization for payment or deposit until a specified maturity date, which date shall be at least 7 days and not more than 30 days after the date the loan is made and after which date interest shall not accrue at a greater rate than 6 percent per year, if a check or other account debit authorization was given by the borrower.
       (f) An agreement by the lender that the borrower shall have the right to cancel the loan transaction at any time before the close of business of the next business day following the date of the transaction by paying to the lender, in the form of cash or other funds instrument, the amount advanced to the borrower.
       (g) An agreement that the borrower shall have the right to prepay the loan in full or in part prior to maturity by paying the lender the principal amount advanced and any accrued and unpaid interest.
    III. The lender shall give a duplicate original of the loan agreement to the borrower at the time of the transaction.
    IV. A lender shall not obtain any agreement from the borrower:
       (a) Giving the lender or any third person power of attorney or authority to confess judgment for the borrower;
       (b) Authorizing the lender or any third party to bring suit against the borrower in a court outside the state; or
       (c) Waiving any right the borrower has under this chapter.
    V. A lender shall not require, or accept, more than one check from the borrower as security for any loan at any one time.
    VI. A lender shall not cause any person to be obligated to the lender in any capacity at any time in the principal amount of more than $500.
    VII. A lender shall not refinance, renew, or extend any loan.
    VIII. A lender shall not cause a borrower to be obligated upon more than one loan at any time for the purpose of increasing charges payable by the borrower.
    IX. A lender shall not require or accept a post-dated check as security for, or in payment of, a loan.
    X. A lender shall not threaten, or cause to be instigated, criminal proceedings against a borrower if a check given as security for a loan is dishonored.
    XI. A lender shall not take an interest in any property other than a check payable to the lender as security for a loan.
    XII. A lender shall not make a loan to a borrower to enable the borrower to pay for any other product or service sold at the lender's business location.
    XIII. Loan proceeds shall be disbursed in cash or by the lender's business check. No fee shall be charged by the lender or an affiliated check cashier for cashing a loan proceeds check.
    XIV. A check given as security for a loan shall not be endorsed to a third party.
    XV. Upon receipt of a check given as security for a loan, the lender shall stamp the check with an endorsement stating "This check is being negotiated as part of a payday loan pursuant to RSA 399-A, and any holder of this check takes it subject to all claims and defenses of the maker.''
    XVI. Before entering into a payday loan, the lender shall provide each borrower with a pamphlet, in form consistent with regulations promulgated by the commissioner, explaining in plain language the rights and responsibilities of the borrower and providing a toll-free number in the banking department for assistance with complaints.
    XVII. Before disbursing funds pursuant to a payday loan, a lender shall provide a clear and conspicuous printed notice to the borrower indicating that a payday loan is not intended to meet long-term financial needs and that the borrower should use a payday loan only to meet short-term cash needs.
    XVIII. A borrower shall be permitted to make partial payments, in increments of not less than $50 on the loan at any time prior to maturity without charge. The lender shall give the borrower signed, dated receipts for each payment made, which shall state the balance due on the loan.
    XIX. A lender shall not make a loan to a borrower who currently has an outstanding or who has had an outstanding payday or title loan within the previous 60-day period. As part of its application process for such a loan, a lender shall obtain a written statement under oath from the borrower certifying the borrower does not currently have an outstanding and has not had an outstanding payday loan or title loan within the previous 60-day period.
    XX. The annual percentage rate on a payday loan shall be no more than 36 percent per year.
    399-A:13 Examinations and Investigations. --
    I. The commissioner or the commissioner's duly authorized representative shall, in accordance with RSA 383:9 and, with or without notice to the licensee or person, examine the business affairs of any licensee or any other person subject to this chapter, whether licensed or not, or more often when necessary, as the commissioner deems necessary to determine compliance with this chapter and the rules adopted pursuant to it. In determining compliance, the commissioner or the duly authorized representative may examine the books, accounts, records, files, and other documents, whether electronically stored or otherwise, and any other matters of any licensee or person. The commissioner or the duly authorized representative shall have and be given free access to the office and places of business, files, safes, and vaults of all such persons, and may require the attendance of any person and to examine him or her under oath relative to such loans or such business or to the subject matter of any examination or investigation and may require the production of books, accounts, papers, and records of such persons.
    II. The commissioner may, in his or her discretion, accept all or part of a report of examination of a small loan lender, certified to by the regulatory supervisory official of another state. To avoid unnecessary duplication of examinations, the commissioner, insofar as he or she deems it practicable in administering this section, may cooperate with the regulators of other states, the Federal Trade Commission, other federal regulators, or their successors in conducting examinations and investigations.
    III. The department may subpoena witnesses and administer oaths and to compel, by subpoena duces tecum, the production of all books, records, files, and other documents and materials whether electronically stored or otherwise relevant to its investigation at any time in any matter over which the department has jurisdiction, control, or supervision pertaining to the provisions of this chapter.
    IV. Every person being examined, and all of the officers, directors, employees, agents, and representatives of such person shall make freely available to the commissioner or the commissioner's examiners the accounts, records, documents, files, information, assets, and matters in their possession or control relating to the subject of the examination and shall facilitate the examination.
    V. The expense of such examination shall be chargeable to and paid by the licensee or person being examined. The payment shall be calculated by the same method as for payments by institutions for cost of examinations under RSA 383:11, except when the principal office of the licensee or person is located outside of this state and the department has determined that the examination shall be conducted at that out-of-state location, the actual cost of travel, lodging, meals, and other expenses of examination personnel making the examination, shall be chargeable to and paid by such licensee or person in addition to the per diem charge for examination personnel set forth in RSA 383:11.
    VI. (a) Those licensees or persons that maintain their files and business documents in another state shall appoint a New Hampshire agent and shall return such files and documents to their principal New Hampshire office, the banking department, or the office of their New Hampshire agent for examination no later than 21 calendar days after being requested to do so by the department. When the commissioner requests a list of New Hampshire consumers who have contracted with the licensee or other similar summary document from a licensee from which to select particular files for review, the licensee shall ensure that the list is received by the commissioner within 7 calendar days and return the files selected by the commissioner to the commissioner within 14 calendar days to ensure compliance with the 21-day requirement.
       (b) Failure to provide files and documents within the time established by this paragraph shall subject a licensee or person to a fine of $50 per day for each day after 21 days the files and documents are not produced. Failure to provide files and documents within 60 days after being requested to do so by the department shall be sufficient cause for license revocation, suspension, or denial, or other penalties under this chapter.
    VII. The commissioner or the commissioner's duly authorized representative may investigate at any time any person that the commissioner reasonably believes is engaged in the business of making small loans, payday loans, or title loans, or participating in such business as principal, agent, broker, or otherwise; or any person who the commissioner has reasonable cause to believe is violating or is about to violate any provision of this chapter, or any rule or order under this chapter, whether such person shall claim to be within the authority or beyond the scope of this chapter.
    VIII. In any investigation to determine whether any person has violated or is about to violate this chapter or any rule or order under this chapter, upon the commissioner's finding that the person violated this chapter or a rule or order under this chapter, or the person charged with the violation defaults, the commissioner may recover the cost of the investigation, in addition to any other penalty provided for under this chapter.
    IX. If the commissioner or examiner finds any accounts or records to be inadequate, or kept or posted in a manner not in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, the commissioner may employ experts to reconstruct, rewrite, post, or balance them at the expense of the person being examined if such person has failed to maintain, complete, or correct such records or accounting after the commissioner or examiner has given him or her written notice and a reasonable opportunity to do so.
    X. (a) Upon receipt of a written report of examination, the licensee shall have 30 days or such additional reasonable period as the commissioner for good cause may allow, within which to review the report, recommend any changes, and set forth in writing the remedial course of action the licensee will pursue to correct any reported deficiencies outlined in the report.
       (b) If so requested by the person examined, within the period allowed in subparagraph (a), or if deemed advisable by the commissioner without such request, the commissioner shall hold a closed hearing relative to the report and shall not file the report in the department until after such closed hearing and issuance of his or her order thereon. If no such closed hearing has been requested or held, the examination report, with such modifications, if any, thereto as the commissioner deems proper, shall be accepted by the commissioner and filed upon expiration of the review period provided for in subparagraph (a). The report shall in any event be so accepted and filed within 6 months after final hearing thereon.
       (c) All reports pursuant to this section shall be confidential and shall not be available for public inspection. The comments and recommendations of the examiner shall also be confidential information and shall not be available for public inspection.

Source. 2015, 73:1, eff. Jan. 1, 2016.