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TITLE 7BANKING AND SECURITIES
PART 5OFFICE OF CONSUMER CREDIT COMMISSIONER
CHAPTER 90CHAPTER 342, PLAIN LANGUAGE CONTRACT PROVISIONS
SUBCHAPTER FSECOND LIEN HOME IMPROVEMENT CONTRACTS (SUBCHAPTER G)
RULE §90.603Model Clauses

    (A) For contracts using the scheduled installment earnings method: "I promise to pay the Total of Payments to the order of you. (The "principal" or "cash advance" is $________. This amount plus interest must be paid by _________ (maturity date).) I will make payments to you at the address above or as you direct. I will make the payments on the dates and in the amounts shown in the Payment Schedule."

    (B) For contracts using the true daily earnings method: "I promise to pay the cash advance plus the accrued interest to the order of you. (The "principal" or "cash advance" is $________. This amount plus interest must be paid by _________ (maturity date).) I will make payments to you at the address above or as you direct. I will make the payments on the dates and in the amounts shown in the Payment Schedule."

    (C) The model payment schedule reads:

Attached Graphic

  (5) Late charge.

    (A) Generally. The general model late charge provision for contracts using the scheduled installment earnings method or the true daily earnings method reads: "If I don't pay all of a payment within 10 days after it is due, you can charge me a late charge. The late charge will be 5% of the scheduled payment."

    (B) High-cost mortgage loans. The model late charge provision for high-cost mortgage loans subject to the limitation on late charges in Regulation Z, 12 C.F.R. §1026.34(a)(8), reads: "If I don't pay all of a payment within 15 days after it is due, you can charge me a late charge. The late charge will be 4% of the amount of the payment past due."

  (6) After maturity interest. The model clause specifies the maximum interest rate allowed by law for after maturity interest for contracts using the scheduled installment earnings method. A licensee may always choose a lower rate. The model provision for after maturity interest reads: "If I don't pay all I owe when the final payment becomes due, I will pay interest on the amount that is still unpaid. That interest will be the higher of the rate of 18% per year or the maximum rate allowed by law. That interest will begin the day after the final payment becomes due."

  (7) Prepayment clause. The model prepayment clause options read:

    (A) For contracts using the scheduled installment earnings method: "I can make a whole payment early. Unless you agree otherwise in writing, I may not skip payments. If I make a payment early, my next payment will still be due as scheduled."

    (B) For contracts using the true daily earnings method: "I can make any payment early. Unless you agree otherwise in writing, I may not skip payments. If I make a payment early, my next payment will still be due as scheduled."

  (8) Finance charge earnings and refund method. The model provision options specifying the finance charge earnings and refund method read:

    (A) For contracts using the scheduled installment earnings method - Section 342.301 rate loans, the model language reads:

Attached Graphic

    (B) For contracts using the scheduled installment earnings method with prepayments option - Section 342.301 rate loans, the model language reads:

Attached Graphic

    (C) For contracts using the true daily earnings method - Section 342.301 rate loans, the model language reads:

Attached Graphic

  (9) Deferment. The model provision regarding deferment reads: "If I ask for more time to make any payment and you agree, I will pay more interest to extend the payment. The extra interest will be figured under the Finance Commission rules."

  (10) Fee for dishonored check clause. The model clause specifies the maximum allowable dishonored check fee. A licensee may always choose a lesser amount. The model fee for dishonored check provision reads: "I agree to pay you a fee of up to $30 for a returned check. You may add the fee to the amount I owe or collect it separately."

  (11) Default. The model provision specifying the conditions causing default reads:

Attached Graphic

  (12) Property insurance. The model provision regarding property insurance reads:

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  (13) Credit insurance. If single premium credit insurance is offered, a permissible change to the disclosure can be to offer a single charge for the entire term of the loan. The term for the single premium charge should be shown for the original term of the loan, unless otherwise specified. The licensee has the option of including language that reads: "The insurance will cancel on the date when the total past due premiums equal or exceed (insert number) times the first month's premium." The industry standard regarding the relationship between total past due premiums and the first month's premium in this equation appears to be four times. However, if a different time frame is more appropriate, that time frame may be used. The model credit insurance disclosure box reads:

Attached Graphic

  (14) Mailing of notices to borrower. The duty to give notice is satisfied when it is mailed by first class mail. The model provision regarding the mailing of notices to the borrower reads: "You or I may mail or deliver any notice to the address above. You or I may change the notice address by giving written notice. Your duty to give me notice will be satisfied when you mail it."

  (15) Statement of truthful information. The model provision specifying that the borrower gave truthful information reads: "I promise that all information I gave you is true."

  (16) Due on sale clause, notice of intent to accelerate, and notice of acceleration. The model provision regarding the due on sale clause, notice of intent to accelerate, and notice of acceleration reads: "If all or any interest in the Property is sold or transferred without your prior written consent, you may require immediate payment in full of all that I owe under this Loan Agreement. You will not exercise this option if prohibited by law. If you exercise this option, you will give me notice that you are demanding payment of all that I owe. This notice will give me a period of not less than 21 days from the date of the notice within which I must pay all that I owe under this Loan Agreement. If I fail to pay all that I owe before the end of this period, you may use any remedy allowed by the Loan Agreement."

  (17) No waiver of the lender's rights. The model provision expressing no waiver of the lender's rights reads: "If you don't enforce your rights every time, you can still enforce them later."

  (18) Collection expenses. The model collection expenses clause reads: "If you require me to pay all that I owe at once, you will have the right to be paid back by me for all of your costs and expenses in enforcing this Loan Agreement to the extent not prohibited by Applicable Law. These expenses include, for example, reasonable attorneys' fees."

  (19) Joint liability. The model provision providing for joint liability reads: "I understand that you may seek payment from only me without first looking to any other Borrower."

  (20) Usury savings. The model usury savings clause reads: "I do not have to pay interest or other amounts that are more than Applicable Law allows."

  (21) Savings clause. The model savings clause stating that if any part of the contract is invalid, the rest remains valid reads: "If any part of this Loan Agreement is declared invalid, the rest of the Loan Agreement remains valid. If any part of this Loan Agreement conflicts with any law, that law will control. The part of the Loan Agreement that conflicts with any law will be modified to comply with the law. The rest of the Loan Agreement remains valid."

  (22) Prior agreements. For loan agreements exceeding $50,000, this notice must be boldfaced, capitalized, underlined, or otherwise set out from the surrounding written material to be conspicuous. The model clause stating that there are no prior agreements between the parties regarding the loan agreement reads: "This written Loan Agreement is the final agreement between you and me. It may not be changed by prior, current, or future oral agreements between you and me. There are no oral agreements between you and me relating to this Loan Agreement. Any change to this Loan Agreement must be in writing. Both you and I have to sign written agreements."

  (23) Note secured by deed of trust. The model clause stating that the note is secured by a deed of trust reads: "In addition to this Note, the Deed of Trust protects the Note holder from losses that might result if I do not keep the promises that I make in this Note. The Deed of Trust describes how and under what conditions I may have to make immediate payment of all that I owe under this Note."

  (24) Application of law. The model clause specifying that federal law and Texas law apply to the contract reads: "Federal law and Texas law apply to this Loan Agreement."

Cont'd...

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