§ 12-318

Maryland § 12-318

• Jurisdiction: Maryland
• Article gcl: Commercial Law
• Title: 12

Text

(a) A lender who gives consumers an option to provide the lender a tip shall:

(1) Disclose to the consumer to whom the tip will be allocated; and

(2) Set the default tip at zero.

(b) A lender may not directly or indirectly suggest that providing a tip will influence:

(1) The lender’s willingness to provide a loan to a consumer at any time; or

(2) The terms of any loan offered to the consumer by that lender.

(c) A lender who receives a tip that would otherwise create a rate of interest above that allowed under this subtitle may not be found in violation of this subtitle if the lender returns all of the tip or that portion of the tip necessary to reduce the rate of interest to an amount allowed under this subtitle within 30 calendar days after receiving the tip.

(d) A lender shall prominently disclose that:

(1) Providing a tip does not influence the lender’s willingness to provide a loan to the consumer at any time; and

(2) Any tip paid by the consumer does not inure to the direct benefit of any specific employee of the lender or any other individual.