A. Unauthorized business practices of escrow agents include but are not limited to the following:
(1) issuing, circulating or publishing any advertisement by any means of communication or making use of or circulating any written materials indicating that a person is in the escrow business when that person is not a licensed escrow company;
(2) soliciting or accepting an escrow instruction or amended or supplemental escrow instruction containing any blank to be filled in after the signing or initialing of the escrow instruction or amended or supplemental escrow instruction, or permitting any person to make any addition to, deletion from or alteration of an escrow instruction or amended or supplemental escrow instruction unless the addition, deletion or alteration is signed or initialed by all persons who signed or initialed the escrow instruction or amended or supplemental escrow instruction prior to the addition, deletion or alteration;
(3) failing to faithfully carry out the escrow services pursuant to the written escrow instructions, unless amended by the written agreement of all parties to the escrow agreement;
(4) accepting any escrow transaction that requires or has required the prepayment, deduction or withholding of any sum to cover payments on the indebtedness or any prior encumbrance if such payments are not due and payable to the mortgagee or obligee at the time the escrow is established, except for payments to be made on property taxes for the current year or for the next annual premium on hazard insurance;
(5) refusing to allow parties to an escrow transaction or designated agents of those parties access to the records of the escrow transaction; and
(6) failing to distribute funds pursuant to escrow instructions promptly, but in no event later than five days from the final payment as defined in Section 55-4-213 NMSA 1978.
B. Any licensee who commits an unauthorized business practice is subject to the revocation or suspension of his license or to other sanctions imposed by the director as provided in the Escrow Company Act.
History: Laws 1983, ch. 135, ยง 26.
Structure New Mexico Statutes
Chapter 58 - Financial Institutions and Regulations
Section 58-22-1 - Short title.
Section 58-22-3 - Definitions.
Section 58-22-4 - Exempt persons and transactions.
Section 58-22-5 - Exemption or exception; burden of proof.
Section 58-22-6 - Director; duties and powers.
Section 58-22-7 - License required.
Section 58-22-8 - Application for license.
Section 58-22-9 - Annual renewal of license.
Section 58-22-10 - Surety bond required.
Section 58-22-12 - Issuance of license.
Section 58-22-13 - Action on bond; limitation.
Section 58-22-14 - New bond required; effect of failure to file new bond.
Section 58-22-15 - Grounds for denying a license.
Section 58-22-16 - Transferability.
Section 58-22-17 - Keeping of records; examination.
Section 58-22-18 - Statement of account.
Section 58-22-19 - Division documents exception to Inspection of Public Records Act.
Section 58-22-20 - Bank deposit required; maintenance of trust accounts.
Section 58-22-21 - Attachment.
Section 58-22-21.1 - Suit to recover trust funds; attorney's fees authorized.
Section 58-22-23 - Additional business office locations.
Section 58-22-25 - Limit on fees for servicing loans or contracts of sale.
Section 58-22-26 - Unauthorized business practices.
Section 58-22-27 - Investigations by director; desist order; injunctions; fees.
Section 58-22-28 - Subpoenas, oaths and examinations of witness; penalty.
Section 58-22-28.1 - Violation of the Escrow Company Act; penalty.
Section 58-22-29 - Review of order of director.
Section 58-22-30 - Exemption from authority of superintendent of regulation and licensing.
Section 58-22-31 - Effect on persons currently engaged in escrow company business.