For Delaware Applicants
- Notification - Every licensee
shall furnish to every applicant, a copy of this regulation at the time
when such application is made. Posting of this regulation in the office
of the licensee in a place both prominent and easily visible to all
potential applicants shall satisfy this requirement. An explanation as
to the contents and limitations contained herein shall satisfy this
requirement when transactions occur telephonically. An informational
screen containing these limitations with an affirmative acknowledgement
by the consumer, prior to application, shall satisfy this requirement
for internet transactions.
- Interest
(a) A lender may charge and collect interest in
respect to a revolving credit plan or closed-end loan at such a daily,
weekly monthly, annual, or other periodic percentage rate or rates as
the agreement governing the plan or loan provides, or as established in
the manner provided in such agreement. Periodic interest may be
calculated on a revolving credit plan using any balance computation
method provided for in the agreement governing the plan. Periodic
interest may be calculated on a closed-end loan by way of simple
interest or such other method as the agreement governing the loan
provides.
(b) If the agreement governing the revolving credit
plan or closed-end loan so provides, the periodic percentage rate or
rates of interest may vary in accordance with a schedule or formula.
Such periodic percentage rate or rates may vary from time to time as
the rate determined in accordance with such schedule or formula varies
and such periodic percentage rate or rates, as so varied, may be made
applicable to all or any part of the outstanding unpaid indebtedness or
outstanding unpaid amounts. In the case of revolving credit, such rate
shall become applicable on or after the first day of the billing cycle
that contains the effective date of such variation. In the case of
closed-end loan transactions, such rate may be made applicable to all
or any part of the outstanding unpaid amounts on and after the
effective date of such variation. Without limitation, a permissible
schedule or formula hereunder may include provisions in the agreement
governing the revolving credit plan or closed-end loan agreement for a
change in the periodic percentage rate or rates of interest applicable
to all or any part of outstanding unpaid indebtedness or outstanding
unpaid amounts, whether by variation of the then applicable periodic
percentage rate or rates of interest, variation of an index or margin
or otherwise, contingent upon the happening of any event or
circumstance specified in the plan or agreement, which event or
circumstance may include the failure of the borrower to perform in
accordance with the terms of the revolving credit plan or loan
agreement.
- Additional Fees and Charges; Limitations
- If the agreement governing the plan or loan so provides, in addition
to, or in lieu of, interest at a periodic percentage rate or rates
permitted by Chapter 22, Title 5 of the Delaware Code, the licensee may
charge and collect the following fees and charges, subject to the
limitations provided below, in respect to revolving credit plans or
closed-end loans:
(a) Revolving Credit - with respect to a borrower, a
lender may charge, collect, or receive one or more of the following
fees and charges under plans subject to the provisions of Subchapter
II, Chapter 22, Title 5 of the Delaware Code:
(i) periodic charges - a daily, weekly, monthly,
annual or other periodic charge, in such amount or amounts as the
agreement may provide for the privileges made available to the borrower
under the plan;
(ii) transaction charges - a transaction charge or
charges in such amount or amounts as the agreement may provide for each
separate purchase or loan under the plan;
(iii) minimum charges - a minimum charge, in such
amount or amounts as the agreement may provide for each daily, weekly,
monthly, annual or other scheduled billing period under the plan during
any portion of which there is an outstanding unpaid indebtedness under
the plan;
(iv) fees for services rendered or reimbursement of expenses
- reasonable fees for services rendered or for reimbursement of
expenses incurred in good faith by the licensee or its agent in
connection with such loan, including without limitation, commitment
fees, official fees and taxes, premiums or other charges for any
guarantee or insurance protecting the licensee against the borrower's
default or other credit loss, or costs incurred by reason of
examination of title, inspection, recording and other formal acts
necessary or appropriate to the security of the loan, filing fees,
attorney's fees, and travel expenses. In the event a borrower defaults
under the terms of a plan, the licensee may, if the borrower's account
is referred to an attorney (not a regularly salaried employee of the
licensee) or to a third party for collection and if the agreement
governing the revolving credit plan so provides, charge and collect
from the borrower a reasonable attorney's fee. In addition, following a
borrower's default, the licensee may, if the agreement governing the
plan so provides, recover from the borrower all court, alternative
dispute resolution or other collection costs (including, without
limitation, fees and charges of collection agencies) actually incurred
by the licensee;
(v) overlimit charges - a charge in such amount or
amounts as the agreement may provide, for each daily, weekly, monthly,
annual or other scheduled billing period under the plan during any
portion of which total outstanding indebtedness exceeds the credit
limit established under the plan;
(vi) delinquency charges - a late or delinquency
charge upon any outstanding unpaid installment payments or portions
thereof under the plan which are in default; provided, however, that no
more than 1 such late or delinquency charge may be imposed in respect
of any single such installment payment or portion thereof regardless of
the period during which it remains in default; and provided further,
however, that for the purpose only of the preceding provision all
payments by the borrower shall be deemed to be applied to satisfaction
of installment payments in the order in which they become due.
(vii) returned check charges - a returned check charge
may be assessed to consumers, in such amount or amounts as the
agreement may provide, provided the amount(s) of such charges are
customary and reasonable for checks that are returned unpaid.
(viii) termination fees - a charge in such amount or amounts as the agreement may provide to terminate revolving credit plan.
(ix) charges incurred in connection with real estate secured transactions
- in the case of revolving credit secured by real estate such
additional charges as outlined in item (3)(c) of this regulation may
also be collected within the limitations stated therein.
(b) Closed-end Credit - with respect to a borrower, a
lender may charge, collect, or receive one or more of the following
fees for loans subject to the provisions of Subchapter III, Chapter 22,
Title 5 of the Delaware Code:
(i) fees for services rendered or reimbursement of expenses
- reasonable fees for services rendered or for reimbursement of
expenses incurred in good faith by the licensee or its agent in
connection with such loan, including without limitation, commitment
fees, official fees and taxes, premiums or other charges for any
guarantee or insurance protecting the licensee against the borrowers
default or other credit loss, or costs incurred by reason of
examination of title, inspection, recording and other formal acts
necessary or appropriate to the security of the loan, filing fees,
attorney's fees, and travel expenses. In the event a borrower defaults
under the terms of the loan, the licensee may, if the borrower's
account is referred to an attorney (not a regularly salaried employee
of the licensee) or to a third party for collection and if the
agreement governing, or the bond, note or other evidence of, the loan
so provides, charge and collect from the borrower a reasonable
attorney's fees. In addition, following a borrower's default, the
licensee may, if the agreement governing, or the bond, note or other
evidence of, the loan so provides, recover from the borrower all court,
alternative dispute resolution or other collection costs (including,
without limitation, fees and charges of collection agencies) actually
incurred by the licensee;
(ii) deferral charges - a deferral charge may be
assessed to a borrower in accordance with an agreement to permit the
borrower to defer installment payments of a loan;
(iii) delinquency charges - if the agreement governing
the loan so provides, a late or delinquency charge may be imposed upon
any outstanding unpaid installment payment or portions thereof under
the loan agreement which are in default; provided, however, that no
more than 1 such delinquency charge may be imposed in respect of any
single such installment payment or portion thereof regardless of the
period during which it remains in default; and provided further that no
such delinquency charge may exceed 5% of the amount of any such
installment or portion thereof in default;
(iv) returned check charge - if the agreement
governing the loan so provides, a returned check charge may be assessed
to consumers for checks that are returned unpaid provided the amount(s)
of such charges are customary and reasonable.
(v) charges incurred in connection with real estate secured transactions
- in the case of closed end credit secured by real estate such
additional charges as outlined in item (3)(c) of this regulation may
also be collected within the limitations stated therein.
(c) Real Estate Secured Transactions - with respect to
a borrower, a lender may charge, collect, or receive one or more of the
following fees and charges subject to the limitations herein, for loans
subject to the provisions of Subchapters II (Revolving Credit) and III
(Closed-End Credit), Chapter 22, Title 5 of the Delaware Code when such
loans are secured by real estate:
(i) loan origination points - points charged to the
borrower on the lender's behalf for any purpose other than to reduce
the periodic interest rate applicable to the mortgage loan may not
exceed 10% of the principal amount of the loan. Such points may be
deducted from the gross proceeds of the loan. For purposes of this
regulation "gross proceeds" is the amount financed as defined in
Federal Reserve Regulation Z;
(ii) loan discount points - points charged to the
borrower as a function of rate for the purpose of reducing the periodic
interest rate applicable to the mortgage loan. Such points may be
deducted from the gross proceeds of the loan;
(iii) property appraisal fees - property appraisal
fees shall be limited to the amount paid to a third party for such
appraisal and shall be limited to those amounts that are customary and
reasonable;
(iv) credit report fees - credit report fees shall be
limited to the actual cost of the report if paid to a third party, not
an employee of the lender or affiliate. Such amounts shall be customary
and reasonable;
(v) mortgage loan broker compensation fees - mortgage
loan broker compensation may be deducted from the gross proceeds of the
loan. Such amounts shall reasonably reflect the value of the goods,
services and facilities provided;
(vi) tax certification and service fees - fees for
agreements to provide certification of the current tax status of the
property as well as fees for ongoing monitoring and notice to the
lender of all tax and improvement lien payments as they become due
shall be limited to those amounts actually expended for such purposes.
Such amounts shall be customary and reasonable;
(vii) flood hazard certification or determination fees
- determination fees may be charged for determining whether the
property is or will be located in a special flood hazard area. This fee
may also include the cost of life-of-loan monitoring. Such amounts
shall be customary and reasonable;
(viii) title abstract/search/examination and title insurance premiums
- title insurance and/or cost of a title certificate search,
examination and binder shall be limited to those amounts actually
expended for such purposes. Such amounts shall be customary and
reasonable and may, at the borrower's discretion, include owner's
coverage in addition to lender's coverage;
(ix) legal fees - legal fees incurred in securing or
closing a loan shall be limited to amounts actually paid to an attorney
not in the employ of the lender, its parent, or affiliate, and such
charges shall not exceed those which are customary and reasonable;
(x) recording/satisfaction fees -
recording/satisfaction fees shall be limited to those actually expended
by the lender to any governmental authority for protection of interest
in collateral tendered. The State Bank Commissioner may approve the
payment of alternative fees for this purpose provided the amount of
said fee (payable by the borrower) shall not exceed the amount which
would be payable to any governmental authority for protection of
interest in collateral tendered;
(xi) property survey fees - property survey fees to
obtain a drawing that delineates the exact boundaries of a property,
including lot lines and placement of improvements on the property,
shall be limited to those amounts actually expended for such purposes.
Such amounts shall be customary and reasonable;
(xii) pest inspection fees - pest inspection fees to
cover inspections for terminates or other pest infestation on the
property shall be limited to those amounts actually expended for such
purposes. Such amounts shall be customary and reasonable;
(xiii) fees incidental to loan closing - other fees
and charges including but not limited to: odd days interest, hazard and
mortgage insurance premiums, escrow reserves, lender's inspection fees,
mortgage insurance application fees, assumption fees, underwriting
fees, document preparation fees, settlement or closing fees, notary
fees, funding fees, fees for lead based paint or other inspections and
overnight mail fees may be charged and such amounts shall be customary
and reasonable;
(xiv) prepayment penalties - a charge in such amount
or amounts as the agreement so provides imposed in connection with the
payoff and termination of a revolving credit plan or closed end loan
secured by real estate;
(xv) notwithstanding the provisions of this item
(3)(c) of this regulation, Licensed Lenders who are making mortgage
loans pursuant to the rules, regulations, guidelines and/or loan forms
established by the State of Delaware or federal governmental or
quasi-governmental entity (including, without limitation, the Federal
Housing Administration, the Government National Mortgage Association,
the Federal National Mortgage Association and the Federal Home Loan
Mortgage Corporation) shall be permitted to charge and collect any
fees, charges or sums prescribad to be charged and collected in
connection with a mortgage loan originated pursuant to a lending
program conducted or supervised by any such entity.
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