Printable Format16a-2-501. (UCCC) Additional charges. (1) In addition to the finance charge permitted by the parts of this article on maximum finance charges for consumer credit sales and consumer loans (parts 2 and 4), a creditor may contract for and receive the following additional charges in connection with a consumer credit transaction:
(a) Official fees and taxes;
(b) charges for insurance as described in subsection (2);
(c) delinquency charges permitted under K.S.A. 16a-2-502, and amendments thereto, and service charges for insufficient checks permitted under paragraph (e);
(d) charges for other benefits, including insurance, conferred on the consumer, if the benefits are of value to the consumer and if the charges are reasonable in relation to the benefits, are of a type which is not for credit, and are excluded as permissible additional charges from the finance charge by rules and regulations adopted by the administrator;
(e) a service charge for an insufficient check as defined and authorized by this subsection:
(i) For the purposes of this subsection, "insufficient check" means any check, order or draft drawn on any bank, credit union, savings and loan association, or other financial institution for the payment of money and delivered in payment, in whole or in part, of preexisting indebtedness of the drawer or maker, which is refused payment by the drawee because the drawer or maker does not have sufficient funds in or credits with the drawee to pay the amount of the check, order or draft upon presentation, provided that any check, order or draft which is postdated or delivered to a payee who has knowledge at the time of delivery that the drawer or maker did not have sufficient funds in or credits with the drawee to pay the amount of the check, draft or order upon presentation shall not be deemed an insufficient check.
(ii) "Written notice" shall be presumed to have been given a drawer or maker of an insufficient check when notice is sent by first class mail addressed to the person to be given notice of such person's address as it appears on the insufficient check or to such person's last known address or notice provided on a regular monthly statement provides clear notice of the insufficient check charge being assessed.
(iii) When an insufficient check has been given to a payee, the payee may charge and collect a $10 insufficient check service charge from the drawer or maker, subject to limitations contained in this subsection or, if a larger amount is provided within the contract, the larger amount, if the payee has given the drawer or maker oral or written notice of demand that the amount of the insufficient check plus the insufficient check service charge be paid to the payee within 14 days from the giving of notice. In no event shall the amount of such insufficient check service charge exceed $30.
(iv) If the drawer or maker of an insufficient check does not pay the amount of the insufficient check plus the insufficient check service charge provided for in subsection (iii) to the payee within 14 days from the giving of notice as provided in subsection (iii), the payee may add the insufficient check service charge to the outstanding balance of the preexisting indebtedness of the drawer or maker to draw interest at the contract rate applicable to the preexisting indebtedness.
(v) Notwithstanding the provisions of subparagraph (iii), if an insufficient check has been given to a creditor under a lender credit card, the creditor may charge a service charge for the insufficient check in an amount not to exceed the amount agreed to by the drawer or maker.
(2) An additional charge may be made for insurance written in connection with the transaction, including vendor's single interest insurance with respect to which the insurer has no right of subrogation against the consumer but excluding other insurance protecting the creditor against the consumer's default or other credit loss:
(a) With respect to insurance against loss of or damage to property, or against liability, if the creditor furnishes a clear and specific statement in writing to the consumer setting forth the cost of the insurance if obtained from or through the creditor and stating that the consumer may choose the person through whom the insurance is to be obtained; and
(b) with respect to consumer credit insurance providing life, accident and health, or loss of employment coverage, if the insurance coverage is not a factor in the approval by the creditor of the extension of credit, and this fact is clearly disclosed in writing to the consumer, and if, in order to obtain the insurance in connection with the extension of credit, the consumer gives specific affirmative written indication of the consumer's desire to do so after written disclosure to the consumer of the cost thereof.
(3) With respect to a consumer loan or a consumer credit sale in either case pursuant to open end credit, a creditor may charge the following fees in an amount not to exceed that agreed to by the consumer:
(a) Fees on a monthly or annual basis;
(b) over-limit fees; and
(c) cash advance fees. The fees permitted under this subsection are in addition to any finance charges, additional charges or other charges permitted by the uniform consumer credit code.
(4) A charge not exceeding $5 per payment, if the borrower makes a single installment payment by authorizing a creditor, verbally or in writing, to write a check or process a payment through use of the automated clearing house procedures on the borrower's checking account, subject to the following limitations:
(A) No charge shall be assessed if the creditor also collects a delinquency fee on the same installment; and
(B) no charge shall be assessed where the consumer has agreed in writing with the creditor to make all scheduled payments through the use of the automated clearing house procedures.
History: L. 1973, ch. 85, § 29; L. 1987, ch. 80, § 1; L. 1988, ch. 88, § 1; L. 1988, ch. 89, § 1; L. 1988, ch. 87, § 3; L. 1990, ch. 209, § 2; L. 1991, ch. 72, § 1; L. 1996, ch. 174, § 1; L. 1999, ch. 107, § 18; L. 2004, ch. 32, § 1; July 1.
KANSAS COMMENT, 2010
1. There are two categories of charges a creditor is permitted to make at the beginning of a credit transaction: (1) finance charges (K.S.A. 16a-1-301(22)), within the limits established by parts 2 and 4 of this article, and (2) additional charges as enumerated in this section. The additional charges specified in this section may be imposed in a consumer credit transaction without having to be included in the finance charge for rate ceiling or disclosure purposes. In general, the charges designated as additional charges fall roughly into two categories: (1) those closely related to the extension of credit but providing valuable subsidiary benefits to the consumer (e.g., the annual fee for a credit card or line of credit, or the premium for credit life, health, or property insurance), and (2) those ultimately payable to third parties with no portion of the charge returnable to the creditor by commission or otherwise (e.g., taxes, or filing fees for perfecting security interests). Paragraph (d) of subsection (1) provides the administrator with the flexibility needed to deal with new kinds of charges as new credit transactions evolve.
"Closing costs" as additional charges are permitted. K.A.R. 75-6-9. See also the Kansas comment to K.S.A. 16a-1-301(10).
The administrator has issued an administrative interpretation under subsection (1)(d) concerning so-called guaranteed auto protection or "GAP" products. See Administrative Interpretation No. 1004. GAP products are designed to provide assurance that there will be no deficiency balance against a consumer in the event that the consumer's financed vehicle experiences a total loss and the consumer's physical damage insurance is not sufficient to pay the debt in full. The administrative interpretation sets forth detailed limitations on the circumstances under which GAP products may be sold, detailed requirements concerning the substantive provisions of the GAP contract and detailed actuarial reporting requirements. GAP contracts and other debt cancellation products are also subject to Regulation Z. The treatment of these products is modeled on the familiar rules for excluding the cost of insurance from the finance charge. Thus, in order to be excluded from the finance charge, the product must not be required by the creditor (and that fact must be disclosed in writing), the fee for the initial term of the coverage must be disclosed, and the consumer must sign or initial a written request for the coverage after receiving these disclosures. See Regulation Z, 12 C.F.R. § 226.4(d)(3).
2. Subsection (1)(e) is not part of the uniform act. It permits a charge to be imposed on dishonored checks offered in payment of pre-existing indebtedness. This rule would apply primarily to checks offered in payment of installment or credit card obligations, and not to bad checks given to merchants for payment in full of goods or services. This charge is conceptually different from the other charges permitted by this section in that it is not a "front-end" charge, or a charge imposed at the beginning of a credit transaction, but instead is more in the nature of a delinquency charge or penalty. Like the other charges permitted in this and the immediately following section, the insufficient check fee may be imposed only if it is provided for in the consumer credit contract. If a charge greater than $10 but not to exceed $30 is imposed, the specific amount must be included in the contract.
K.S.A. 60-2610 creates treble damage civil liability for worthless checks under the circumstances and procedures spelled out in that section. However, because of the comprehensive nature of the U3C with respect to consumer credit transactions, and because of the rule of this section mandating that any charges other than finance charges be specifically authorized by this section (or elsewhere in the U3C), the liability created by K.S.A. 60-2610 would not apply to consumer credit transactions. The rule of K.S.A. 16a-1-104, providing against implicit repeal of any part of the U3C, supports this conclusion. See also Kan. A.G. Op. No. 90-93 construing the various bad check statutes in Kansas.
3. The TILA requires that charges or premiums for insurance be included in the "finance charge" for the purpose of disclosing the annual percentage rate unless certain strict requirements as to disclosure and voluntariness are met. See Regulation Z 12 C.F.R. § 226.4(d). The tests specified in subsection (2) of this section are not quite identical, but it seems clear that any creditor who meets the tests of Regulation Z will also satisfy the tests of subsection (2). See also Kan. A.G. Op. No. 89-54 comparing the provisions of the U3C and Regulation Z as they relate to single interest insurance programs. The effect of subsection (2) is to require that charges or premiums for insurance be included in the finance charge for ceiling purposes as well unless the stated conditions are satisfied. In that regard the Federal Reserve has interpreted Regulation Z as not requiring the creditor to obtain a specific written indication of the consumer's desire to purchase insurance in connection with post-loan sales of credit insurance. See Official Staff Commentary to Regulation Z, 12 C.F.R. § 226.4(b)(7) and (8). The administrator has construed subsection (2)(b) in a similar fashion. See Administrative Interpretation No. 1005.
Law Review and Bar Journal References:
"The New Kansas Consumer Legislation," Barkley Clark, 42 J.B.A.K. 147, 194 (1973).
Attorney General's Opinions:
Finance charges; additional charges not included therein. 81-209.
Property insurance; damage to property unrelated to credit transaction. 86-42.
Consumer credit insurance; property and liability insurance. 87-3.
Consumer credit transaction; blanket single interest insurance programs. 89-54.
Worthless checks; statutory service charge; preexisting indebtedness; notice; refusal of payment. 90-93.