(1) DEFINITIONS. The following terms, as used in this section, shall have the meaning stated, unless the context requires a different meaning: (a) “Collection agency” means any person engaging in the business of collecting or receiving for payment for others of any account, bill, or other indebtedness. “Collection agency” does not include attorneys at law authorized to practice in this state and resident herein, banks, credit unions, health care billing companies, state savings banks, state savings and loan associations, insurers and their agents, trust companies, mortgage bankers licensed and operating under subch. III of ch. 224 , district attorneys acting under s. 971.41, persons contracting with district attorneys under s. 971.41 (5), real estate brokers, and real estate salespersons. (b) “Collector” or “solicitor” means any person who, on behalf of a collection agency licensed under this section, does any of the following: 1. Collects, or attempts to collect, for others any account, bill, or other indebtedness. 2. Receives payment for others of any account, bill, or other indebtedness. 3. Solicits any account, bill, or other indebtedness for collection by the collection agency. (c) “Division” means the division of banking. (d) “General order” means an order which is not a special order. (e) “Licensee” means a person licensed under this section. (em) “Nationwide multistate licensing system and registry” has the meaning given in s. 224.35 (1g) (b). (f) “Person” includes individuals, partnerships, associations, corporations and limited liability companies. (g) “Special order” means an order against a person. (h) “Unique identifier” has the meaning given in s. 224.35 (1g) (e). (2) LICENSES REQUIRED. (a) Except as provided in par. (b), a person may not operate as a collection agency in this state without first having obtained a license as required by this section. (b) A nonresident of this state is not required to obtain a collection agency license if that person conducts collection agency activity with state residents solely by means of interstate telecommunications or interstate mail. (3) LICENSES; APPLICATIONS; FEES; BOND. (a) 1. Application for licenses under the provisions of this section shall be made to the division in writing, under oath, in a form and manner acceptable to the division. Except as provided in subd. 3., an application for a license under this section shall include the following: a. If the applicant is an individual, the applicant’s social security number. b. If the applicant is not an individual, the applicant’s federal employer identification number. 1g. The division shall utilize the nationwide multistate licensing system and registry, and the provisions of s. 224.35 shall apply, with respect to applicants and licensees under this section. 1m. An applicant or licensee under this section shall register with, and maintain a valid unique identifier issued by, the nationwide multistate licensing system and registry. 1r. Each licensee shall keep current and accurate all material information on file with the division and the nationwide multistate licensing system and registry as provided in s. 224.35 (6). 2. The division may not disclose any information received under subd. 1. to any person except as follows: a. The division may disclose information under subd. 1. to the department of revenue for the sole purpose of requesting certifications under s. 73.0301 and to the department of workforce development for the sole purpose of requesting certifications under s. 108.227. b. The division may disclose information under subd. 1. a. to the department of children and families in accordance with a memorandum of understanding under s. 49.857. c. The division may disclose information to the nationwide multistate licensing system and registry as provided in s. 224.35. 3. If an applicant who is an individual does not have a social security number, the applicant, as a condition of applying for or applying to renew a license under this section, shall submit a statement made or subscribed under oath or affirmation to the division that the applicant does not have a social security number. The form of the statement shall be prescribed by the department of children and families. Any license issued or renewed in reliance upon a false statement submitted by an applicant under this subdivision is invalid. (b) At the time of making application, every applicant for a collection agency license shall pay a nonrefundable fee of $1,000 to the division for investigating the application, unless the applicant is already licensed under this section, and the sum of $200 as an annual license fee for each place of business that is required to be separately licensed under sub. (4) (a). If the cost of investigation exceeds $1,000, the applicant shall, upon demand of the division, pay the excess cost. No investigation fee is required on the renewal of a license. (d) The division may require any licensee to file and maintain in force a bond, in a form to be prescribed by and acceptable to the division, and in such sum as the division may deem reasonably necessary to safeguard the interests of the public. (4) ISSUANCE OR DENIAL OF LICENSES. (a) Except as provided in par. (am), upon the filing of a license application and the payment of the applicable fees, the division shall make an investigation, and if the division finds that the character and general fitness and the financial responsibility of the applicant, and the members thereof if the applicant is a partnership, limited liability company or association, and the officers and directors thereof if the applicant is a corporation, warrant the belief that the business will be operated in compliance with this section the division shall thereupon issue a license to the applicant. A license is not assignable and, except as provided in par. (ap), shall permit operation under it only at or from the location specified in the license. Except as provided in par. (ap), a separate license is required for each place of business maintained by the licensee from which the licensee or its collectors or solicitors engage in the business of collecting or receiving payments for others of any account, bill, or other indebtedness of a person located in this state. (am) The division may not issue or renew a license under this section if any of the following applies: 1. The applicant fails to provide any application information required by the division. 2. The department of revenue certifies under s. 73.0301 that the applicant is liable for delinquent taxes. An applicant for whom a license is not issued or renewed under this subdivision for delinquent taxes is entitled to a notice under s. 73.0301 (2) (b) 1. b. and hearing under s. 73.0301 (5) (a) but is not entitled to any other notice or hearing under this section. 2m. The department of workforce development certifies under s. 108.227 that the applicant is liable for delinquent unem- ployment insurance contributions. An applicant for whom a license is not issued or renewed under this subdivision for delinquent unemployment insurance contributions is entitled to a notice under s. 108.227 (2) (b) 1. b. and hearing under s. 108.227 (5) (a) but is not entitled to any other notice or hearing under this section. 3. The applicant fails to comply, after appropriate notice, with a subpoena or warrant issued by the department of children and families or a county child support agency under s. 59.53 (5) and related to paternity or child support proceedings or is delinquent in making court-ordered payments of child or family support, maintenance, birth expenses, medical expenses or other expenses related to the support of a child or former spouse, as provided in a memorandum of understanding entered into under s. 49.857. An applicant whose application is denied under this subdivision for delinquent payments is entitled to a notice and hearing under s. 49.857 but is not entitled to any other notice or hearing under this section. (ap) An employee of a licensed collection agency may work from the employee’s residence. An employee’s resident address may not be presented to the public as a location or office of the collection agency, through advertising or other means of communication. No physical records of the collection agency may be maintained at an employee’s residence. A separate license under par. (a) is not required for a residence that meets the requirements of this paragraph. (b) No licensee shall conduct a collection agency business within any office, room or place of business in which any other business is solicited or engaged in, or in association or conjunction therewith, except as may be authorized in writing by the division upon finding that the character of such other business is such that the granting of such authority would not facilitate evasion of this section or the lawful orders issued thereunder. (c) If an applicant fails to complete the application for an initial license within 60 days after the division provides written notice of the incomplete application, the application is considered abandoned and the investigation fee shall not be refunded. An applicant whose application is abandoned under this paragraph may reapply to obtain a new license. (5) REVOCATION; SUSPENSION; REINSTATEMENT OF LICENSES. (a) The division may suspend or revoke any license issued under this section if the division finds that any of the following applies: 1. The licensee has violated any of the provisions of this section, rules promulgated under this section, or any lawful order of the division made under this section. 2. Any fact or condition exists which, if it had existed at the time of the original application for the license, would have warranted the division in refusing to issue the license. 3. The licensee has failed to maintain in effect the bond required under sub. (3) (d). 4. The licensee has failed to remit money due to any and all claimants or forwarders on or before the last day of the month following the close of the month during which the collection was effected. 5. The licensee or any officer or employee of it has violated chs. 421 to 427 and 429. 6. The licensee has made a material misstatement, or knowingly omitted a material fact, in an application for a license or in information furnished to the division or the nationwide multistate licensing system and registry. (am) The division shall restrict or suspend a license issued under this section if the division finds that the licensee is an individual who fails to comply, after appropriate notice, with a subpoena or warrant issued by the department of children and families or a county child support agency under s. 59.53 (5) and related to paternity or child support proceedings or who is delinquent in making court-ordered payments of child or family support, maintenance, birth expenses, medical expenses or other expenses related to the support of a child or former spouse, as provided in a memorandum of understanding entered into under s. 49.857. A licensee whose license is restricted or suspended under this paragraph is entitled to a notice and hearing only as provided in a memorandum of understanding entered into under s. 49.857 and is not entitled to any other notice or hearing under this section. (ar) The division shall revoke a license issued under this section if the department of revenue certifies under s. 73.0301 that the licensee is liable for delinquent taxes. A licensee whose license is revoked under this paragraph for delinquent taxes is entitled to a notice under s. 73.0301 (2) (b) 1. b. and a hearing under s. 73.0301 (5) (a) but is not entitled to any other notice or hearing under this section. (at) The division shall revoke a license issued under this section if the department of workforce development certifies under s. 108.227 that the licensee is liable for delinquent unemployment insurance contributions. A licensee whose license is revoked under this paragraph for delinquent unemployment insurance contributions is entitled to a notice under s. 108.227 (2) (b) 1. b. and a hearing under s. 108.227 (5) (a) but is not entitled to any other notice or hearing under this section. (b) Except as provided in pars. (am) to (at), no license shall be revoked or suspended except after a hearing under this section. A complaint stating the grounds for suspension or revocation together with a notice of hearing shall be delivered to the licensee at least 5 days in advance of the hearing. In the event the licensee cannot be found, complaint and notice of hearing may be left at the place of business stated in the license and this shall be deemed the equivalent of delivering the notice of hearing and complaint to the licensee. (c) In the event of the death of a licensee who is a sole proprietor, the license shall terminate as of the date of death of the licensee, except the division may reinstate a license if the estate of the former licensee signifies to the division within 45 days its intention to continue the business of the agency. (6) LICENSES; POSTING; RENEWAL; DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS. (a) If a licensee intends to change the address of its place of business to another location, the licensee shall give written notice of the change, in a form and manner prescribed by the division, at least 30 days prior to the relocation. (b) Every licensee applying for a renewal of a license shall pay in advance to the division the annual license fee. A license may be renewed or reinstated as provided in s. 224.35 (7). A license that is not renewed or reinstated by the end of the reinstatement period provided in s. 224.35 (7) shall be deemed to have expired on December 31 of the year immediately preceding the reinstatement period, unless the initial license date is between November 1 and December 31, in which instance the initial license term shall run through December 31 of the following year. (c) Before discontinuing operating as a collection agency under the provisions of this section, every licensee shall furnish the division with proof in a form to be determined by the division that all of the following are satisfied: 1. Proper remittance has been made to all claimants or forwarders on money collected. 2. All Wisconsin client accounts have been returned to the claimants or forwarders. 3. All valuable papers given to the licensee by the claimant or forwarder in connection with claims have been returned to the claimants or forwarders. (7) POWERS OF DIVISION. It shall be the duty of the division and the division shall have power, jurisdiction and authority to investigate the conditions and ascertain the facts with reference to the collection of accounts and upon the basis thereof: (a) To issue any general or special order in execution of or supplementary to this chapter, including such orders as may be necessary to protect the public from oppressive or deceptive practices of licensees and to prevent evasions of this chapter. (b) For the purpose of discovering violations of this section the division may cause an investigation to be made of the business of the licensee transacted under the provisions of this section, and shall cause an investigation to be made of convictions reported to the division by any district attorney for violation by a licensee of any of the provisions of this section. The place of business, books of accounts, papers, records, safes and vaults of said licensee shall be open to inspection and examination by the division for the purpose of such investigation and the division shall have authority to examine under oath all persons whose testimony is required relative to said investigation. The cost of the first investigation or examination during any licensing year shall be paid by the licensee, but the cost of additional investigation or examination during such year shall be paid by the licensee only if such examination discloses violation of sub. (5) (a) 4. The division shall determine the cost of an investigation or examination. The licensee shall pay the cost of any hearing including witness fees, unless it be found by the division, board of review or court that licensee has not violated any provision of this section. All said costs shall be paid by the licensee within 30 days after demand therefor by the division. The state may maintain an action for the recovery of such costs and expenses in any court of competent jurisdiction. (d) To make all necessary or proper orders, rules and regulations for the administration and enforcement of this section. (9) COLLECTORS AND SOLICITORS; ALIASES; UNSIGNED NOTICES. (a) A collection agency is responsible for, and shall supervise the acts of, its collectors and solicitors and any other person who otherwise acts on behalf of the collection agency. (b) In any oral or written communication with a debtor, any collector or solicitor may use a separate alias. This alias shall include a first and last name. No collector or solicitor may have more than one alias. A collector or solicitor may not change an alias unless for good cause and the division is first notified of the change. Collectors or solicitors employed by a licensee may not use the same alias. (c) A licensee may forward printed collection notices to a debtor that are unsigned. (9g) TRUST ACCOUNTS. (a) In this section, “financial institution” has the meaning given in s. 705.01 (3). (b) A licensee shall establish a trust account with a financial institution. The licensee shall notify the division of the name of the financial institution that maintains the trust account. The division may prohibit a licensee from establishing or maintaining a trust account in a financial institution if the division believes that the financial institution is operating in an unsafe or unsound manner. (c) Within 48 hours after collection, a licensee shall deposit and maintain in the trust account sufficient funds to pay all money due any claimant or forwarder. A licensee may not use the trust account for any other purpose. (9j) CONSOLIDATION OF ACCOUNTS. (a) A licensee may, after receiving authorization from a creditor, consolidate the creditor’s account or accounts relating to a particular debtor with those of any other creditor or creditors relating to that debtor and may cause an action to be brought on behalf of the creditor or creditors. All of the following apply to any action caused to be brought by a licensee on behalf of a creditor or creditors under this subsection: 1. The summons and complaint shall be prepared by an attorney or at the direction of an attorney. 2. The name or names of the creditor or creditors shall appear in the pleadings and in the caption of the case as the real party or parties in interest and the licensee’s name shall not appear in the caption or pleadings. 3. The creditor or creditors in each instance shall be given the opportunity either to select an attorney to commence the action or to designate, as a part of the authorization process, the collection agency as the agent of the creditor or creditors to retain an attorney and forward the claim or claims to the attorney on behalf of the creditor or creditors. (b) In any action caused to be brought by a licensee under this subsection, the licensee shall not appear on behalf of any creditor or creditors before any court, including the clerk of any small claims court in an action on the debt or in garnishment proceedings, except when called as a witness by the plaintiff’s attorney in open court. (9m) DELINQUENT COLLECTION AGENCIES; DIVISION MAY TAKE POSSESSION. (a) If the division finds that a licensee is insolvent or that the licensee has collected accounts but has failed to remit money due to any claimant or forwarder within 30 days from the end of the month in which collection was made, and it is necessary to protect the interest of the public or when the license of a collection agency has expired or has terminated for any reason whatsoever, the division may take possession of the assets and the books and records of the licensee for the purpose of liquidating its business, and for such other relief as the nature of the case and the interest of the claimants or forwarders may require. The liquidation of business shall be made by and under the supervision of the division either in the name of the division or in the name of the licensee and the division shall be vested with title to all of the assets including the proceeds of the bond or bonds which have been filed with the division as provided for under sub. (3) (d), and the proceeds of any and all money paid direct to the claimant or forwarder by the debtor prior to the date said license has terminated. Money paid to the licensee or to the division after the termination of the license shall be disposed of by the division with the approval of the circuit court. (b) In taking possession of the property and business of any such collection agency, the division shall forthwith give notice to any and all banks or other financial institutions holding or in possession of any bank balances or assets of such agency and thereafter such assets shall be held subject to the order of the division. (c) In addition to the authority conferred by par. (b), the division may, with the approval of the circuit court for the county wherein the main office is located, for the purposes of collection or liquidation, sell, assign, convey and transfer or approve the sale, assignment, conveyance and transfer of the assets of such collection agency under such terms and conditions as the division may deem for the best interests of the claimants of such collection agency. (d) The provisions of s. 220.08 (3b), (4), (6), (7), (8), (13), (14) and (17) shall apply to this section insofar as they are applicable. (e) The division shall cause notice to be given by publication of a class 3 notice, under ch. 985, if no action has been commenced under par. (f), calling on all persons who may have claims against such licensee, to present the same to the division, and make legal proof thereof at a place and within a time, to be therein specified. The division may mail a similar notice to all persons whose names appear as claimants or forwarders upon the books and records of the licensee or as may appear in the records of the division on the reports required to be furnished the division according to the provisions of sub. (10). Any claimant or forwarder whose portion of the collection or collections has not been properly remitted shall file a claim which shall be considered as a preferred claim for the amount actually due the claimant or forwarder after deducting any commission or fee that may be due and owing the licensee. If the division doubts the justice and validity of any claim, the division may reject the same and serve notice of such rejection upon the claimant either by mail or personally. An affidavit of the service of such notice, which shall be prima facie evidence thereof, shall be filed with the division. An action upon a claim so rejected must be brought in the circuit court for the county wherein the licensee is located within 30 days after such service of such notice of rejection of claim has been filed. Claims presented after the expiration of the time fixed in the notice to the claimants or forwarders shall be entitled to receive only liquidating dividends declared after presentation, unless otherwise ordered by the court. The court may fix a date after which all claims shall be barred. (f) Whenever any agency, of whose assets and business the division has taken possession, as aforesaid, deems itself aggrieved thereby, it may, at any time within 10 days after such taking possession, apply to the circuit court for the county in which the main office of such agency is located to enjoin further proceedings; and such court, after citing the division to show cause why further proceedings should not be enjoined and hearing the allegations and proofs of the parties and determining the facts, may, upon the merits dismiss such application or enjoin the division from further proceedings, and direct the division to surrender such business and property to such agency. (g) Whenever the division shall have paid to each and every claimant or forwarder of such collection agency whose claims as such claimant or forwarder have been duly proved and allowed the full amount of such claims and shall have made proper provisions for unclaimed and unpaid collections and shall have paid all the expenses of the liquidation, the division shall liquidate the remaining assets exclusive of the proceeds of the bond or bonds for the benefit of the general creditors; or if no claims have been filed by or in behalf of the general creditors, the division shall turn over the remaining assets to the circuit court for further disposition. (h) All accounts and valuable papers given to the agency by the claimant or forwarder in possession of the division, pertaining to accounts placed with the agency for collection shall be returned to the claimant or forwarded by the division within 30 days after verification of the claim has been made. (10) ANNUAL REPORT; RECORDS. (a) A licensee shall make an annual report and submit financial statements as provided in s. 224.35 (8). (b) The division shall require the licensee to keep such books and records in the licensee’s place of business as will enable the division to determine whether the provisions of this section are being complied with. Every such licensee shall preserve the records used in such business for a period of at least 6 years. (11) SUBTERFUGE. The provisions of this chapter shall apply to any licensee or other person who, by any device, subterfuge or pretense whatever, shall make a pretended purchase or a pretended assignment of accounts from any other person for the purpose of evading the provisions of this section. (12) PENALTIES. Any person who shall violate any provision of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, for each and every such offense shall, upon conviction thereof, be punished by a fine of not more than $1,000 or by imprisonment in the county jail for not more than 6 months, or by both such fine and imprisonment. (13) ENFORCEMENT; REPORTING VIOLATIONS. (a) The division shall have the duty, power, jurisdiction and authority to investigate, ascertain and determine whether this section or the lawful orders issued hereunder are being violated and for such purposes the division shall have all the powers conferred by subs. (4) and (5). If warranted, the division shall report violations to the district attorney of the proper county for prosecution. (b) The division may report any enforcement action, any violation of this section or of an administrative rule or order, or other relevant information to the nationwide multistate licensing system and registry. Except as provided in s. 224.35 (4) (b) and (c), these reports to the nationwide multistate licensing system and registry shall be confidential and are not subject to public copying or inspection under s. 19.35 (1).
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