Enacts the "consumer credit fairness act"; establishes a 3 year statute of limitations for commencement of a cause of action arising out of a consumer credit transaction where the defendant is a purchaser, borrower or debtor; establishes a notice of lawsuit which must be mailed to the defendant in such a cause of action; establishes certain requirements for the complaint in such an action; provides for arbitration of such actions.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
153
2021-2022 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE(Prefiled)
January 6, 2021
___________
Introduced by Sen. THOMAS -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
printed to be committed to the Committee on Judiciary
AN ACT to amend the civil practice law and rules and the judiciary law,
in relation to consumer credit transactions
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Short title. This act shall be known and may be cited as
2 the "consumer credit fairness act".
3 § 2. Section 105 of the civil practice law and rules is amended by
4 adding two new subdivisions (h-1) and (q-1) to read as follows:
5 (h-1) Finance charge. The term "finance charge" means the cost of
6 consumer credit as a dollar amount, includes any charge payable directly
7 or indirectly by the consumer and imposed directly or indirectly by the
8 creditor as an incident to or a condition of the extension of credit,
9 and does not include any charge of a type payable in a comparable cash
10 transaction.
11 (q-1) Original creditor. The term "original creditor" means the entity
12 that owned a consumer credit account at the date of default giving rise
13 to a cause of action.
14 § 3. Subdivision 2 of section 213 of the civil practice law and rules,
15 as amended by chapter 709 of the laws of 1988, is amended to read as
16 follows:
17 2. an action upon a contractual obligation or liability, express or
18 implied, except as provided in section two hundred thirteen-a or two
19 hundred fourteen-i of this article or article 2 of the uniform commer-
20 cial code or article 36-B of the general business law;
21 § 4. The civil practice law and rules is amended by adding a new
22 section 214-i to read as follows:
23 § 214-i. Certain actions arising out of consumer credit transactions
24 to be commenced within three years. An action arising out of a consumer
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD00040-01-1
S. 153 2
1 credit transaction where a purchaser, borrower or debtor is a defendant
2 must be commenced within three years, except as provided in section two
3 hundred thirteen-a of this article or article 2 of the uniform commer-
4 cial code or article 36-B of the general business law. Notwithstanding
5 any other provision of law, when the applicable limitations period
6 expires, any subsequent payment toward, written or oral affirmation of
7 or other activity on the debt does not revive or extend the limitations
8 period.
9 § 5. The civil practice law and rules is amended by adding a new
10 section 306-d to read as follows:
11 § 306-d. Additional mailing of notice in an action arising out of a
12 consumer credit transaction. (a) At the time of filing with the clerk of
13 the proof of service of the summons and complaint in an action arising
14 out of a consumer credit transaction, the plaintiff shall submit to the
15 clerk a stamped, unsealed envelope addressed to the defendant together
16 with a written notice in clear type of no less than twelve-point in
17 size, in both English and Spanish, and containing the following
18 language:
19 ADDITIONAL NOTICE OF LAWSUIT
20 (NAME OF COURT)
21 (COUNTY)
22 (STREET ADDRESS, ROOM NUMBER)
23 (CITY, STATE, ZIP CODE)
24 (NAME OF DEFENDANT)
25 (ADDRESS OF DEFENDANT)
26 Plaintiff:
27 Defendant:
28 Name of original creditor, unless same:
29 Index number:
30 Attention: a lawsuit has been filed against you claiming that you owe
31 money for an unpaid consumer debt.
32 You may wish to contact an attorney.
33 You should respond to the lawsuit as soon as possible by filing an
34 "answer" which may be done at the court clerk's office listed above.
35 If you do not respond to the lawsuit, the court may enter a money
36 judgment against you. Once entered, a judgment is good and can be used
37 against you for twenty years, and your personal property and money,
38 including a portion of your paycheck and/or bank account, may be taken
39 from you. Also, a judgment may affect your credit score and can affect
40 your ability to rent a home, find a job, or take out a loan.
41 You CANNOT be arrested or sent to jail for owing a debt.
42 Additional information can be found at the New York state court system
43 website.
44 Sources of information and assistance:
45 The court encourages you to inform yourself about your options as a
46 defendant in this lawsuit. In addition to seeking assistance from a
47 private attorney or legal aid office, there are free legal assistance
48 computer programs that you can use online to help you represent yourself
49 in this lawsuit.
50 For further information, or to locate a legal aid program near you, you
51 may visit the LawHelpNY website or the New York state court system
S. 153 3
1 website, which has information for representing yourself and links to
2 other resources at: ___________________.
3 (b) The face of the envelope shall be addressed to the defendant at
4 the address at which process was served, and shall contain the defend-
5 ant's name, address (including apartment number) and zip code. The face
6 of the envelope also shall state the appropriate clerk's office as its
7 return address.
8 (c) The clerk promptly shall mail to the defendant the envelope
9 containing the additional notice set forth in subdivision (a) of this
10 section. No default judgment based on the defendant's failure to answer
11 shall be entered unless there has been compliance with this section, and
12 at least twenty days have elapsed from the date of mailing by the clerk.
13 No default judgment based on the defendant's failure to answer shall be
14 entered if the additional notice is returned to the court as undelivera-
15 ble. Receipt of the additional notice by the defendant does not confer
16 jurisdiction on the court in the absence of proper service of process.
17 (d) The chief administrative judge shall issue a Spanish translation
18 of the notice in subdivision (a) of this section and shall maintain and
19 publish the URL address for the web page containing consumer resources
20 for unrepresented litigants.
21 § 6. Subdivision (a) of section 3012 of the civil practice law and
22 rules is amended to read as follows:
23 (a) Service of pleadings. The complaint may be served with the
24 summons, except that in an action arising out of a consumer credit tran-
25 saction, the complaint shall be served with the summons. A subsequent
26 pleading asserting new or additional claims for relief shall be served
27 upon a party who has not appeared in the manner provided for service of
28 a summons. In any other case, a pleading shall be served in the manner
29 provided for service of papers generally. Service of an answer or reply
30 shall be made within twenty days after service of the pleading to which
31 it responds.
32 § 7. Rule 3016 of the civil practice law and rules is amended by
33 adding a new subdivision (j) to read as follows:
34 (j) Consumer credit transactions. In an action arising out of a
35 consumer credit transaction where a purchaser, borrower or debtor is a
36 defendant, the contract or other written instrument on which the action
37 is based shall be attached to the complaint, however, for the purposes
38 of this section, if the account was a revolving credit account, the
39 charge-off statement may be attached to the complaint instead of the
40 contract or other written instrument, and the following information
41 shall be set forth in the complaint:
42 (1) The name of the original creditor;
43 (2) The last four digits of the account number printed on the most
44 recent monthly statement recording a purchase transaction, last payment
45 or balance transfer;
46 (3) The date and amount of the last payment or, if no payment was
47 made, a statement that the purchaser, borrower or debtor made no payment
48 on the account;
49 (4) If the complaint contains a cause of action based on an account
50 stated, the date on or about which the final statement of account was
51 provided to the defendant;
52 (5) (A) Except as provided in subparagraph (B) of this paragraph, an
53 itemization of the amount sought, by (i) principal; (ii) finance charge
54 or charges; (iii) fees imposed by the original creditor; (iv) collection
55 costs; (v) attorney's fees; (vi) interest; and (vii) any other fees and
56 charges.
S. 153 4
1 (B) If the account was a revolving credit account, an itemization of
2 the amount sought, by: (i) the total amount of the debt due as of
3 charge-off; (ii) the total amount of interest accrued since charge-off;
4 (iii) the total amount of non-interest charges or fees accrued since
5 charge-off; and (iv) the total amount of payments and/or credits made on
6 the debt since charge-off;
7 (6) The account balance printed on the most recent monthly statement
8 recording a purchase transaction, last payment or balance transfer;
9 (7) (A) Whether the plaintiff is the original creditor.
10 (B) If the plaintiff is not the original creditor, the complaint shall
11 also state (i) the date on which the debt was sold or assigned to the
12 plaintiff; (ii) the name of each previous owner of the account from the
13 original creditor to the plaintiff and the date on which the debt was
14 assigned to that owner by the original creditor or subsequent owner; and
15 (iii) the amount due at the time of the sale or assignment of the debt
16 by the original creditor; and
17 (8) Any matters required to be stated with particularity pursuant to
18 rule 3015 of this article.
19 § 8. Subdivision (e) of rule 3211 of the civil practice law and rules,
20 as amended by chapter 616 of the laws of 2005, is amended to read as
21 follows:
22 (e) Number, time and waiver of objections; motion to plead over. At
23 any time before service of the responsive pleading is required, a party
24 may move on one or more of the grounds set forth in subdivision (a) of
25 this rule, and no more than one such motion shall be permitted. Any
26 objection or defense based upon a ground set forth in paragraphs one,
27 three, four, five and six of subdivision (a) of this rule is waived
28 unless raised either by such motion or in the responsive pleading. A
29 motion based upon a ground specified in paragraph two, seven or ten of
30 subdivision (a) of this rule may be made at any subsequent time or in a
31 later pleading, if one is permitted; an objection that the summons and
32 complaint, summons with notice, or notice of petition and petition was
33 not properly served is waived if, having raised such an objection in a
34 pleading, the objecting party does not move for judgment on that ground
35 within sixty days after serving the pleading, unless the court extends
36 the time upon the ground of undue hardship. The foregoing sentence shall
37 not apply in any proceeding to collect a debt arising out of a consumer
38 credit transaction where a consumer is a defendant or under subdivision
39 one or two of section seven hundred eleven of the real property actions
40 and proceedings law. The papers in opposition to a motion based on
41 improper service shall contain a copy of the proof of service, whether
42 or not previously filed. An objection based upon a ground specified in
43 paragraph eight or nine of subdivision (a) of this rule is waived if a
44 party moves on any of the grounds set forth in subdivision (a) of this
45 rule without raising such objection or if, having made no objection
46 under subdivision (a) of this rule, he or she does not raise such
47 objection in the responsive pleading which, in any action to collect a
48 debt arising out of a consumer credit transaction where a consumer is a
49 defendant, includes any amended responsive pleading.
50 § 9. Rule 3212 of the civil practice law and rules is amended by
51 adding a new subdivision (j) to read as follows:
52 (j) Additional notice in any action to collect a debt arising out of
53 a consumer credit transaction where a consumer is a defendant.
54 1. At the time of service of a notice of motion any part of which
55 requests summary judgment in whole or in part, where the moving party
56 is a plaintiff and the respondent is a consumer defendant in an action
S. 153 5
1 to collect a debt arising out of a consumer credit transaction, and
2 where the consumer defendant against whom summary judgment is sought is
3 not represented by an attorney, the plaintiff shall submit to the clerk
4 a stamped, unsealed envelope addressed to the defendant together with
5 the following additional notice in English and Spanish to be printed in
6 clear type no less than twelve-point in size:
7 IMPORTANT NOTICE
8 The Plaintiff has asked the Court to enter judgment against you by
9 making a Motion for Summary Judgment. Keep this Notice and the envelope
10 it came in. The Motion for Summary Judgment was separately served on
11 you. To avoid entry of judgment:
12 (1) You must appear in court as directed below:
13 WHERE: Name of Court, Street Address, Room Number
14 WHEN: Date and time
15 (2) You should oppose the motion IN WRITING.
16 HOW TO OPPOSE THE MOTION:
17 (1) State the legal reasons why the court should not enter judgment
18 against you, including your defenses.
19 (2) State the facts that support your defenses.
20 (3) Attach affidavits and/or exhibits to support the facts you assert.
21 (a) Affidavits are sworn statements of witnesses (including you) who
22 state facts they know to be true. The affidavit should state the facts
23 and how the witness knows them. Also, the affidavit should explain any
24 exhibits. An affidavit of service is an affidavit that states how and
25 when papers were served. An affidavit must be signed in front of a
26 notary. Free forms are available on the New York State Court system
27 website at: ____________________.
28 (b) Exhibits are copies of documents. Exhibits are usually attached to
29 affidavits.
30 (4) Have someone (not you or another defendant in the lawsuit) mail a
31 copy of your opposition to the plaintiff's attorney before your court
32 date and have them prepare an affidavit of service by mail.
33 (5) Bring a copy of your opposition and the affidavit of service to
34 your court date.
35 (6) Attend your court date.
36 IF YOU NEED MORE TIME:
37 If you need more time to prepare your written response, you should
38 appear at your court date and ask the judge for more time. You can also
39 ask the judge to refer you for legal help.
40 IF YOU NEED LEGAL HELP:
41 You may seek legal help from a private attorney or a legal aid office.
42 Some courts have free legal assistance programs for people without
43 lawyers. You can find resources on the New York State court system
44 website at: ____________________.
45 2. The clerk promptly shall mail to the defendant the envelope
46 containing the additional notice set forth in paragraph one of this
47 subdivision and note the date of mailing in the case record. Summary
48 judgment shall not be entered based on defendant's failure to oppose the
49 motion unless there has been compliance with this section and at least
50 fourteen days have elapsed from the date of mailing by the clerk or
51 nineteen days if the plaintiff's notice of motion demands additional
52 time under subdivision (b) of rule 2214 of this chapter.
53 3. The chief administrative judge shall issue a Spanish translation of
54 the notice in paragraph one of this subdivision and shall maintain and
55 publish the URL address for the web page containing consumer credit
56 resources for unrepresented litigants.
S. 153 6
1 § 10. Section 3213 of the civil practice law and rules, as amended by
2 chapter 210 of the laws of 1969, is amended to read as follows:
3 § 3213. Motion for summary judgment in lieu of complaint. When an
4 action is based upon an instrument for the payment of money only or upon
5 any judgment, the plaintiff may serve with the summons a notice of
6 motion for summary judgment and the supporting papers in lieu of a
7 complaint. The summons served with such motion papers shall require the
8 defendant to submit answering papers on the motion within the time
9 provided in the notice of motion. The minimum time such motion shall be
10 noticed to be heard shall be as provided by subdivision (a) of rule 320
11 for making an appearance, depending upon the method of service. If the
12 plaintiff sets the hearing date of the motion later than the minimum
13 time therefor, he may require the defendant to serve a copy of his
14 answering papers upon him within such extended period of time, not
15 exceeding ten days, prior to such hearing date. No default judgment may
16 be entered pursuant to subdivision (a) of section 3215 prior to the
17 hearing date of the motion. If the motion is denied, the moving and
18 answering papers shall be deemed the complaint and answer, respectively,
19 unless the court orders otherwise. The additional notice required by
20 subdivision (j) of rule 3212 shall be applicable to a motion made pursu-
21 ant to this section in any action to collect a debt arising out of a
22 consumer credit transaction where a consumer is a defendant.
23 § 11. Subdivision (f) of section 3215 of the civil practice law and
24 rules, as amended by chapter 453 of the laws of 2006, is amended and a
25 new subdivision (j) is added to read as follows:
26 (f) Proof. On any application for judgment by default, the applicant
27 shall file proof of service of the summons and the complaint, or a
28 summons and notice served pursuant to subdivision (b) of rule 305 or
29 subdivision (a) of rule 316 of this chapter, and proof of the facts
30 constituting the claim, the default and the amount due by affidavit made
31 by the party, or where the state of New York is the plaintiff, by affi-
32 davit made by an attorney from the office of the attorney general who
33 has or obtains knowledge of such facts through review of state records
34 or otherwise. Where a verified complaint has been served, it may be used
35 as the affidavit of the facts constituting the claim and the amount due;
36 in such case, an affidavit as to the default shall be made by the party
37 or the party's attorney. In an action arising out of a consumer credit
38 transaction, if the plaintiff is not the original creditor, the appli-
39 cant shall include: (1) an affidavit by the original creditor of the
40 facts constituting the debt, the default in payment, the sale or assign-
41 ment of the debt, and the amount due at the time of sale or assignment;
42 (2) for each subsequent assignment or sale of the debt to another enti-
43 ty, an affidavit of sale of the debt by the debt seller, completed by
44 the seller or assignor; and (3) an affidavit of a witness of the plain-
45 tiff, which includes a chain of title of the debt, completed by the
46 plaintiff or plaintiff's witness. The chief administrative judge shall
47 issue form affidavits to satisfy the requirements of this subdivision
48 for consumer credit transactions. When jurisdiction is based on an
49 attachment of property, the affidavit must state that an order of
50 attachment granted in the action has been levied on the property of the
51 defendant, describe the property and state its value. Proof of mailing
52 the notice required by subdivision (g) of this section, where applica-
53 ble, shall also be filed.
54 (j) Affidavit. A request for a default judgment entered by the clerk,
55 must be accompanied by an affidavit by the plaintiff or plaintiff's
56 attorney stating that after reasonable inquiry, he or she has reason to
S. 153 7
1 believe that the statute of limitations has not expired. The chief
2 administrative judge shall issue form affidavits to satisfy the require-
3 ments of this subdivision for consumer credit transactions.
4 § 12. The civil practice law and rules is amended by adding a new
5 section 7516 to read as follows:
6 § 7516. Confirmation of an award based on a consumer credit trans-
7 action. In any proceeding under section 7510 of this article to confirm
8 an award based on a consumer credit transaction, the party seeking to
9 confirm the award shall plead the actual terms and conditions of the
10 agreement to arbitrate. The party shall attach to its petition (a) the
11 agreement to arbitrate; (b) the demand for arbitration or notice of
12 intention to arbitrate, with proof of service; and (c) the arbitration
13 award, with proof of service. If the award does not contain a statement
14 of the claims submitted for arbitration, of the claims ruled upon by the
15 arbitrator, and of the calculation of figures used by the arbitrator in
16 arriving at the award, then the petition shall contain such a statement.
17 The court shall not grant confirmation of an award based on a consumer
18 credit transaction unless the party seeking to confirm the award has
19 complied with this section.
20 § 13. Subdivision 2 of section 212 of the judiciary law is amended by
21 adding a new paragraph (aa) to read as follows:
22 (aa) Not later than January first, two thousand twenty-two, make
23 available Spanish translations of the additional notices in consumer
24 credit transaction actions and proceedings required by section 306-d and
25 subdivision (j) of rule 3212 of the civil practice law and rules, and
26 make available form affidavits required for a motion for default judg-
27 ment in a consumer credit transaction action or proceeding required by
28 subdivision (f) of section 3215 of the civil practice law and rules.
29 § 14. Subdivision (c) of section 5019 of the civil practice law and
30 rules is amended to read as follows:
31 (c) Change in judgment creditor. A person other than the party recov-
32 ering a judgment who becomes entitled to enforce it, shall file in the
33 office of the clerk of the court in which the judgment was entered or,
34 in the case of a judgment of a court other than the supreme, county or a
35 family court which has been docketed by the clerk of the county in which
36 it was entered, in the office of such county clerk, a copy of the
37 instrument on which his authority is based, acknowledged in the form
38 required to entitle a deed to be recorded, or, if his authority is based
39 on a court order, a certified copy of the order. Upon such filing the
40 clerk shall make an appropriate entry on his docket of the judgment.
41 This subdivision shall not apply when there is a change to the owner of
42 a debt through a sale, assignment, or other transfer where no judgment
43 exists.
44 § 15. This act shall take effect immediately; provided, however, that
45 sections two, three, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven and
46 twelve shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after it shall
47 have become a law and shall apply to actions and proceedings commenced
48 on or after such date; and provided, further, that section four of this
49 act shall take effect on the one hundred fiftieth day after this act
50 shall have become a law.
