SB 77

Abstract

Qualified education loan servicers. Prohibits any person from acting as a qualified education loan servicer except in accordance with provisions established by this bill. The bill requires a loan servicer to obtain a license from the State Corporation Commission (SCC) and establishes procedures pertaining to such licenses. Banks, savings institutions, credit unions, nonprofit institutions of higher education, and farm credit systems are exempt from the licensing provisions. The servicing of a qualified education loan encompasses (i) receiving any scheduled periodic payments from a qualified education loan borrower or notification of such payments; (ii) applying the payments of principal and interest and such other payments, with respect to the amounts received from a qualified education loan borrower, as may be required pursuant to the terms of a qualified education loan; (iii) during a period when no payment is required on a qualified education loan, maintaining account records and communicating with the qualified education loan borrower; and (iv) interacting with a student loan borrower, including conducting activities to help prevent default. Qualified education loan servicers are prohibited from, among other things, (a) misrepresenting the amount, nature, or terms of any fee or payment due or claimed to be due on a qualified education loan, the terms and conditions of the loan agreement, or the borrower's obligations under the loan; (b) misapplying loan payments to the outstanding balance of a qualified education loan; and (c) failing to report both the favorable and unfavorable payment history of the borrower to a nationally recognized consumer credit bureau at least annually if the loan servicer regularly reports information to such a credit bureau. Violations are subject to a civil penalty not exceeding $2,500 and are prohibited practices under the Virginia Consumer Protection Act. The bill has a delayed effective date of July 1, 2021, but provides that applications shall be accepted, and investigations commenced, by the SCC beginning March 1, 2021. This bill is identical to HB 10.

Qualified education loan servicers. Prohibits any person from acting as a qualified education loan servicer except in accordance with provisions established by this bill. The bill requires a loan servicer to obtain a license from the State Corporation Commission (SCC) and establishes procedures pertaining to such licenses. Banks, savings institutions, credit unions, nonprofit institutions of higher education, and federally regulated financial institutions are exempt from the licensing provisions. The servicing of a qualified education loan encompasses (i) receiving any scheduled periodic payments from a qualified education loan borrower pursuant to the terms of a qualified education loan; (ii) applying the payments of principal and interest and such other payments, with respect to the amounts received from a qualified education loan borrower, as may be required pursuant to the terms of a qualified education loan; (iii) performing other administrative services with respect to a qualified education loan. Qualified education loan servicers are prohibited from, among other things, (a) misrepresenting the amount, nature, or terms of any fee or payment due or claimed to be due on a qualified education loan, the terms and conditions of the loan agreement, or the borrower's obligations under the loan; (b) knowingly misapplying or recklessly applying loan payments to the outstanding balance of a qualified education loan; and (c) failing to report both the favorable and unfavorable payment history of the borrower to a nationally recognized consumer credit bureau at least annually if the loan servicer regularly reports information to such a credit bureau. Violations are subject to a civil penalty not exceeding $2,500. The bill has a delayed effective date of July 1, 2021, but provides that applications shall be accepted, and investigations commenced, by the SCC beginning March 1, 2021.

Qualified education loan servicers. Prohibits any person from acting as a qualified education loan servicer except in accordance with provisions established by this bill. The bill requires a loan servicer to obtain a license from the State Corporation Commission (SCC) and establishes procedures pertaining to such licenses. Banks, savings institutions, credit unions, nonprofit institutions of higher education, and farm credit systems are exempt from the licensing provisions. The servicing of a qualified education loan encompasses (i) receiving any scheduled periodic payments from a qualified education loan borrower or notification of such payments; (ii) applying the payments of principal and interest and such other payments, with respect to the amounts received from a qualified education loan borrower, as may be required pursuant to the terms of a qualified education loan; (iii) during a period when no payment is required on a qualified education loan, maintaining account records and communicating with the qualified education loan borrower; and (iv) interacting with a student loan borrower, including conducting activities to help prevent default. Qualified education loan servicers are prohibited from, among other things, (a) misrepresenting the amount, nature, or terms of any fee or payment due or claimed to be due on a qualified education loan, the terms and conditions of the loan agreement, or the borrower's obligations under the loan; (b) misapplying loan payments to the outstanding balance of a qualified education loan; and (c) failing to report both the favorable and unfavorable payment history of the borrower to a nationally recognized consumer credit bureau at least annually if the loan servicer regularly reports information to such a credit bureau. Violations are subject to a civil penalty not exceeding $2,500 and are prohibited practices under the Virginia Consumer Protection Act. The bill has a delayed effective date of July 1, 2021, but provides that applications shall be accepted, and investigations commenced, by the SCC beginning March 1, 2021. This bill is identical to HB 10.

Qualified education loan servicers. Prohibits anyperson from acting as a qualified education loan servicer except in accordancewith provisions established by this bill. The bill requires a loan servicer to obtaina license from the State Corporation Commission (SCC) and establishesprocedures pertaining to such licenses. Banks, savings institutions, creditunions, and nonprofit institutions of higher education are exempt from thelicensing provisions. The servicing of a qualified education loan encompasses(i) receiving any scheduled periodic payments from a qualified education loanborrower pursuant to the terms of a qualified education loan; (ii) applying thepayments of principal and interest and such other payments, with respect to theamounts received from a qualified education loan borrower, as may be requiredpursuant to the terms of a qualified education loan; and (iii) performing otheradministrative services with respect to a qualified education loan. Qualifiededucation loan servicers are prohibited from, among other things, (a)misrepresenting the amount, nature, or terms of any fee or payment due orclaimed to be due on a qualified education loan, the terms and conditions ofthe loan agreement, or the borrower's obligations under the loan; (b) knowinglymisapplying or recklessly applying loan payments to the outstanding balance ofa qualified education loan; and (c) failing to report both the favorable andunfavorable payment history of the borrower to a nationally recognized consumercredit bureau at least annually if the loan servicer regularly reportsinformation to such a credit bureau. Violations are subject to a civil penaltynot exceeding $2,500. The bill has a delayed effective date of July 1, 2021,but provides that applications shall be accepted, and investigations commenced,by the SCC beginning March 1, 2021.