Wisconsin Statutes & Annotations
Chapter 422 - Consumer credit transactions.
422.201 - Finance charge for consumer credit transactions.

422.201 Finance charge for consumer credit transactions.
(1) With respect to a consumer credit transaction other than one pursuant to an open-end credit plan, the parties may agree to the payment by the customer of a finance charge not in excess of that permitted by subs. (2) and (3).
(2)
(a) The finance charge, calculated according to the actuarial method, may not exceed the equivalent of the total of the following for a consumer credit transaction entered into on or after April 6, 1980 and prior to November 1, 1981, other than by a federally chartered or state-chartered savings and loan association:
1. Eighteen percent per year on that part of the unpaid balance of the amount financed which is $1,000 or less; and
2. Fifteen percent per year on that part of the unpaid balance of the amount financed which is more than $1,000.
(b) The finance charge, calculated according to the actuarial method, may not exceed the equivalent of the total of the following for a consumer credit transaction entered into prior to April 6, 1980:
1. Eighteen percent per year on that part of the unpaid balance of the amount financed which is $500 or less; and
2. Twelve percent per year on that part of the unpaid balance of the amount financed which is more than $500.
(bm)
1. The finance charge, calculated according to the actuarial method, may not exceed the greater of the following for a consumer credit transaction entered into on or after November 1, 1981 and before November 1, 1984:
a. Eighteen percent per year.
b. A rate of 6 percent in excess of the interest rate applicable to 6-month U.S. treasury bills as determined under subd. 2.
2. For purposes of subd. 1. b., the interest rate applicable to 6-month U.S. treasury bills for any month is the average annual discount interest rate determined by the last auction of the bills in the preceding month, increased to the next multiple of 0.5 percent if the average annual discount interest rate includes a fractional amount.
3. Information regarding the amount of the maximum finance charge under subd. 1. for any month shall be available at the office of the administrator.
(bn) A consumer credit transaction entered into after October 31, 1984, is not subject to any maximum limit on finance charges.
(3) For licensees under s. 138.09 or 138.14 or under ss. 218.0101 to 218.0163, the finance charge, calculated according to those sections, may not exceed the maximums permitted in ss. 138.09, 138.14, and 218.0101 to 218.0163, respectively.
(5) For the purposes of this section:
(a) The finance charge may be calculated on the assumption that all scheduled payments will be made when due;
(b) The dollar amount of finance charge shall include the prepaid finance charge excluded from the amount financed; and
(c) The effect of prepayment is governed by the provisions on rebate upon prepayment under s. 422.209.
(6) For the purposes of this section, the term of a consumer credit transaction other than one pursuant to an open-end credit plan commences with the date the credit is granted or, if goods are delivered, services performed or proceeds of a loan paid 10 days or more after that date, with the date of commencement of delivery or performance. Differences in lengths of months are disregarded and a day may be counted as one-thirtieth of a month.
(7) Subject to classifications and differentiations the merchant may reasonably establish, the merchant may make the same finance charge on all amounts financed within a specified range. A finance charge so made does not violate sub. (2) or (3) as the case may be if:
(a) When applied to the median amount within each range, it does not exceed the maximum permitted by sub. (2) or (3) as the case may be; and
(b) When applied to the lowest amount within each range, it does not produce a rate of finance charge exceeding the rate calculated according to par. (a) by more than 8 percent of the rate calculated according to par. (a).
(8) That portion of the finance charge consisting of an amount equal to a discount of 5 percent or less of the stated price which is offered to induce payment in full within a stated period of time in connection with a sale of particular goods and services for which credit is not otherwise available from the merchant shall not be included in the finance charge for the purpose of determining the maximum rate of finance charge under sub. (2) or (3) with respect to a customer who does not pay in full within such time.
(9) Notwithstanding sub. (2) or (3), a merchant may contract for and receive a minimum finance charge with respect to a transaction other than one pursuant to an open-end credit plan, of not more than $5 when the amount financed does not exceed $75, or $7.50 when the amount financed exceeds $75.
(10m) A finance charge determined by application of a periodic rate shall be determined by applying the periodic rate to one of the following:
(a) The average daily balance of the account.
(b) The unpaid balance of the account on the last day of the billing cycle after first deducting all payments, credits and refunds during the billing cycle.
(c) The median amount within a specified range within which the unpaid balance as calculated according to par. (a) or (b) is included. A charge may be made under this paragraph only if the creditor, subject to classifications and differentiations the creditor may reasonably establish, makes the same charge on all balances within the specified range and if the percentage when applied to the median amount within the range does not exceed the charge resulting from applying that percentage to the lowest amount within the range by more than 8 percent of the charge on the median amount.
(10s) Regardless of the date that an open-end credit plan is entered into, the parties may agree to the payment by the customer of a finance charge at any periodic rate.
(11) Anything to the contrary in this chapter notwithstanding, with respect to consumer credit sales and consumer loans secured by real property and insured or guaranteed by the federal government, or any agency or instrumentality thereof, this chapter shall not prohibit or limit any charges which are required by statutes, rules or regulations of such government, agency or instrumentality.
(12m) This section does not apply to consumer credit sales of or consumer loans secured by a first lien on or equivalent security interest in mobile homes or manufactured homes, as defined in s. 101.91, if the sales or loans are made on or after November 1, 1981.
(13) A violation of this section is subject to s. 425.305.
History: 1971 c. 239; 1973 c. 2; 1979 c. 10, 168, 176; 1981 c. 45, 100; 1983 a. 389; 1985 a. 29; 1987 a. 27; 1989 a. 56; 1991 a. 316; 1995 a. 328, 329; 1997 a. 35, 302; 1999 a. 9, 31, 53; 2007 a. 11; 2009 a. 177, 405.
The scope of apparent agency may embrace the making of a usurious loan. Hollingsworth v. American Finance Corp., 86 Wis. 2d 172, 271 N.W.2d 872 (1978).
The sale of an interest-bearing note at a discount is not usurious unless it is found to be a cloak or cover for what is in reality a usurious loan. Val Zimmermann Corp. v. Leffingwell, 107 Wis. 2d 86, 318 N.W.2d 781 (1982).
Accord and satisfaction is not a defense to a claim of usury under the consumer act. Clark v. Aetna Finance Corp., 115 Wis. 2d 581, 340 N.W.2d 747 (Ct. App. 1983).

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