(1) The administrator may bring a civil action to restrain a person to whom this title applies from engaging in a course of:
(a) making or enforcing unconscionable terms or provisions of consumer credit transactions;
(b) fraudulent or unconscionable conduct in inducing consumers to enter into consumer credit transactions;
(c) conduct of any of the types specified in item (a) or (b) with respect to transactions that give rise to or that lead persons to believe will give rise to consumer credit transactions; or
(d) fraudulent or unconscionable conduct in the collection of debts arising from consumer credit transactions.
(2) In an action brought pursuant to this section the court may grant relief only if it finds:
(a) that the respondent has made unconscionable agreements or has engaged or is likely to engage in a course of fraudulent or unconscionable conduct;
(b) that the respondent's agreements have caused or are likely to cause or the conduct of the respondent has caused or is likely to cause injury to consumers or debtors; and
(c) that the respondent has been able to cause or will be able to cause the injury primarily because the transactions involved are credit transactions.
(3) In applying subsection (1)(a), (b), and (c), consideration shall be given to each of the factors specified in the provisions on unconscionability with respect to a transaction that is, gives rise to, or that a person leads the debtor to believe will give rise to, a consumer credit transaction (subsection (2) of Section 37-5-108), among others.
(4) In an action brought pursuant to this section, a charge or practice expressly permitted by law is not in itself unconscionable.
HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 8-800.381; 1974 (58) 2879; 1976 Act No. 686 Section 47; 2001 Act No. 82, Section 3, eff July 20, 2001.
Structure South Carolina Code of Laws
Title 37 - Consumer Protection Code
Section 37-6-101. Short title.
Section 37-6-102. Applicability.
Section 37-6-103. "Administrator" defined.
Section 37-6-105. Administrative powers with respect to supervised financial organizations.
Section 37-6-106. Investigatory powers.
Section 37-6-107. Administrative actions.
Section 37-6-108. Administrative enforcement orders.
Section 37-6-109. Assurance of discontinuance.
Section 37-6-110. Injunctions against violations of title.
Section 37-6-112. Temporary relief.
Section 37-6-113. Civil actions by administrator.
Section 37-6-115. Remedies not affected.
Section 37-6-117. Administrative responsibilities respecting consumer protection generally.
Section 37-6-118. Investigation of unfair trade practices in consumer transactions.
Section 37-6-119. Trade practices targeting vulnerable adults prohibited; penalties.
Section 37-6-201. Applicability.
Section 37-6-202. Notification.
Section 37-6-204. Notification; persons making consumer rental-purchase agreements.
Section 37-6-301. Council of Advisors on Consumer Credit.
Section 37-6-302. Function of council; conflict of interest.
Section 37-6-401. Applicability and scope; conflict with Administrative Procedures Act.
Section 37-6-402. "Contested case"; "license"; "licensing"; "party"; "rule" defined.
Section 37-6-403. Public information; adoption of rules; availability of rules and orders.
Section 37-6-404. Procedure for adoption of rules.
Section 37-6-405. Filing and taking effect of rules.
Section 37-6-406. Publication of rules.
Section 37-6-407. Petition for adoption of rules.
Section 37-6-408. Declaratory judgment on validity or applicability of rules.
Section 37-6-409. Declaratory rulings by administrator.
Section 37-6-410. Contested cases; notice; hearing; records.
Section 37-6-411. Rules of evidence; official notice.
Section 37-6-412. Decisions and orders.
Section 37-6-414. Contested case hearings before the Administrative Law Court.
Section 37-6-501. Department of Consumer Affairs; Commission on Consumer Affairs; administrator.
Section 37-6-502. Members of Commission on Consumer Affairs; terms; vacancies.
Section 37-6-503. Quorum; meetings.
Section 37-6-504. Bonds of Commission members.
Section 37-6-505. Compensation and expenses of Commission members.
Section 37-6-506. Powers and duties of Commission.
Section 37-6-507. Qualifications of administrator.
Section 37-6-508. Deputy administrator.
Section 37-6-509. Oath and bond of administrator.
Section 37-6-512. Advisory committee of persons with cognizable handicaps.
Section 37-6-601. Division of Consumer Advocacy created.
Section 37-6-602. Consumer Advocate; qualifications.
Section 37-6-603. Staff and expenses.
Section 37-6-604. Functions and duties of division.
Section 37-6-605. Access to records of state agencies and insurance companies.
Section 37-6-606. Petitions filed by advocate with regulatory agencies in interest of consumers.
Section 37-6-607. Advocate may maintain actions for judicial review.
Section 37-6-608. Temporary staff; compensation.
Section 37-6-609. Discretion as to Consumer Advocate's decisions.