BUSINESS TRANSACTIONS
(815 ILCS 505/) Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act.
(815 ILCS 505/1) (from Ch. 121 1/2, par. 261)
Sec. 1. (a) The term "advertisement" includes the attempt by publication, dissemination, solicitation or circulation to induce directly or indirectly any person to enter into any obligation or acquire any title or interest in any merchandise and includes every work device to disguise any form of business solicitation by using such terms as "renewal", "invoice", "bill", "statement", or "reminder", to create an impression of existing obligation when there is none, or other language to mislead any person in relation to any sought after commercial transaction.
(b) The term "merchandise" includes any objects, wares, goods, commodities, intangibles, real estate situated outside the State of Illinois, or services.
(c) The term "person" includes any natural person or his legal representative, partnership, corporation (domestic and foreign), company, trust, business entity or association, and any agent, employee, salesman, partner, officer, director, member, stockholder, associate, trustee or cestui que trust thereof.
(d) The term "sale" includes any sale, offer for sale, or attempt to sell any merchandise for cash or on credit.
(e) The term "consumer" means any person who purchases or contracts for the purchase of merchandise not for resale in the ordinary course of his trade or business but for his use or that of a member of his household.
(f) The terms "trade" and "commerce" mean the advertising, offering for sale, sale, or distribution of any services and any property, tangible or intangible, real, personal or mixed, and any other article, commodity, or thing of value wherever situated, and shall include any trade or commerce directly or indirectly affecting the people of this State.
(g) The term "pyramid sales scheme" includes any plan or operation whereby a person in exchange for money or other thing of value acquires the opportunity to receive a benefit or thing of value, which is primarily based upon the inducement of additional persons, by himself or others, regardless of number, to participate in the same plan or operation and is not primarily contingent on the volume or quantity of goods, services, or other property sold or distributed or to be sold or distributed to persons for purposes of resale to consumers. For purposes of this subsection, "money or other thing of value" shall not include payments made for sales demonstration equipment and materials furnished on a nonprofit basis for use in making sales and not for resale.
(Source: P.A. 95-331, eff. 8-21-07.)
(815 ILCS 505/2) (from Ch. 121 1/2, par. 262)
Sec. 2. Unfair methods of competition and unfair or deceptive acts or practices, including but not limited to the use or employment of any deception fraud, false pretense, false promise, misrepresentation or the concealment, suppression or omission of any material fact, with intent that others rely upon the concealment, suppression or omission of such material fact, or the use or employment of any practice described in Section 2 of the "Uniform Deceptive Trade Practices Act", approved August 5, 1965, in the conduct of any trade or commerce are hereby declared unlawful whether any person has in fact been misled, deceived or damaged thereby. In construing this section consideration shall be given to the interpretations of the Federal Trade Commission and the federal courts relating to Section 5 (a) of the Federal Trade Commission Act.
(Source: P.A. 78-904.)
(815 ILCS 505/2A) (from Ch. 121 1/2, par. 262A)
Sec. 2A. (1) The use or employment of any chain referral sales technique, plan, arrangement or agreement whereby the buyer is induced to purchase merchandise upon the seller's promise or representation that if buyer will furnish seller names of other prospective buyers or like or identical merchandise that seller will contact the named prospective buyers and buyer will receive a reduction in the purchase price by means of a cash rebate, commission, credit toward balance due or any other consideration, which rebate, commission, credit or other consideration is contingent upon seller's ability to sell like or identical merchandise to the named prospective buyers, is declared to be an unlawful practice within the meaning of this Act.
(2) It is an unlawful practice within the meaning of this Act for any person, by himself or through others, to sell, offer to sell, or attempt to sell the right to participate in a pyramid sales scheme.
(Source: P.A. 83-808.)
(815 ILCS 505/2B) (from Ch. 121 1/2, par. 262B)
Sec. 2B. Where a sale of merchandise involving $25 or more is made or contracted to be made whether under a single contract or under multiple contracts, to a consumer by a seller who is physically present at the consumer's residence, that consumer may avoid the contract or transaction by notifying the seller within 3 full business days following that day on which the contract was signed or the sale was made and by returning to the person, in its original condition, any merchandise delivered to the consumer under the contract or sale. At the time the transaction is made or the contract signed, the person shall furnish the consumer with a fully completed receipt or contract pertaining to the transaction, in substantially the same language as that principally used in the oral presentation to the consumer, containing a "Notice of Cancellation" informing the consumer that he may cancel the transaction at any time within 3 days and showing the date of the transaction with the name and address of the person, and in immediate proximity to the space reserved in the contract for the consumer's signature or on the front page of the receipt if a contract is not used, a statement which shall be in bold face type, in at least 10-point type and in substantially the following form:
"YOU, THE CONSUMER, MAY CANCEL THIS TRANSACTION AT ANY TIME PRIOR TO MIDNIGHT OF THE THIRD BUSINESS DAY AFTER THE DATE OF THIS TRANSACTION. SEE THE ATTACHED NOTICE OF CANCELLATION FORM FOR AN EXPLANATION OF THIS RIGHT."
Attached to the receipt or contract shall be a completed form in duplicate, captioned "NOTICE OF CANCELLATION" which shall be easily detachable and which shall contain in 10 point bold face type the following information and statements in the same language as that used in the contract:
NOTICE OF CANCELLATION
(enter date of transaction)
...........................
(Date)
YOU MAY CANCEL THIS TRANSACTION, WITHOUT ANY PENALTY OR OBLIGATION, WITHIN 3 BUSINESS DAYS FROM THE ABOVE DATE.
IF YOU CANCEL, ANY PROPERTY TRADED IN, ANY PAYMENTS MADE BY YOU, AND ANY NEGOTIABLE INSTRUMENT EXECUTED BY YOU UNDER THE CONTRACT OR TRANSACTION WILL BE RETURNED WITHIN 10 BUSINESS DAYS FOLLOWING RECEIPT BY THE SELLER OF YOUR CANCELLATION NOTICE, AND ANY SECURITY INTEREST ARISING OUT OF THE TRANSACTION WILL BE CANCELLED.
IF YOU CANCEL, YOU MUST MAKE AVAILABLE TO THE SELLER AT YOUR RESIDENCE IN SUBSTANTIALLY AS GOOD A CONDITION AS WHEN RECEIVED, ANY GOODS DELIVERED TO YOU UNDER THIS CONTRACT OR TRANSACTION, OR YOU MAY IF YOU WISH, COMPLY WITH THE INSTRUCTIONS OF THE SELLER REGARDING THE RETURN SHIPMENT OF THE GOODS AT THE SELLER'S EXPENSE AND RISK.
IF YOU MAKE THE GOODS AVAILABLE TO THE SELLER AND THE SELLER DOES NOT PICK THEM UP WITHIN 20 DAYS OF THE DATE OF YOUR NOTICE OF CANCELLATION, YOU MAY RETAIN OR DISPOSE OF THE GOODS WITHOUT ANY FURTHER OBLIGATION. IF YOU FAIL TO MAKE THE GOODS AVAILABLE TO THE SELLER, OR IF YOU AGREE TO RETURN THE GOODS TO THE SELLER AND FAIL TO DO SO, THEN YOU REMAIN LIABLE FOR PERFORMANCE OF ALL OBLIGATIONS UNDER THE CONTRACT.
TO CANCEL THIS TRANSACTION, MAIL OR DELIVER A SIGNED AND DATED COPY OF THIS CANCELLATION NOTICE OR ANY OTHER WRITTEN NOTICE, OR SEND A TELEGRAM, TO (Name of seller), AT (address of seller's place of business) NOT LATER THAN MIDNIGHT OF (date).
I HEREBY CANCEL THIS TRANSACTION.
(Date) ............
...................
(Buyer's signature)
Such written "Notice of Cancellation" may be sent by the consumer to the person to cancel the contract. The 3 day period provided for in this Section does not commence until the consumer is furnished a "Notice of Cancellation", and the address at which such notice to the seller can be given. If those conditions are met, the seller must return to the consumer the full amount of any payment made or consideration given under the contract or for the merchandise. It is an unlawful practice within the meaning of this Act for any person to
(a) Fail, before furnishing copies of the "Notice of Cancellation" to the consumer, to complete the copies by entering the name of the person, the address of the person's place of business, the date of the transaction, and the date, not earlier than the third business day following the date of the transaction, by which the consumer may give notice of cancellation;
(b) Include in any contract or receipt under this Section any confession of judgment or any waiver of any of the rights to which the consumer is entitled under this Section including specifically his right to cancel the transaction in accordance with the provisions of this Section;
(c) Fail to inform each consumer orally, at the time he signs the contract or purchases or leases the goods or services, of his right to cancel;
(d) Misrepresent in any manner the consumer's right to cancel;
(e) Use any undue influence, coercion or any other wilful act or representation to interfere with the consumer's exercise of his rights under this Section;
(f) Fail or refuse to honor any valid notice of cancellation by a consumer and within 10 business days after the receipt of such notice, to
(i) refund all payments made under the contract or sale,
(ii) return any goods or property traded in, in substantially as good a condition as when received by the person, or
(iii) cancel and return any negotiable instrument executed by the consumer in connection with the contract or transaction and take any action necessary or appropriate to terminate promptly any security interest created in the transaction;
(g) Negotiate, transfer, sell, or assign any note or other evidence of indebtedness to a finance company or other third party prior to midnight of the fifth business day following the day the contract was signed or the goods or services were purchased or leased; or
(h) Fail, within 10 business days of receipt of the consumer's notice of cancellation, to notify him whether the seller intends to repossess or to abandon any shipped or delivered goods.
For the purposes of this Section, the word "sale" includes a sale, lease or rental.
This Section does not apply to any transaction
(a) made pursuant to prior negotiations in the course of a visit by the consumer to a retail business establishment having a fixed permanent location where the goods are exhibited, or the services are offered, for sale or lease on a continuing basis;
(b) in which the consumer is accorded the right of rescission by the provisions of the Consumer Credit Protection Act (15 U.S.C. 1635) or regulations issued pursuant thereto;
(c) in which the consumer has initiated the contact and the goods or services are needed to meet a bona fide immediate personal emergency of the consumer, and the consumer furnishes the person with a separate dated and signed personal statement in the consumer's handwriting describing the situation requiring immediate remedy and expressly acknowledging and waiving the right to cancel the sale within 3 business days;
(d) conducted and consummated entirely by mail or telephone without any other contact between the consumer and the person or its representative prior to delivery of the goods or performance of the services;
(e) in which the consumer has initiated the contact and specifically requested the person to visit his home for the purpose of repairing or performing maintenance upon the consumer's personal property, on the condition that if, in the course of such a visit, the person sells the consumer the right to receive additional services or goods other than replacement parts necessarily used in performing the maintenance or in making the repairs, the sale of those additional goods or services does not fall within this exclusion;
(f) pertaining to the sale or rental of real property, to the sale of insurance or to the sale of securities or commodities by a broker-dealer registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission; or
(g) between a consumer and a loan broker licensed under the Residential Mortgage License Act of 1987 when (i) the transaction involves obtaining a mortgage loan on real estate and (ii) the first contact respecting the transaction is initiated by the consumer or by another person at the request of the consumer.
(Source: P.A. 90-764, eff. 1-1-99.)
(815 ILCS 505/2B.1) (from Ch. 121 1/2, par. 262B.1)
Sec. 2B.1. It shall be unlawful in the sale of consumer goods or services for any person conducting a mail order or catalog business in this State, and utilizing a post office box address or a street address representing a site used primarily for the receipt or delivery of mail or as a telephone answering service, to fail to disclose the legal name under which business is conducted and the complete street address from which business is actually conducted in all advertising and promotional materials, including order blanks and forms.
(Source: P.A. 87-282; 87-895.)
(815 ILCS 505/2B.2)
Sec. 2B.2. Solicitations regarding records. It is an unlawful practice for any person to offer for sale or sell to a consumer access to any records or copies of any records pertaining to the consumer that may be obtained at no cost or a nominal cost from a governmental agency or from any consumer reporting agency as defined in the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act unless all offers, solicitations, and applications for any such service include the following statement in capital letters in not less than 10 point type: "MANY GOVERNMENT RECORDS ARE AVAILABLE FREE OR AT A NOMINAL COST FROM GOVERNMENT AGENCIES. CREDIT REPORTING AGENCIES ARE REQUIRED BY LAW TO GIVE YOU A COPY OF YOUR CREDIT RECORD UPON REQUEST, AT NO CHARGE OR FOR A NOMINAL FEE."
(Source: P.A. 89-630, eff. 1-1-97.)
(815 ILCS 505/2B.3)
Sec. 2B.3. Deceptive sale or promotion of health-related cash discount cards. It is an unlawful practice for any person to sell, market, promote, advertise, or otherwise distribute any card or other purchasing mechanism or device that purports to offer discounts or access to discounts from health care providers in health related purchases if:
(1) the card or other purchasing mechanism or device does not expressly provide in bold and prominent type that the discounts are not insurance;
(2) the discounts are not specifically authorized by a contract with each health care provider listed in conjunction with the card or other purchasing mechanism or device; or
(3) the discounts or access to discounts offered or the range of discounts or access to the range of discounts offered are misleading, deceptive or fraudulent, regardless of the literal wording used.
(Source: P.A. 92-296, eff. 1-1-02.)
(815 ILCS 505/2C) (from Ch. 121 1/2, par. 262C)
Sec. 2C. If the furnishing of merchandise, whether under purchase order or a contract of sale, is conditioned on the consumer's providing credit references or having a credit rating acceptable to the seller and the seller rejects the credit application of that consumer, the seller must return to the consumer any down payment, whether such down payment is in the form of money, goods, chattels or otherwise, made under that purchase order or contract and may not retain any part thereof. The retention by the seller of part or all of the down payment, whether such down payment is in the form of money, goods, chattels or otherwise, under those circumstances as a fee for investigating the credit of the consumer or as liquidated damages to cover depreciation of the merchandise which was the subject of the purchase order or contract or for any other purpose is an unlawful practice within the meaning of this Act, whether that fee or those charges are claimed from the down payment, whether such down payment is in the form of money, goods, chattels or otherwise, or made as a separate charge to the consumer.
(Source: Laws 1967, p. 2143.)
(815 ILCS 505/2D) (from Ch. 121 1/2, par. 262D)
Sec. 2D. If a consumer in a retail installment sales transaction gives the seller a negotiable instrument in part or full payment for the merchandise which is the subject of a purchase order, retail charge agreement or retail installment sales contract before that merchandise is delivered or furnished to him, the assignment of that agreement or contract or the transfer of that negotiable instrument does not bar that consumer from asserting against the assignee or transferee any defense or right of action he may have against the seller unless (1) the contract or agreement contains, in at least 10-point bold type, the following notice:
"NOTICE TO BUYER
You have the right to give the assignee named (or if no assignee is named, to give the seller) written notice of any defense or right of action which you may have against the seller within 5 days of delivery of the merchandise described herein. If a notice is not received within that time, you may not assert such defense or right of action against the assignee."; And (2) such a notice is not given within the time period stated. Notice is received within the meaning of this Section if the seller or assignee has refused to accept delivery by certified or registered mail of such a notice. It is an unlawful practice within the meaning of this Act for a seller to transfer, assign or negotiate a negotiable instrument made by and received from a consumer in connection with an order for or a contract involving merchandise to be furnished by that seller to that consumer with the intent of not furnishing or delivering merchandise of the quantity, quality and specifications and at the time and place called for by that order or contract.
This Section does not apply where the merchandise which is the subject of the purchase order, retail charge agreement or retail installment sales contract is a motor vehicle, or where the negotiable instrument is made in accordance with the provisions of Subchapter I of the National Housing Act, as heretofore and hereafter amended.
(Source: Laws 1967, p. 2143.)
(815 ILCS 505/2E) (from Ch. 121 1/2, par. 262E)
Sec. 2E. Any person who is regularly engaged in the business of providing or furnishing merchandise to consumers or in making loans to consumers and who has committed in any calendar year 3 or more violations, as determined in any civil or criminal proceeding, of the "Consumer Finance Act"; the "Consumer Installment Loan Act"; the "Retail Installment Sales Act"; the "Motor Vehicle Retail Installment Sales Act"; "An Act to revise the law in relation to the rate of interest and to repeal certain acts therein named", approved May 24, 1879, as amended; "An Act to promote the welfare of wage-earners by regulating the assignment of wages, and prescribing a penalty for the violation thereof", approved July 1, 1935, as amended; or Part 8 of Article XII of the Code of Civil Procedure, as amended, or of any 2 or more of those Acts, is guilty of an unlawful practice within the meaning of this Act. Nothing in this Section prohibits the prosecution of a person under the Acts specified herein as well as under this Act.
(Source: P.A. 82-783.)
(815 ILCS 505/2F) (from Ch. 121 1/2, par. 262F)
Sec. 2F. Any person who is held in any civil or criminal proceeding to have wilfully and materially violated any Illinois statutory provision regulating the extension of credit to borrowers or designed to protect the consumer purchasing merchandise in a credit, as contrasted from a cash, transaction is guilty of an unlawful practice within the meaning of this Act. Nothing in this Section prohibits the prosecution of a person under the statute violated as well as under this Act.
(Source: Laws 1967, p. 2143.)
(815 ILCS 505/2G) (from Ch. 121 1/2, par. 262G)
Sec. 2G. If an installment seller wilfully and materially resells goods he has repossessed from a buyer in default to a person who is not a good faith purchaser for value or with whom the seller is in collusion or if the seller resells those goods at a price intended to increase the amount of the deficiency recoverable from the defaulting buyer, that seller is guilty of an unlawful practice within the meaning of this Act.
(Source: Laws 1967, p. 2143.)
(815 ILCS 505/2H) (from Ch. 121 1/2, par. 262H)
Sec. 2H. No person may make any attempt, whether by mail, telephone, personal contact, court action or by any other means, to collect an obligation from the spouse of the obligor unless the spouse cosigned the instrument evidencing the obligation or unless the obligation is in default at least 30 days or unless the goods or services furnished to the obligor and giving rise to the obligation were necessaries for which the spouse would be liable to pay under statute or common law. A person who violates this Section commits an unlawful practice within the meaning of this Act and is guilty of a Class C misdemeanor.
(Source: P.A. 77-2261.)
(815 ILCS 505/2I) (from Ch. 121 1/2, par. 262I)
Sec. 2I. No person may attempt to collect an obligation by communicating in any way with an employer with regard to the obligation owing by one of his employees unless there has been a default of the payment of the obligation for at least 30 days and at least 5 days prior notice of the intention to communicate with the employer has been given to the employee. Any person violating this Section commits an unlawful practice within the meaning of this Act and, in addition, is liable in a civil action for damages resulting to the employee about whom such a communication is wrongfully made.
(Source: Laws 1967, p. 2143.)
(815 ILCS 505/2J) (from Ch. 121 1/2, par. 262J)
Sec. 2J. No seller may include or cause to be included in any advertisement, price tag, display or other device used to describe the goods to be sold or to induce the purchase of those goods a statement that the goods may be purchased by weekly, monthly or other periodic payments unless that statement clearly sets forth the cash sale price of the goods in immediate conjunction with the amount of such periodic payment payable; the downpayment, if any; the number, amount and due dates or period of payments scheduled to repay the indebtedness if the credit is extended; and the rate of charge for credit expressed as an annual percentage rate.
A seller who complies with the federal Truth In Lending Act, amendments thereto, and any regulation issued or which may be issued thereunder, shall be deemed to be in compliance with the provisions of this Section.
A seller who violates this Section is guilty of an unlawful practice within the meaning of this Act.
(Source: P.A. 84-894.)
(815 ILCS 505/2J.1) (from Ch. 121 1/2, par. 262J.1)
Sec. 2J.1. Any retail seller, or motor vehicle dealer within the meaning of Chapter 5 of the Illinois Vehicle Code, who publishes or issues coupons for use by consumers in the purchase of specific items of merchandise in the retail outlet of the seller, or established place of business, and represents that presentation of a coupon permits the purchase of a specific item of merchandise for less than the regular price shall clearly state (a) the discount or (b) the fact that the coupon featured price is a "sale" price to which the presenter is entitled. No coupon shall be offered in connection with any retail sale of a motor vehicle.
(Source: P.A. 89-650, eff. 1-1-97.)
(815 ILCS 505/2J.2) (from Ch. 121 1/2, par. 262J.2)
Sec. 2J.2. Any person who sells or offers to sell or exposes for sale to consumers at retail any merchandise using an automatic price look-up system shall conspicuously display the price information in Arabic numerals in close proximity to any item which is not individually marked with the current selling price.
Any person who violates this Section commits an unlawful practice within the meaning of this Act.
(Source: P.A. 85-419.)
(815 ILCS 505/2K) (from Ch. 121 1/2, par. 262K)
Sec. 2K. No person engaged in the making of loans to consumers or furnishing goods or services to consumers in a credit transaction may advertise using the terms "bank rates", "bank financing" or words of like import unless it is a bank, banking association or trust company authorized to do business under the laws of this State or of the United States. A person who violates this Section commits an unlawful practice within the meaning of this Act.
(Source: Laws 1967, p. 2143.)
(815 ILCS 505/2L)
Sec. 2L. Used motor vehicles; modification or disclaimer of implied warranty of merchantability limited.
(a) Any retail sale of a used motor vehicle made after July 1, 2017 (the effective date of Public Act 99-768) to a consumer by a licensed vehicle dealer within the meaning of Chapter 5 of the Illinois Vehicle Code or by an auction company at an auction that is open to the general public is made subject to this Section.
(b) This Section does not apply to any of the following:
(1) a vehicle with more than 150,000 miles at the time of sale;
(2) a vehicle with a title that has been branded "rebuilt" or "flood";
(3) a vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating of 8,000 pounds or more; or
(4) a vehicle that is an antique vehicle, as defined in the Illinois Vehicle Code, or that is a collector motor vehicle.
(b-5) This Section does not apply to the sale of any vehicle for which the dealer offers an express warranty that provides coverage that is equal to or greater than the limited implied warranty of merchantability required under this Section 2L.
(b-6) This Section does not apply to forfeited vehicles sold at auction by or on behalf of the Illinois State Police.
(c) Except as otherwise provided in this Section 2L, any sale of a used motor vehicle as described in subsection (a) may not exclude, modify, or disclaim the implied warranty of merchantability created under this Section 2L or limit the remedies for a breach of the warranty hereunder before midnight of the 15th calendar day after delivery of a used motor vehicle or until a used motor vehicle is driven 500 miles after delivery, whichever is earlier. In calculating time under this Section, a day on which the warranty is breached and all subsequent days in which the used motor vehicle fails to conform with the implied warranty of merchantability are excluded. In calculating distance under this Section, the miles driven to obtain or in connection with the repair, servicing, or testing of a used motor vehicle that fails to conform with the implied warranty of merchantability are excluded. An attempt to exclude, modify, or disclaim the implied warranty of merchantability or to limit the remedies for a breach of the warranty in violation of this Section renders a purchase agreement voidable at the option of the purchaser.
(d) An implied warranty of merchantability is met if a used motor vehicle functions for the purpose of ordinary transportation on the public highway and substantially free of a defect in a power train component. As used in this Section, "power train component" means the engine block, head, all internal engine parts, oil pan and gaskets, water pump, intake manifold, transmission, and all internal transmission parts, torque converter, drive shaft, universal joints, rear axle and all rear axle internal parts, and rear wheel bearings.
(e) The implied warranty of merchantability expires at midnight of the 15th calendar day after delivery of a used motor vehicle or when a used motor vehicle is driven 500 miles after delivery, whichever is earlier. In calculating time, a day on which the implied warranty of merchantability is breached is excluded and all subsequent days in which the used motor vehicle fails to conform with the warranty are also excluded. In calculating distance, the miles driven to or by the seller to obtain or in connection with the repair, servicing, or testing of a used motor vehicle that fails to conform with the implied warranty of merchantability are excluded. An implied warranty of merchantability does not extend to damage that occurs after the sale of the used motor vehicle that results from:
(1) off-road use;
(2) racing;
(3) towing;
(4) abuse;
(5) misuse;
(6) neglect;
(7) failure to perform regular maintenance; and
(8) failure to maintain adequate oil, coolant, and other required fluids or lubricants.
(f) If the implied warranty of merchantability described in this Section is breached, the consumer shall give reasonable notice to the seller no later than 2 business days after the end of the statutory warranty period. Before the consumer exercises another remedy pursuant to Article 2 of the Uniform Commercial Code, the seller shall have a reasonable opportunity to repair the used motor vehicle. The consumer shall pay one-half of the cost of the first 2 repairs necessary to bring the used motor vehicle into compliance with the warranty. The payments by the consumer are limited to a maximum payment of $100 for each repair; however, the consumer shall only be responsible for a maximum payment of $100 if the consumer brings in the vehicle for a second repair for the same defect. Reasonable notice as defined in this Section shall include, but not be limited to:
(1) text, provided the seller has provided the consumer with a cell phone number;
(2) phone call or message to the seller's business phone number provided on the seller's bill of sale for the purchase of the motor vehicle;
(3) in writing to the seller's address provided on the seller's bill of sale for the purchase of the motor vehicle;
(4) in person at the seller's address provided on the seller's bill of sale for the purchase of the motor vehicle.
(g) The maximum liability of a seller for repairs pursuant to this Section is limited to the purchase price paid for the used motor vehicle, to be refunded to the consumer or lender, as applicable, in exchange for return of the vehicle.
(h) An agreement for the sale of a used motor vehicle subject to this Section is voidable at the option of the consumer, unless it contains on its face or in a separate document the following conspicuous statement printed in boldface 10-point or larger type set off from the body of the agreement:
"Illinois law requires that this vehicle will be free of a defect in a power train component for 15 days or 500 miles after delivery, whichever is earlier, except with regard to particular defects disclosed on the first page of this agreement. "Power train component" means the engine block, head, all internal engine parts, oil pan and gaskets, water pump, intake manifold, transmission, and all internal transmission parts, torque converter, drive shaft, universal joints, rear axle and all rear axle internal parts, and rear wheel bearings. You (the consumer) will have to pay up to $100 for each of the first 2 repairs if the warranty is violated.".
(i) The inclusion in the agreement of the statement prescribed in subsection (h) of this Section does not create an express warranty.
(j) A consumer of a used motor vehicle may waive the implied warranty of merchantability only for a particular defect in the vehicle, including, but not limited to, a rebuilt or flood-branded title and only if all of the following conditions are satisfied:
(1) the seller subject to this Section fully and accurately discloses to the consumer that because of circumstances unusual to the business, the used motor vehicle has a particular defect;
(2) the consumer agrees to buy the used motor vehicle after disclosure of the defect; and
(3) before the sale, the consumer indicates agreement to the waiver by signing and dating the following conspicuous statement that is printed on the first page of the sales agreement or on a separate document in boldface 10-point or larger type and that is written in the language in which the presentation was made:
"Attention consumer: sign here only if the seller has told you that this vehicle has the following problem or problems and you agree to buy the vehicle on those terms:
1. .......................................................
2. .......................................................
3. ....................................................".
(k) It shall be an affirmative defense to any claim under this Section that:
(1) an alleged nonconformity does not substantially impair the use and market value of the motor vehicle;
(2) a nonconformity is the result of abuse, neglect, or unauthorized modifications or alterations of the motor vehicle;
(3) a claim by a consumer was not filed in good faith; or
(4) any other affirmative defense allowed by law.
(l) Other than the 15-day, 500-mile implied warranty of merchantability identified herein, a seller subject to this Section is not required to provide any further express or implied warranties to a purchasing consumer unless:
(1) the seller is required by federal or State law to provide a further express or implied warranty; or
(2) the seller fails to fully inform and disclose to the consumer that the vehicle is being sold without any further express or implied warranties, other than the 15 day, 500 mile implied warranty of merchantability identified in this Section.
(m) Any person who violates this Section commits an unlawful practice within the meaning of this Act.
(Source: P.A. 102-538, eff. 8-20-21.)
(815 ILCS 505/2M) (from Ch. 121 1/2, par. 262M)
Sec. 2M. No person engaged in the business of performing services on merchandise shall advertise such services as factory authorized services unless such services are performed by factory authorized personnel. Any person so advertising shall, upon request, supply proof of such authorization through manufacturer certification. Any person who violates this Section commits an unlawful practice within the meaning of this Act, and in addition to relief available under Section 7 of this Act, may be prosecuted for the commission of a Class C misdemeanor.
(Source: P.A. 78-589.)
(815 ILCS 505/2N) (from Ch. 121 1/2, par. 262N)
Sec. 2N. Non-English language transaction.
(a) If (i) a person conducts, in a language other than English, a retail transaction or negotiations related to a retail transaction resulting in a written contract and (ii) the consumer used an interpreter other than the retailer or an employee of the retailer in conducting the transaction or negotiations, the retailer must have the consumer and the interpreter sign the following forms:
I, (name of consumer), used (name of interpreter) to act as my interpreter during this retail transaction or these negotiations. The obligations of the contract or other written agreement were explained to me in my native language by the interpreter. I understand the contract or other written agreement.
(signature of consumer)
(relationship of interpreter to consumer)
I, (name of interpreter), acted as interpreter during this retail transaction or these negotiations. The obligations of the contract or other written agreement were explained to (name of consumer) in the consumer's native language. I understand the contract or other written agreement.
(signature of interpreter)
(relationship of interpreter to consumer)
(b) If (i) a person conducts, in a language other than English, a retail transaction or negotiations related to a retail transaction resulting in a written contract and (ii) the retailer or an employee of the retailer acted as the consumer's interpreter in conducting the transaction or negotiations, the retailer must have the consumer sign the following form in the consumer's native language (except as provided in subsection (c)):
This retail transaction or these negotiations were conducted in (language), which is my native language. I voluntarily choose to have the retailer act as my interpreter during the negotiations. The obligations of the contract or other written agreement were explained to me in my native language. I understand the contract or other written agreement.
(signature of consumer) (signature of retailer)
(c) If a language that cannot be written is used in the retail transaction or in negotiations related to a retail transaction, then the form set forth in subsection (b) shall be in the English language.
(d) If a person used forms substantially similar to the forms prescribed in subsections (a) and (b) in the regular course of business before January 1, 2002, the person may continue to use those forms instead of the forms prescribed in subsections (a) and (b).
(e) The terms of this Section do not apply to transactions made pursuant to a credit card issued to the buyer, whether such card is issued by the seller or by a third party.
(Source: P.A. 92-478, eff. 8-23-01.)
(815 ILCS 505/2P) (from Ch. 121 1/2, par. 262P)
Sec. 2P. Offers of free prizes, gifts, or gratuities; disclosure of conditions. It is an unlawful practice for any person to promote or advertise any business, product, utility service, including but not limited to, the provision of electric, telecommunication, or gas service, or interest in property, by means of offering free prizes, gifts, or gratuities to any consumer, unless all material terms and conditions relating to the offer are clearly and conspicuously disclosed at the outset of the offer so as to leave no reasonable probability that the offering might be misunderstood.
(Source: P.A. 90-561, eff. 12-16-97.)
(815 ILCS 505/2P.1)
Sec. 2P.1. Telemarketing; free trials.
(a) As used in this Section, "telemarketing" means a plan, program, or campaign which is conducted to induce the purchase of goods or services by use of one or more telephones and which involves calls to or from more than one consumer.
(b) A person or entity that, by means of a telemarketing plan, program, or campaign, offers free goods or services to an Illinois consumer on a trial basis and assesses a periodic fee or charge for the goods or services after the end of the free trial period must send to the consumer who accepts the free goods or services an invoice that the consumer may use to pay the periodic fee or charge or indicate that the consumer no longer wishes to receive the goods or services after the end of the free trial period. The invoice must contain an address and telephone number the consumer may use to cancel the goods or services if the consumer no longer wishes to receive the free goods or services after the end of the free trial period.
(c) Violation of this Section constitutes an unlawful practice within the meaning of this Act.
(Source: P.A. 93-194, eff. 1-1-04.)
(815 ILCS 505/2Q) (from Ch. 121 1/2, par. 262Q)
Sec. 2Q. (a) No person, firm, corporation, partnership or association engaged in the business of making home improvements or repairs shall operate a business under a name other than the real names of the individuals conducting the business, an assumed corporate name under the Business Corporation Act of 1983 or an assumed business name under the Assumed Business Name Act or under the real names, assumed corporate, or assumed business names of an entity for whom the person, firm, corporation, partnership or association operates as a subcontractor, licensee or independent contractor. Any person who knowingly violates this Section commits an unlawful practice within the meaning of this Act, and in addition to the relief available under Section 7 of this Act, may be prosecuted for the commission of a Class A misdemeanor. A person who is convicted of a second or subsequent violation of this Section is guilty of a Class 4 felony.
(b) When a person is engaged in the business of home repair, as defined in Section 2(a)(1) of the Home Repair Fraud Act, and has entered into a contract or an agreement for home repair with a consumer, he shall notify the consumer in writing of any change in his or its business name or address occurring prior to the agreed dates for commencement or completion of home repair. The notice shall be given within 10 days after the change of business name or address. For purposes of this subsection, "business address" means the address provided by the home repair contractor to the consumer at the time of the contract or agreement or the address indicated on the face of the contract or agreement.
(c) A person engaged in the business of home repair, as defined in Section 2(a)(1) of the Home Repair Fraud Act, who fails or refuses to commence or complete work under a contract or an agreement for home repair, shall return the down payment and any additional payments made by the consumer within 10 days after a written demand sent to him by certified mail by the consumer or the consumer's legal representative or by a law enforcement or consumer agency acting on behalf of the consumer.
(Source: P.A. 87-820.)
(815 ILCS 505/2R) (from Ch. 121 1/2, par. 262R)
Sec. 2R. It is an unlawful practice for any person who sells advertisements to be published in a directory or listing of telephone numbers to fail to disclose the number of directories distributed in the previous edition, the geographic area of distribution, the name of the publisher of the directory and whether or not the publisher is affiliated with a telecommunications carrier.
(Source: P.A. 85-501.)
(815 ILCS 505/2S) (from Ch. 121 1/2, par. 262S)
Sec. 2S. No person may report adverse information to a consumer reporting agency, provide information to a collection agency or take any collection action regarding a cosigner of an obligation unless prior thereto, such person has notified the cosigner by first class mail that the primary obligor has become delinquent or defaulted on the loan, that the cosigner is responsible for the payment of the obligation and that the cosigner must, within 15 days from the date such notice was sent, either pay the amount due under the obligation or make arrangements for payment of the obligation. In the event that the cosigner pays or makes arrangements to pay the obligation, no adverse information shall be reported regarding the cosigner.
Any person violating this Section commits an unlawful practice within the meaning of this Act and, in addition, is liable in a civil action for actual damages of up to $250 plus reasonable attorney's fees.
(Source: P.A. 85-1209)
(815 ILCS 505/2T) (from Ch. 121 1/2, par. 262T)
Sec. 2T. No person, firm, corporation, partnership or association which may extend credit or make a loan secured by an interest in real estate which is or is to be improved with a single family residence or any residential condominium unit occupied or to be occupied as a principal residence by either the borrower as an individual or, if the borrower is the trustee of a trust, by a beneficiary of that trust, shall require, either directly or indirectly, as a condition precedent to making such loan or extending such credit (a) that any seller, borrower, mortgagor or debtor to whom such money or credit is extended negotiate, obtain or contract for title insurance through a particular insurer, agent or broker; or (b) that any seller, borrower, mortgagor or debtor pay for a title commitment or policy other than a title commitment or policy issued at the request of the seller, borrower, mortgagor or other debtor. Nothing contained in this Section shall be construed to prohibit the lender from requiring title insurance as a condition of making a loan secured by an interest in real estate. The lender may refuse to make the loan or may reject the title insurer or the proposed policy if the lender believes on reasonable grounds that the title insurance will afford insufficient financial protection to the lender or insufficient protection as defined under regulations administered by the Federal Home Loan Bank Board. Nothing contained in this Section shall be construed to affect any provision in a contract between a seller and buyer of real estate with respect to the selection of title insurance.
(Source: P.A. 85-1209; 85-1351; 85-1440.)
(815 ILCS 505/2U) (from Ch. 121 1/2, par. 262U)
Sec. 2U. No person shall intentionally or negligently misrepresent the capabilities of a device for detecting and measuring radon or radon progeny. A person who violates this Section commits an unlawful practice within the meaning of this Act and is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor.
(Source: P.A. 86-251.)
(815 ILCS 505/2V) (from Ch. 121 1/2, par. 262V)
Sec. 2V. No person shall intentionally or negligently misrepresent the results of a test to detect or measure radon or radon progeny. A person who violates this Section commits an unlawful practice within the meaning of this Act and is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor.
(Source: P.A. 86-251.)
(815 ILCS 505/2W) (from Ch. 121 1/2, par. 262W)
Sec. 2W. No person shall, for compensation, perform any act or service to reduce radon or radon progeny unless that person has an objective basis to believe that the act or service performed will reduce radon or radon progeny as represented. A person who violates this Section commits an unlawful practice within the meaning of this Act and is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor. Any person who has been injured by a violation of this Section may maintain an action in circuit court for damages against any person who has committed such violation. The person injured shall be awarded 3 times the amount of actual damages resulting from that violation together with costs and reasonable attorney's fees.
(Source: P.A. 86-251.)
(815 ILCS 505/2X) (from Ch. 121 1/2, par. 262X)
Sec. 2X. It is an unlawful practice for any person to promote or advertise any business, product or interest in property by means of distributing documents designed to simulate checks or other negotiable instruments unless such instrument has printed upon both its front and back, the following statement: "This is not a Check". However, it is not an unlawful practice under this Section for a person to distribute for commercial purposes a sample or specimen of a check or other instrument which is used to solicit orders for the sale of that instrument and which is clearly marked as a non-negotiable sample or specimen.
(Source: P.A. 86-362; 86-1028.)
(815 ILCS 505/2Y) (from Ch. 121 1/2, par. 262Y)
Sec. 2Y. Misrepresentation of effect of use of gasohol on motor vehicle warranties.
(a) No person shall make any false or misleading statement or representation to any person concerning the legal effect of the use of gasohol as a motor vehicle fuel on the applicability of any coverage under a warranty made with respect to a motor vehicle.
(b) A person who violates the provisions of this Section commits an unlawful practice within the meaning of this Act. A person who violates the provisions of this Section commits a business offense and may be fined not less than $501 nor more than $1,000 for each offense.
(Source: P.A. 87-668; 88-45.)
(815 ILCS 505/2Z) (from Ch. 121 1/2, par. 262Z)
Sec. 2Z. Violations of other Acts. Any person who knowingly violates the Automotive Repair Act, the Automotive Collision Repair Act, the Home Repair and Remodeling Act, the Dance Studio Act, the Physical Fitness Services Act, the Hearing Instrument Consumer Protection Act, the Illinois Union Label Act, the Installment Sales Contract Act, the Job Referral and Job Listing Services Consumer Protection Act, the Travel Promotion Consumer Protection Act, the Credit Services Organizations Act, the Automatic Telephone Dialers Act, the Pay-Per-Call Services Consumer Protection Act, the Telephone Solicitations Act, the Illinois Funeral or Burial Funds Act, the Cemetery Oversight Act, the Cemetery Care Act, the Safe and Hygienic Bed Act, the Illinois Pre-Need Cemetery Sales Act, the High Risk Home Loan Act, the Payday Loan Reform Act, the Predatory Loan Prevention Act, the Mortgage Rescue Fraud Act, subsection (a) or (b) of Section 3-10 of the Cigarette Tax Act, subsection (a) or (b) of Section 3-10 of the Cigarette Use Tax Act, the Electronic Mail Act, the Internet Caller Identification Act, paragraph (6) of subsection (k) of Section 6-305 of the Illinois Vehicle Code, Section 11-1431, 18d-115, 18d-120, 18d-125, 18d-135, 18d-150, or 18d-153 of the Illinois Vehicle Code, Article 3 of the Residential Real Property Disclosure Act, the Automatic Contract Renewal Act, the Reverse Mortgage Act, Section 25 of the Youth Mental Health Protection Act, the Personal Information Protection Act, or the Student Online Personal Protection Act commits an unlawful practice within the meaning of this Act.
(Source: P.A. 100-315, eff. 8-24-17; 100-416, eff. 1-1-18; 100-863, eff. 8-14-18; 101-658, eff. 3-23-21.)
(815 ILCS 505/2Z.5)
Sec. 2Z.5. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 102-687, eff. 12-17-21. Repealed internally, eff. 8-1-22.)
(815 ILCS 505/2AA)
Sec. 2AA. Immigration services.
(a) "Immigration matter" means any proceeding, filing, or action affecting the nonimmigrant, immigrant or citizenship status of any person that arises under immigration and naturalization law, executive order or presidential proclamation of the United States or any foreign country, or that arises under action of the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, the United States Department of Labor, or the United States Department of State.
"Immigration assistance service" means any information or action provided or offered to customers or prospective customers related to immigration matters, excluding legal advice, recommending a specific course of legal action, or providing any other assistance that requires legal analysis, legal judgment, or interpretation of the law.
"Compensation" means money, property, services, promise of payment, or anything else of value.
"Employed by" means that a person is on the payroll of the employer and the employer deducts from the employee's paycheck social security and withholding taxes, or receives compensation from the employer on a commission basis or as an independent contractor.
"Reasonable costs" means actual costs or, if actual costs cannot be calculated, reasonably estimated costs of such things as photocopying, telephone calls, document requests, and filing fees for immigration forms, and other nominal costs incidental to assistance in an immigration matter.
(a-1) The General Assembly finds and declares that private individuals who assist persons with immigration matters have a significant impact on the ability of their clients to reside and work within the United States and to establish and maintain stable families and business relationships. The General Assembly further finds that that assistance and its impact also have a significant effect on the cultural, social, and economic life of the State of Illinois and thereby substantially affect the public interest. It is the intent of the General Assembly to establish rules of practice and conduct for those individuals to promote honesty and fair dealing with residents and to preserve public confidence.
(a-5) The following persons are exempt from this Section, provided they prove the exemption by a preponderance of the evidence:
(1) An attorney licensed to practice law in any state or territory of the United States, or of any foreign country when authorized by the Illinois Supreme Court, to the extent the attorney renders immigration assistance service in the course of his or her practice as an attorney.
(2) A legal intern, as described by the rules of the Illinois Supreme Court, employed by and under the direct supervision of a licensed attorney and rendering immigration assistance service in the course of the intern's employment.
(3) A not-for-profit organization recognized by the Board of Immigration Appeals under 8 CFR 292.2(a) and employees of those organizations accredited under 8 CFR 292.2(d).
(4) Any organization employing or desiring to employ a documented or undocumented immigrant or nonimmigrant, where the organization, its employees or its agents provide advice or assistance in immigration matters to documented or undocumented immigrant or nonimmigrant employees or potential employees without compensation from the individuals to whom such advice or assistance is provided.
Nothing in this Section shall regulate any business to the extent that such regulation is prohibited or preempted by State or federal law.
All other persons providing or offering to provide immigration assistance service shall be subject to this Section.
(b) Any person who provides or offers to provide immigration assistance service may perform only the following services:
(1) Completing a government agency form, requested by the customer and appropriate to the customer's needs, only if the completion of that form does not involve a legal judgment for that particular matter.
(2) Transcribing responses to a government agency form which is related to an immigration matter, but not advising a customer as to his or her answers on those forms.
(3) Translating information on forms to a customer and translating the customer's answers to questions posed on those forms.
(4) Securing for the customer supporting documents currently in existence, such as birth and marriage certificates, which may be needed to be submitted with government agency forms.
(5) Translating documents from a foreign language into English.
(6) Notarizing signatures on government agency forms, if the person performing the service is a notary public of the State of Illinois.
(7) Making referrals, without fee, to attorneys who could undertake legal representation for a person in an immigration matter.
(8) Preparing or arranging for the preparation of photographs and fingerprints.
(9) Arranging for the performance of medical testing (including X-rays and AIDS tests) and the obtaining of reports of such test results.
(10) Conducting English language and civics courses.
(11) Other services that the Attorney General determines by rule may be appropriately performed by such persons in light of the purposes of this Section.
Fees for a notary public, agency, or any other person who is not an attorney or an accredited representative filling out immigration forms shall be limited to the maximum fees set forth in subsections (a) and (b) of Section 3-104 of the Illinois Notary Public Act. The maximum fee schedule set forth in subsections (a) and (b) of Section 3-104 of the Illinois Notary Public Act shall apply to any person that provides or offers to provide immigration assistance service performing the services described therein. The Attorney General may promulgate rules establishing maximum fees that may be charged for any services not described in that subsection. The maximum fees must be reasonable in light of the costs of providing those services and the degree of professional skill required to provide the services.
No person subject to this Act shall charge fees directly or indirectly for referring an individual to an attorney or for any immigration matter not authorized by this Article, provided that a person may charge a fee for notarizing documents as permitted by the Illinois Notary Public Act.
(c) Any person performing such services shall register with the Illinois Attorney General and submit verification of malpractice insurance or of a surety bond.
(d) Except as provided otherwise in this subsection, before providing any assistance in an immigration matter a person shall provide the customer with a written contract that includes the following:
(1) An explanation of the services to be performed.
(2) Identification of all compensation and costs to be charged to the customer for the services to be performed.
(3) A statement that documents submitted in support of an application for nonimmigrant, immigrant, or naturalization status may not be retained by the person for any purpose, including payment of compensation or costs.
This subsection does not apply to a not-for-profit organization that provides advice or assistance in immigration matters to clients without charge beyond a reasonable fee to reimburse the organization's or clinic's reasonable costs relating to providing immigration services to that client.
(e) Any person who provides or offers immigration assistance service and is not exempted from this Section, shall post signs at his or her place of business, setting forth information in English and in every other language in which the person provides or offers to provide immigration assistance service. Each language shall be on a separate sign. Signs shall be posted in a location where the signs will be visible to customers. Each sign shall be at least 11 inches by 17 inches, and shall contain the following:
(1) The statement "I AM NOT AN ATTORNEY LICENSED TO PRACTICE LAW AND MAY NOT GIVE LEGAL ADVICE OR ACCEPT FEES FOR LEGAL ADVICE.".
(2) The statement "I AM NOT ACCREDITED TO REPRESENT YOU BEFORE THE UNITED STATES IMMIGRATION AND NATURALIZATION SERVICE AND THE IMMIGRATION BOARD OF APPEALS.".
(3) The fee schedule.
(4) The statement that "You may cancel any contract within 3 working days and get your money back for services not performed.".
(5) Additional information the Attorney General may require by rule.
Every person engaged in immigration assistance service who is not an attorney who advertises immigration assistance service in a language other than English, whether by radio, television, signs, pamphlets, newspapers, or other written communication, with the exception of a single desk plaque, shall include in the document, advertisement, stationery, letterhead, business card, or other comparable written material the following notice in English and the language in which the written communication appears. This notice shall be of a conspicuous size, if in writing, and shall state: "I AM NOT AN ATTORNEY LICENSED TO PRACTICE LAW IN ILLINOIS AND MAY NOT GIVE LEGAL ADVICE OR ACCEPT FEES FOR LEGAL ADVICE.". If such advertisement is by radio or television, the statement may be modified but must include substantially the same message.
Any person who provides or offers immigration assistance service and is not exempted from this Section shall not, in any document, advertisement, stationery, letterhead, business card, or other comparable written material, literally translate from English into another language terms or titles including, but not limited to, notary public, notary, licensed, attorney, lawyer, or any other term that implies the person is an attorney. To illustrate, the words "notario" and "poder notarial" are prohibited under this provision.
If not subject to penalties under subsection (a) of Section 3-103 of the Illinois Notary Public Act, violations of this subsection shall result in a fine of $1,000. Violations shall not preempt or preclude additional appropriate civil or criminal penalties.
(f) The written contract shall be in both English and in the language of the customer.
(g) A copy of the contract shall be provided to the customer upon the customer's execution of the contract.
(h) A customer has the right to rescind a contract within 72 hours after his or her signing of the contract.
(i) Any documents identified in paragraph (3) of subsection (c) shall be returned upon demand of the customer.
(j) No person engaged in providing immigration services who is not exempted under this Section shall do any of the following:
(1) Make any statement that the person can or will obtain special favors from or has special influence with the United States Immigration and Naturalization Service or any other government agency.
(2) Retain any compensation for service not performed.
(2.5) Accept payment in exchange for providing legal advice or any other assistance that requires legal analysis, legal judgment, or interpretation of the law.
(3) Refuse to return documents supplied by, prepared on behalf of, or paid for by the customer upon the request of the customer. These documents must be returned upon request even if there is a fee dispute between the immigration assistant and the customer.
(4) Represent or advertise, in connection with the provision of assistance in immigration matters, other titles of credentials, including, but not limited to "notary public" or "immigration consultant", that could cause a customer to believe that the person possesses special professional skills or is authorized to provide advice on an immigration matter; provided that a notary public appointed by the Illinois Secretary of State may use the term "notary public" if the use is accompanied by the statement that the person is not an attorney; the term "notary public" may not be translated to another language; for example "notario" is prohibited.
(5) Provide legal advice, recommend a specific course of legal action, or provide any other assistance that requires legal analysis, legal judgment, or interpretation of the law.
(6) Make any misrepresentation or false statement, directly or indirectly, to influence, persuade, or induce patronage.
(k) (Blank).
(l) (Blank).
(m) Any person who violates any provision of this Section, or the rules and regulations issued under this Section, shall be guilty of a Class A misdemeanor for a first offense and a Class 3 felony for a second or subsequent offense committed within 5 years of a previous conviction for the same offense.
Upon his own information or upon the complaint of any person, the Attorney General or any State's Attorney, or a municipality with a population of more than 1,000,000, may maintain an action for injunctive relief and also seek a civil penalty not exceeding $50,000 in the circuit court against any person who violates any provision of this Section. These remedies are in addition to, and not in substitution for, other available remedies.
If the Attorney General or any State's Attorney or a municipality with a population of more than 1,000,000 fails to bring an action as provided under this Section any person may file a civil action to enforce the provisions of this Article and maintain an action for injunctive relief, for compensatory damages to recover prohibited fees, or for such additional relief as may be appropriate to deter, prevent, or compensate for the violation. In order to deter violations of this Section, courts shall not require a showing of the traditional elements for equitable relief. A prevailing plaintiff may be awarded 3 times the prohibited fees or a minimum of $1,000 in punitive damages, attorney's fees, and costs of bringing an action under this Section. It is the express intention of the General Assembly that remedies for violation of this Section be cumulative.
(n) No unit of local government, including any home rule unit, shall have the authority to regulate immigration assistance services unless such regulations are at least as stringent as those contained in Public Act 87-1211. It is declared to be the law of this State, pursuant to paragraph (i) of Section 6 of Article VII of the Illinois Constitution of 1970, that Public Act 87-1211 is a limitation on the authority of a home rule unit to exercise powers concurrently with the State. The limitations of this Section do not apply to a home rule unit that has, prior to January 1, 1993 (the effective date of Public Act 87-1211), adopted an ordinance regulating immigration assistance services.
(o) This Section is severable under Section 1.31 of the Statute on Statutes.
(p) The Attorney General shall issue rules not inconsistent with this Section for the implementation, administration, and enforcement of this Section. The rules may provide for the following:
(1) The content, print size, and print style of the signs required under subsection (e). Print sizes and styles may vary from language to language.
(2) Standard forms for use in the administration of this Section.
(3) Any additional requirements deemed necessary.
(Source: P.A. 102-1030, eff. 5-27-22; 103-154, eff. 6-30-23.)
(815 ILCS 505/2BB)
Sec. 2BB. The assembly, drafting, execution, and funding of a living trust document or any of those acts by a corporation or a nonlawyer is an unlawful practice within the meaning of this Act. Any person who violates this Section is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor. A person who is convicted of a second or subsequent violation of this Section is guilty of a Class 4 felony.
This Section shall not apply to any State or national bank, State or federal savings and loan association, savings bank, trust company, or any other corporation that has received a certificate of authority authorizing the exercise of trust powers under the Illinois Corporate Fiduciary Act.
This Section shall not apply to any State or federal credit union, as defined in Section 1.1 of the Illinois Credit Union Act, or the ability of any such credit union to issue accounts under the Illinois Trusts and Payable Upon Death Accounts Act.
Nothing in this Section shall authorize a person to engage in the unauthorized practice of law.
(Source: P.A. 88-305; 88-644, eff. 9-9-94.)
(815 ILCS 505/2CC)
Sec. 2CC. Wholesale advertising.
(a) A person may represent directly or by implication in any advertising that a person offers to sell or sells a particular article of merchandise at a wholesale price if that person can substantiate significant savings on his price as compared to identical merchandise offered for sale by retailers in the trade area. However, it is an unlawful practice to represent directly or by implication in any advertising that a person is a wholesaler or offers to sell or sells merchandise at wholesale to the public unless the person:
(1) makes a substantial and significant number of sales for resale in the ordinary course of business; and
(2) can substantiate savings on the prices offered as compared to merchandise offered for sale by retailers in the trade area.
(b) It is an unlawful practice to represent directly or by implication in any advertising that a person offers to sell or sells a particular article of merchandise at a wholesale price unless that person can substantiate significant savings on his price as compared to identical merchandise offered for sale by retailers in the trade area.
(Source: P.A. 88-576, eff. 8-12-94.)
(815 ILCS 505/2DD)
Sec. 2DD. Telecommunication service provider selection. A telecommunication carrier shall not submit or execute a change in a subscriber's selection of a provider of local exchange telecommunications service or interexchange telecommunications service or offer or provide a product or service to be billed on the telephone bill as provided in Sections 13-902 and 13-903 of the Public Utilities Act except in accordance with (i) the verification procedures adopted by the Federal Communications Commission under the Communications Act of 1996, including subpart K of 47 CFR 64, as those procedures are from time to time amended, and (ii) Sections 13-902 and 13-903 of the Public Utilities Act and any rules adopted by the Illinois Commerce Commission under the authority of that Section as those rules are from time to time amended. A telecommunications carrier that violates this Section commits an unlawful practice within the meaning of this Act.
(Source: P.A. 92-22, eff. 6-30-01.)
(815 ILCS 505/2EE)
Sec. 2EE. Alternative retail electric supplier selection.
(a) An alternative retail electric supplier shall not submit or execute a change in a consumer's selection of a provider of electric service unless and until:
(i) the alternative retail electric supplier first discloses all material terms and conditions of the offer to the consumer;
(ii) if the consumer is a small commercial retail customer as that term is defined in subsection (c) of this Section or a residential consumer, the alternative retail electric supplier discloses the utility electric supply price to compare, which shall be the sum of the electric supply charge and the transmission services charge, and shall not include the purchased electricity adjustment, applicable at the time the offer is made to the consumer;
(iii) if the consumer is a small commercial retail customer as that term is defined in subsection (c) of this Section or a residential consumer, the alternative retail electric provider discloses the following statement:
"(Name of the alternative retail electric supplier) is not the same entity as your electric delivery company. You are not required to enroll with (name of alternative retail electric supplier). As of (effective date), the electric supply price to compare is currently (price in cents per kilowatt hour). The electric utility electric supply price will expire on (expiration date). The utility electric supply price to compare does not include the purchased electricity adjustment factor. For more information go to the Illinois Commerce Commission's free website at www.pluginillinois.org.".
If applicable, the statement shall include the following statement:
"The purchased electricity adjustment factor may range between +.5 cents and -.5 cents per kilowatt hour.";
(iv) the alternative retail electric supplier has obtained the consumer's express agreement to accept the offer after the disclosure of all material terms and conditions of the offer; and
(v) the alternative retail electric supplier has confirmed the request for a change in accordance with one of the following procedures:
(A) The new alternative retail electric supplier has obtained the consumer's written or electronically signed authorization in a form that meets the following requirements:
(1) An alternative retail electric supplier shall obtain any necessary written or electronically signed authorization from a consumer for a change in electric service by using a letter of agency as specified in this Section. Any letter of agency that does not conform with this Section is invalid.
(2) The letter of agency shall be a separate document (an easily separable document containing only the authorization language described in subparagraph (5)) whose sole purpose is to authorize an electric service provider change. The letter of agency must be signed and dated by the consumer requesting the electric service provider change.
(3) The letter of agency shall not be combined with inducements of any kind on the same document.
(4) Notwithstanding subparagraphs (1) and (2), the letter of agency may be combined with checks that contain only the required letter of agency language prescribed in subparagraph (5) and the necessary information to make the check a negotiable instrument. The letter of agency check shall not contain any promotional language or material. The letter of agency check shall contain in easily readable, bold-face type on the face of the check, a notice that the consumer is authorizing an electric service provider change by signing the check. The letter of agency language also shall be placed near the signature line on the back of the check.
(5) At a minimum, the letter of agency must be printed with a print of sufficient size to be clearly legible, and must contain clear and unambiguous language that confirms:
(i) The consumer's billing name and address;
(ii) The decision to change the electric service provider from the current provider to the prospective provider;
(iii) The terms, conditions, and nature of the service to be provided to the consumer must be clearly and conspicuously disclosed, in writing, and an alternative retail electric supplier must directly establish the rates for the service contracted for by the consumer; and
(iv) That the consumer understand that any alternative retail electric supplier selection the consumer chooses may involve a charge to the consumer for changing the consumer's electric service provider.
(6) Letters of agency shall not suggest or require that a consumer take some action in order to retain the consumer's current electric service provider.
(7) If any portion of a letter of agency is translated into another language, then all portions of the letter of agency must be translated into that language.
(B) An appropriately qualified independent third party has obtained, in accordance with the procedures set forth in this subsection (b), the consumer's oral authorization to change electric suppliers that confirms and includes appropriate verification data. The independent third party (i) must not be owned, managed, controlled, or directed by the supplier or the supplier's marketing agent; (ii) must not have any financial incentive to confirm supplier change requests for the supplier or the supplier's marketing agent; and (iii) must operate in a location physically separate from the supplier or the supplier's marketing agent.
Automated third-party verification systems and 3-way conference calls may be used for verification purposes so long as the other requirements of this subsection (b) are satisfied.
A supplier or supplier's sales representative initiating a 3-way conference call or a call through an automated verification system must drop off the call once the 3-way connection has been established.
All third-party verification methods shall elicit, at a minimum, the following information: (i) the identity of the consumer; (ii) confirmation that the person on the call is the account holder, has been specifically and explicitly authorized by the account holder, or possesses lawful authority to make the supplier change; (iii) confirmation that the person on the call wants to make the supplier change; (iv) the names of the suppliers affected by the change; (v) the service address of the supply to be switched; and (vi) the price of the service to be supplied and the material terms and conditions of the service being offered, including whether any early termination fees apply. Third-party verifiers may not market the supplier's services by providing additional information, including information regarding procedures to block or otherwise freeze an account against further changes.
All third-party verifications shall be conducted in the same language that was used in the underlying sales transaction and shall be recorded in their entirety. Submitting suppliers shall maintain and preserve audio records of verification of subscriber authorization for a minimum period of 2 years after obtaining the verification. Automated systems must provide consumers with an option to speak with a live person at any time during the call. Each disclosure made during the third-party verification must be made individually to obtain clear acknowledgment of each disclosure. The alternative retail electric supplier must be in a location where he or she cannot hear the customer while the third-party verification is conducted. The alternative retail electric supplier shall not contact the customer after the third-party verification for a period of 24 hours unless the customer initiates the contact.
(C) When a consumer initiates the call to the prospective alternative retail electric supplier, in order to enroll the consumer as a customer, the prospective alternative retail electric supplier must, with the consent of the customer, make a date-stamped, time-stamped audio recording that elicits, at a minimum, the following information:
(1) the identity of the customer;
(2) confirmation that the person on the call is authorized to make the supplier change;
(3) confirmation that the person on the call wants to make the supplier change;
(4) the names of the suppliers affected by the change;
(5) the service address of the supply to be switched; and
(6) the price of the service to be supplied and the material terms and conditions of the service being offered, including whether any early termination fees apply.
Submitting suppliers shall maintain and preserve the audio records containing the information set forth above for a minimum period of 2 years.
(b)(1) An alternative retail electric supplier shall not utilize the name of a public utility in any manner that is deceptive or misleading, including, but not limited to, implying or otherwise leading a consumer to believe that an alternative retail electric supplier is soliciting on behalf of or is an agent of a utility. An alternative retail electric supplier shall not utilize the name, or any other identifying insignia, graphics, or wording that has been used at any time to represent a public utility company or its services, to identify, label, or define any of its electric power and energy service offers. An alternative retail electric supplier may state the name of a public electric utility in order to accurately describe the electric utility service territories in which the supplier is currently offering an electric power and energy service. An alternative retail electric supplier that is the affiliate of an Illinois public utility and that was doing business in Illinois providing alternative retail electric service on January 1, 2016 may continue to use that public utility's name, logo, identifying insignia, graphics, or wording in its business operations occurring outside the service territory of the public utility with which it is affiliated.
(2) An alternative retail electric supplier shall not state or otherwise imply that the alternative retail electric supplier is employed by, representing, endorsed by, or acting on behalf of a utility or utility program, a consumer group or consumer group program, or a governmental body, unless the alternative retail electric supplier has entered into a contractual arrangement with the governmental body and has been authorized by the governmental body to make the statements.
(c) An alternative retail electric supplier shall not submit or execute a change in a consumer's selection of a provider of electric service unless the alternative retail electric supplier complies with the following requirements of this subsection (c). It is a violation of this Section for an alternative retail electric supplier to fail to comply with this subsection (c). The requirements of this subsection (c) shall only apply to residential and small commercial retail customers. For purposes of this subsection (c) only, "small commercial retail customer" has the meaning given to that term in Section 16-102 of the Public Utilities Act.
(1) During a solicitation an alternative retail electric supplier shall state that he or represents an independent seller of electric power and energy service certified by the Illinois Commerce Commission and that he or she is not employed by, representing, endorsed by, or acting on behalf of, a utility, or a utility program, a consumer group or consumer group program, or a governmental body, unless the alternative retail electric supplier has entered into a contractual arrangement with the governmental body and has been authorized with the governmental body to make the statements.
(2) Alternative retail electric suppliers who engage in in-person solicitation for the purpose of selling electric power and energy service offered by the alternative retail electric supplier shall display identification on an outer garment. This identification shall be visible at all times and prominently display the following: (i) the alternative retail electric supplier agent's full name in reasonable size font; (ii) an agent identification number; (iii) a photograph of the alternative retail electric supplier agent; and (iv) the trade name and logo of the alternative retail electric supplier the agent is representing. If the agent is selling electric power and energy services from multiple alternative retail electric suppliers to the consumer, the identification shall display the trade name and logo of the agent, broker, or consultant entity as that entity is defined in Section 16-115C of the Public Utilities Act. An alternative retail electric supplier shall leave the premises at the consumer's, owner's, or occupant's request. A copy of the Uniform Disclosure Statement described in 83 Ill. Adm. Code 412.115 and 412.Appendix A is to be left with the consumer, at the conclusion of the visit unless the consumer refuses to accept a copy. An alternative retail electric supplier may provide the Uniform Disclosure Statement electronically instead of in paper form to a consumer upon that customer's request. The alternative retail electric supplier shall also offer to the consumer, at the time of the initiation of the solicitation, a business card or other material that lists the agent's name, identification number and title, and the alternative retail electric supplier's name and contact information, including phone number. The alternative retail electric supplier shall not conduct any in-person solicitations of consumers at any building or premises where any sign, notice, or declaration of any description whatsoever is posted that prohibits sales, marketing, or solicitations. The alternative retail electric supplier shall obtain consent to enter multi-unit residential dwellings. Consent obtained to enter a multi-unit dwelling from one prospective customer or occupant of the dwelling shall not constitute consent to market to any other prospective consumers without separate consent.
(3) An alternative retail electric supplier who contacts consumers by telephone for the purpose of selling electric power and energy service shall provide the agent's name and identification number. Any telemarketing solicitations that lead to a telephone enrollment of a consumer must be recorded and retained for a minimum of 2 years. All telemarketing calls of consumers that do not lead to a telephone enrollment, but last at least 2 minutes, shall be recorded and retained for a minimum of 6 months.
(4) During an inbound enrollment call, an alternative retail electric supplier shall state that he or she represents an independent seller of electric power and energy service certified by the Illinois Commerce Commission. All inbound enrollment calls that lead to an enrollment shall be recorded, and the recordings shall be retained for a minimum of 2 years. An inbound enrollment call that does not lead to an enrollment, but lasts at least 2 minutes, shall be retained for a minimum of 6 months. The alternative retail electric supplier shall send the Uniform Disclosure Statement and contract to the customer within 3 business days after the electric utility's confirmation to the alternative retail electric supplier of an accepted enrollment.
(5) If a direct mail solicitation to a consumer includes a written letter of agency, it shall include the Uniform Disclosure Statement described in 83 Ill. Adm. Code 412.115 and 412.Appendix A. The Uniform Disclosure Statement shall be provided on a separate page from the other marketing materials included in the direct mail solicitation. If a written letter of agency is being used to authorize a consumer's enrollment, the written letter of agency shall comply with this Section. A copy of the contract must be sent to the consumer within 3 business days after the electric utility's confirmation to the alternative retail electric supplier of an accepted enrollment.
(6) Online Solicitation.
(A) Each alternative retail electric supplier offering electric power and energy service to consumers online shall clearly and conspicuously make all disclosures for any services offered through online enrollment before requiring the consumer to enter any personal information other than zip code, electric utility service territory, or type of service sought.
(B) Notwithstanding any requirements in this Section to the contrary, an alternative retail electric supplier may secure consent from the consumer to obtain customer-specific billing and usage information for the sole purpose of determining and pricing a product through a letter of agency or method approved through an Illinois Commerce Commission docket before making all disclosure for services offered through online enrollment. It is a violation of this Act for an alternative retail electric supplier to use a consumer's utility account number to execute or change a consumer's enrollment unless the consumer expressly consents to that enrollment as required by law.
(C) The enrollment website of the alternative retail electric supplier shall, at a minimum, include: (i) disclosure of all material terms and conditions of the offer; (ii) a statement that electronic acceptance of the terms and conditions is an agreement to initiate service and begin enrollment; (iii) a statement that the consumer shall review the contract or contact the current supplier to learn if any early termination fees are applicable; and (iv) an email address and toll-free phone number of the alternative retail electric supplier where the customer can express a decision to rescind the contract.
(7)(A) Beginning January 1, 2020, an alternative retail electric supplier shall not sell or offer to sell any products or services to a consumer pursuant to a contract in which the contract automatically renews, unless an alternative retail electric supplier provides to the consumer at the outset of the offer, in addition to other disclosures required by law, a separate written statement titled "Automatic Contract Renewal" that clearly and conspicuously discloses in bold lettering in at least 12-point font the terms and conditions of the automatic contract renewal provision, including: (i) the estimated bill cycle on which the initial contract term expires and a statement that it could be later based on when the utility accepts the initial enrollment; (ii) the estimated bill cycle on which the new contract term begins and a statement that it will immediately follow the last billing cycle of the current term; (iii) the procedure to terminate the contract before the new contract term applies; and (iv) the cancellation procedure. If the alternative retail electric supplier sells or offers to sell the products or services to a consumer during an in-person solicitation or telemarketing solicitation, the disclosures described in this subparagraph (A) shall also be made to the consumer verbally during the solicitation. Nothing in this subparagraph (A) shall be construed to apply to contracts entered into before January 1, 2020.
(B) At least 30 days before, but not more than 60 days prior, to the end of the initial contract term, in any and all contracts that automatically renew after the initial term, the alternative retail electric supplier shall send, in addition to other disclosures required by law, a separate written notice of the contract renewal to the consumer that clearly and conspicuously discloses the following:
(i) a statement printed or visible from the outside of the envelope or in the subject line of the email, if the customer has agreed to receive official documents by email, that states "Contract Renewal Notice";
(ii) a statement in bold lettering, in at least 12-point font, that the contract will automatically renew unless the customer cancels it;
(iii) the billing cycle in which service under the current term will expire;
(iv) the billing cycle in which service under the new term will begin;
(v) the process and options available to the consumer to reject the new contract terms;
(vi) the cancellation process if the consumer's contract automatically renews before the consumer rejects the new contract terms;
(vii) the terms and conditions of the new contract term;
(viii) for a fixed rate contract, a side-by-side comparison of the current price and the new price; for a variable rate contract or time-of-use product in which the first month's renewal price can be determined, a side-by-side comparison of the current price and the price for the first month of the new variable or time-of-use price; or for a variable or time-of-use contract based on a publicly available index, a side-by-side comparison of the current formula and the new formula; and
(ix) the phone number and Internet address to submit a consumer inquiry or complaint to the Illinois Commerce Commission and the Office of the Attorney General.
(C) An alternative retail electric supplier shall not automatically renew a consumer's enrollment after the current term of the contract expires when the current term of the contract provides that the consumer will be charged a fixed rate and the renewed contract provides that the consumer will be charged a variable rate, unless: (i) the alternative retail electric supplier complies with subparagraphs (A) and (B); and (ii) the customer expressly consents to the contract renewal in writing or by electronic signature at least 30 days, but no more than 60 days, before the contract expires.
(D) This paragraph (7) does not apply to customers enrolled in a municipal aggregation program pursuant to Section 1-92 of the Illinois Power Agency Act.
(8) All in-person and telephone solicitations shall be conducted in, translated into, and provided in a language in which the consumer subject to the marketing or solicitation is able to understand and communicate. An alternative retail electric supplier shall terminate a solicitation if the consumer subject to the marketing or communication is unable to understand and communicate in the language in which the marketing or solicitation is being conducted. An alternative retail electric supplier shall comply with Section 2N of this Act.
(9) Beginning January 1, 2020, consumers shall have the right to terminate their contract with the alternative retail electric supplier at any time without any termination fees or penalties.
(10) An alternative retail electric supplier shall not submit a change to a customer's electric service provider in violation of Section 16-115E of the Public Utilities Act.
(d) Complaints may be filed with the Illinois Commerce Commission under this Section by a consumer whose electric service has been provided by an alternative retail electric supplier in a manner not in compliance with this Section or by the Illinois Commerce Commission on its own motion when it appears to the Commission that an alternative retail electric supplier has provided service in a manner not in compliance with this Section. If, after notice and hearing, the Commission finds that an alternative retail electric supplier has violated this Section, the Commission may in its discretion do any one or more of the following:
(1) Require the violating alternative retail electric supplier to refund to the consumer charges collected in excess of those that would have been charged by the consumer's authorized electric service provider.
(2) Require the violating alternative retail electric supplier to pay to the consumer's authorized electric service provider the amount the authorized electric service provider would have collected for the electric service. The Commission is authorized to reduce this payment by any amount already paid by the violating alternative retail electric supplier to the consumer's authorized provider for electric service.
(3) Require the violating alternative retail electric supplier to pay a fine of up to $10,000 into the Public Utility Fund for each violation of this Section.
(4) Issue a cease and desist order.
(5) For a pattern of violation of this Section or for violations that continue after a cease and desist order, revoke the violating alternative retail electric supplier's certificate of service authority.
(d-5)(1) Before an alternative retail electric supplier may warrant that it has a residential customer or small commercial retail customer's express consent agreement to access interval data as described in subsection (b) of Section 16-122 of the Public Utilities Act, the alternative retail electric supplier shall: (i) disclose to the consumer at the outset of the offer that the alternative retail electric supplier will access the consumer's interval data from the consumer's utility with the consumer's express agreement, and the consumer's option to refuse to provide express agreement to access the consumer's interval data; and (ii) obtain the consumer's express agreement for the alternative retail electric supplier to access the consumer's interval data from the consumer's utility in a separate letter of agency, a distinct response to a third-party verification, or during a recorded enrollment initiated by the consumer with the consumer's consent. The disclosure by the alternative retail electric supplier to the consumer in this Section shall be conducted in, translated into, and provided in a language in which the consumer subject to the disclosure is able to understand and communicate.
(2) Before an alternative retail electric supplier may warrant to an electric utility that it has an express agreement from a residential customer or small commercial retail customer who was enrolled with the alternative retail electric supplier prior to the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 103rd General Assembly to access the consumer's interval data as described in subsection (b) of Section 16-122 of the Public Utilities Act, an alternative retail electric supplier shall: (i) disclose to the consumer that the alternative retail electric supplier will access the consumer's interval data from the consumer's utility with the consumer's express agreement, which is a material change to the consumer's existing contract terms, and the consumer's option to refuse to provide express agreement to access the consumer's interval data; and (ii) obtain the consumer's express agreement for the alternative retail electric supplier to change the consumer's material contract terms to access the consumer's interval data from the consumer's utility in a separate letter of agency, a distinct response to a third-party verification, or during a recorded enrollment initiated by the consumer with the consumer's consent. The disclosure by the alternative retail electric supplier to the consumer in this Section shall be conducted in, translated into, and provided in a language in which the consumer subject to the disclosure is able to understand and communicate.
(3) An alternative retail electric supplier may refuse to enroll or may disenroll a residential customer or small commercial retail customer in a product or service as described in paragraph (4) of subsection (b) of Section 16-122 of the Public Utilities Act if the residential customer or small commercial retail customer does not provide or revokes consent under this subsection.
(4) An alternative retail electric supplier shall not warrant that it has a non residential customer's, other than a small commercial retail customer, consent to access interval data as described in subsection (b) of Section 16-122 of the Public Utilities Act unless the contract between the alternative retail electric supplier and the customer explicitly provides the alternative retail electric supplier with permission to access the customer's interval meter usage data. An alternative retail electric supplier shall not release, sell, license, or otherwise disclose any customer interval data obtained under Section 16-122 of the Public Utilities Act to any third person except as provided for in Section 16-122 of the Public Utilities Act.
(e) For purposes of this Section:
"Electric service provider" shall have the meaning given that phrase in Section 6.5 of the Attorney General Act.
"Alternative retail electric supplier" has the meaning given to that term in Section 16-102 of the Public Utilities Act.
(Source: P.A. 102-958, eff. 1-1-23; 103-154, eff. 6-30-23; 103-237, eff. 6-30-23.)
(815 ILCS 505/2FF)
Sec. 2FF. Electric service fraud; elderly persons or persons with disabilities; additional penalties. With respect to the advertising, sale, provider selection, billings, or collections relating to the provision of electric service, where the consumer is an elderly person or person with a disability, a civil penalty of $50,000 may be imposed for each violation. For purposes of this Section:
(1) "Elderly person" means a person 60 years of age or older.
(2) "Person with a disability" means a person who suffers from a permanent physical or mental impairment resulting from disease, injury, functional disorder or congenital condition.
(3) "Electric service" shall have the meaning given that term in Section 6.5 of the Attorney General Act.
(Source: P.A. 99-143, eff. 7-27-15.)
(815 ILCS 505/2GG)
Sec. 2GG. Electric service advertising. Any advertisement for electric service that lists rates shall clearly and conspicuously disclose all associated costs for such service including, but not limited to, access fees and service fees.
(Source: P.A. 90-561, eff. 12-16-97.)
(815 ILCS 505/2HH)
Sec. 2HH. Billing and collection practices of electric service providers. Each person selling generation, transmission, distribution, metering, or billing of electric service shall display the name, the toll-free telephone number of such service provider, and a description of the services provided on all bills submitted to subscribers of such services. All personal information relating to the subscriber of generation, transmission, distribution, metering, or billing of electric service shall be maintained by the service providers solely for the purpose of generating the bill for such services, and shall not be divulged to any other persons with the exception of credit bureaus, collection agencies, and persons licensed to market electric service in the State of Illinois, without the written consent of the subscriber.
(Source: P.A. 90-561, eff. 12-16-97.)
(815 ILCS 505/2II)
Sec. 2II. Prohibition of sweepstakes boxes and conditions upon use of prize promotions to solicit authority to provide telecommunications or related service.
(a) As used in this Section, the following terms have the meaning set forth herein:
(1) "Telecommunications carrier" has the meaning given in Section 13-202 of the Public Utilities Act, except that "telecommunications carrier" does not include a provider of commercial mobile radio services (as defined by 47 U.S.C. 332(d)(1).
(2) "Telecommunications service" has the meaning given in Section 13-203 of the Public Utilities Act.
(3) "Enhanced telecommunications service" means any service or merchandise, other than interLATA, intraLATA, or local exchange service for which any charge or assessment appears on a billing statement directed to a consumer by a telecommunications carrier.
(4) "Sweepstakes box" means the box or receptacle into which consumers place entry forms or documents used to enter sweepstakes, contests, or drawings of any description, and promotional materials attached thereto.
(b) It is an unfair or deceptive act or practice within the meaning of Section 2 of this Act for any person to solicit authority to execute a change of telecommunications carrier or to solicit authority to provide any telecommunications service or enhanced telecommunications service through the use of any sweepstakes box.
(c) Forms or documents used or intended to be used by consumers to enter sweepstakes, contests, or drawings of any description may not be used by any person as written authority to execute a change of any person's telecommunications carrier or to render any telecommunications service or enhanced telecommunications service.
(d) Any person who solicits any authority to execute a change of any person's telecommunications carrier or to render any telecommunications service or enhanced telecommunications service through or in conjunction with any sweepstakes, contest, or drawing shall clearly, conspicuously, and fully disclose in all direct mail solicitations to consumers the fact that the sweepstakes, contest, or drawing is intended to solicit authority to execute a change of telecommunications carrier or render telecommunications service or enhanced telecommunications service. The disclosure shall include, at the least, the following information:
(1) that no purchase or change of telecommunications carrier or service is required to enter the sweepstakes, contest, or drawing;
(2) the alternative means by which a person may enter the sweepstakes, contest, or drawing without authorizing a change of telecommunications carrier or service or making a purchase;
(3) the name and telephone number of the entity soliciting consumers to make a purchase or to authorize a change of telecommunications carrier or service through the use of or in conjunction with the sweepstakes, contest, or drawing; and
(4) a brief description of the nature of the telecommunications services or enhanced telecommunications services for which authorization is sought through the use of or in conjunction with the sweepstakes, contest, or drawing.
(e) It is an unfair or deceptive act or practice within the meaning of Section 2 of this Act for any person to use a form or document used or intended to be used by consumers to enter sweepstakes, contests, or drawings of any description as written authority to execute a change of any person's telecommunications carrier or to render any telecommunications service or enhanced telecommunications service or for any person to solicit authority to execute a change of telecommunications carrier or to solicit authority to provide any telecommunications service or enhanced telecommunications service through or in conjunction with any sweepstakes, contest, or drawing in a manner not in compliance with this Section. Nothing in this Section shall be construed to prohibit any person from offering a premium, incentive, or thing of value to another as consideration for authorizing a change of telecommunications carrier or the rendition of any telecommunications service or enhanced telecommunications service, provided that no element of chance or skill is associated with the offer of the premium, incentive, or thing of value or the receipt thereof.
(Source: P.A. 90-610, eff. 7-1-98.)
(815 ILCS 505/2JJ)
Sec. 2JJ. Shoppers club information.
(a) It is an unlawful practice for any person who is an officer, manager, or employee of a merchant to knowingly disclose to a person other than the merchant's officers, managers, employees, vendors, agents, or consultants either (i) the identity of an applicant to, or member of, the merchant's shoppers club or (ii) the identity of a shopper club member's actual purchases of merchandise, unless the applicant or member consents to the disclosure. An applicant's or member's consent is presumed if the applicant or member is given the written opportunity to retain the non-disclosure rights provided for in this Section but fails to so affirmatively direct.
(b) For purposes of this Section:
"Merchandise" means any item of tangible personal property.
"Merchant" means an owner or operator of any retail mercantile establishment and includes but is not limited to any corporation, including parent, subsidiaries and sister companies, partnerships, sole proprietorship, or any other form of business entity.
"Retail mercantile establishment" means any place, including Internet web sites, where merchandise is sold or offered for sale at retail to persons who are members of a merchant's shoppers club.
"Shoppers club" means a membership in a discount buying program in which the purchaser is given a reduction in the price of the merchandise by displaying a card that, when used with an electronic scanning device or sales recording device at the time of the purchase of the merchandise, displays the discount price of the merchandise.
(c) Nothing in this Section precludes the use or distribution to any person of any compilation, in aggregate form, of information obtained by a merchant from its operation of a shoppers club.
(d) The provisions of Section 10a of this Act do not apply to a violation of this Section.
(Source: P.A. 91-348, eff. 1-1-00.)
(815 ILCS 505/2KK)
Sec. 2KK. Animal cremation services. It is an unlawful practice within the meaning of this Act for a provider of companion animal cremation services (1) to fail to prepare or distribute a written explanation of services as required by the Companion Animal Cremation Act; (2) to prepare or distribute a written explanation of services under that Act that the provider knows or should know to be false or misleading; or (3) to knowingly make a false certification under Section 20 of that Act.
(Source: P.A. 92-287, eff. 1-1-02; 92-651, eff. 7-11-02.)
(815 ILCS 505/2LL)
Sec. 2LL. Halal food; disclosure.
(a) As used in this Section:
"Dealer" means any establishment that advertises, represents, or holds itself out as growing animals in a halal way or selling, preparing, or maintaining food as halal, including, but not limited to, manufacturers, animals' farms, slaughterhouses, wholesalers, stores, restaurants, hotels, catering facilities, butcher shops, summer camps, bakeries, delicatessens, supermarkets, grocery stores, licensed health care facilities, freezer dealers, and food plan companies. These establishments may also sell, prepare or maintain food not represented as halal.
"Director" means the Director of Agriculture.
"Food" means an animal grown to become food for human consumption, a food, a food product, a food ingredient, a dietary supplement, or a beverage.
"Halal" means prepared under and maintained in strict compliance with the laws and customs of the Islamic religion including but not limited to those laws and customs of zabiha/zabeeha (slaughtered according to appropriate Islamic codes), and as expressed by reliable recognized Islamic entities and scholars.
(b) Any dealer who grows animals represented to be grown in a halal way or who prepares, distributes, sells, or exposes for sale any food represented to be halal shall disclose the basis upon which those representations are made by posting the information required by the Director, in accordance with rules adopted by the Director, on a sign of a type and size specified by the Director, in a conspicuous place upon the premises at which the food is sold or exposed for sale, as required by the Director.
(c) Any person subject to the requirements of subsection (b) does not commit an unlawful practice if the person shows by a preponderance of the evidence that the person relied in good faith upon the representations of an animals' farm, slaughterhouse, manufacturer, processor, packer, or distributor of any food represented to be halal.
(d) Possession by a dealer of any animal grown to become food for consumption or any food not in conformance with the disclosure required by subsection (b) with respect to that food is presumptive evidence that the person is in possession of that food with the intent to sell.
(e) Any dealer who grows animals represented to be grown in a halal way or who prepares, distributes, sells, or exposes for sale any food represented to be halal shall comply with all requirements of the Director, including, but not limited to, recordkeeping, labeling and filing, in accordance with rules adopted by the Director.
(f) Neither an animal represented to be grown in a halal way to become food for human consumption, nor a food commodity represented as halal, may be offered for sale by a dealer until the dealer has registered, with the Director, documenting information of the certifying Islamic entity specialized in halal food or the supervising Muslim Inspector of Halal Food.
(g) The Director shall adopt rules to carry out this Section in accordance with the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act.
(h) It is an unlawful practice under this Act to violate this Section or the rules adopted by the Director to carry out this Section.
(Source: P.A. 95-331, eff. 8-21-07.)
(815 ILCS 505/2MM)
Sec. 2MM. Verification of accuracy of consumer reporting information used to extend consumers credit and security freeze on credit reports.
(a) A credit card issuer who mails an offer or solicitation to apply for a credit card and who receives a completed application in response to the offer or solicitation which lists an address that is not substantially the same as the address on the offer or solicitation may not issue a credit card based on that application until reasonable steps have been taken to verify the applicant's change of address.
(b) Any person who uses a consumer credit report in connection with the approval of credit based on the application for an extension of credit, and who has received notification of a police report filed with a consumer reporting agency that the applicant has been a victim of financial identity theft, as defined in Section 16-30 or 16G-15 of the Criminal Code of 1961 or the Criminal Code of 2012, may not lend money or extend credit without taking reasonable steps to verify the consumer's identity and confirm that the application for an extension of credit is not the result of financial identity theft.
(c) A consumer may request that a security freeze be placed on his or her credit report by sending a request in writing by certified mail or by at least one of telephone or electronic means to a consumer reporting agency at an address or telephone or electronic location designated by the consumer reporting agency to receive such requests.
The following persons may request that a security freeze be placed on the credit report of a person with a disability:
(1) a guardian of the person with a disability who is the subject of the request, appointed under Article XIa of the Probate Act of 1975; and
(2) an agent of the person with a disability who is the subject of the request, under a written durable power of attorney that complies with the Illinois Power of Attorney Act.
The following persons may request that a security freeze be placed on the credit report of a minor:
(1) a guardian of the minor who is the subject of the request, appointed under Article XI of the Probate Act of 1975;
(2) a parent of the minor who is the subject of the request; and
(3) a guardian appointed under the Juvenile Court Act of 1987 for a minor under the age of 18 who is the subject of the request or, with a court order authorizing the guardian consent power, for a youth who is the subject of the request who has attained the age of 18, but who is under the age of 21.
This subsection (c) does not prevent a consumer reporting agency from advising a third party that a security freeze is in effect with respect to the consumer's credit report.
(d) A consumer reporting agency shall place a security freeze on a consumer's credit report no later than 5 business days after receiving a written request from the consumer:
(1) a written request described in subsection (c); and
(2) proper identification.
(e) Upon placing the security freeze on the consumer's credit report, the consumer reporting agency shall send to the consumer within 10 business days a written confirmation of the placement of the security freeze and a unique personal identification number or password or similar device, other than the consumer's Social Security number, to be used by the consumer when providing authorization for the release of his or her credit report for a specific party or period of time.
(f) If the consumer wishes to allow his or her credit report to be accessed for a specific party or period of time while a freeze is in place, he or she shall contact the consumer reporting agency using a point of contact designated by the consumer reporting agency, request that the freeze be temporarily lifted, and provide the following:
(1) proper identification;
(2) the unique personal identification number or password or similar device provided by the consumer reporting agency; and
(3) the proper information regarding the third party or time period for which the report shall be available to users of the credit report.
A security freeze for a minor may not be temporarily lifted. This Section does not require a consumer reporting agency to provide to a minor or a parent or guardian of a minor on behalf of the minor a unique personal identification number, password, or similar device provided by the consumer reporting agency for the minor, or parent or guardian of the minor, to use to authorize the consumer reporting agency to release information from a minor.
(g) A consumer reporting agency shall develop a contact method to receive and process a request from a consumer to temporarily lift a freeze on a credit report pursuant to subsection (f) in an expedited manner.
A contact method under this subsection shall include: (i) a postal address; and (ii) an electronic contact method chosen by the consumer reporting agency, which may include the use of telephone, fax, Internet, or other electronic means.
(h) A consumer reporting agency that receives a request from a consumer to temporarily lift a freeze on a credit report pursuant to subsection (f), shall comply with the request no later than 3 business days after receiving the request.
(i) A consumer reporting agency shall remove or temporarily lift a freeze placed on a consumer's credit report only in the following cases:
(1) upon consumer request, pursuant to subsection (f) or subsection (l) of this Section; or
(2) if the consumer's credit report was frozen due to a material misrepresentation of fact by the consumer.
If a consumer reporting agency intends to remove a freeze upon a consumer's credit report pursuant to this subsection, the consumer reporting agency shall notify the consumer in writing prior to removing the freeze on the consumer's credit report.
(j) If a third party requests access to a credit report on which a security freeze is in effect, and this request is in connection with an application for credit or any other use, and the consumer does not allow his or her credit report to be accessed for that specific party or period of time, the third party may treat the application as incomplete.
(k) If a consumer requests a security freeze, the credit reporting agency shall disclose to the consumer the process of placing and temporarily lifting a security freeze, and the process for allowing access to information from the consumer's credit report for a specific party or period of time while the freeze is in place.
(l) A security freeze shall remain in place until the consumer or person authorized under subsection (c) to act on behalf of the minor or person with a disability who is the subject of the security freeze requests, using a point of contact designated by the consumer reporting agency, that the security freeze be removed. A credit reporting agency shall remove a security freeze within 3 business days of receiving a request for removal from the consumer, who provides:
(1) proper identification; and
(2) the unique personal identification number or password or similar device provided by the consumer reporting agency.
(m) A consumer reporting agency shall require proper identification of the person making a request to place or remove a security freeze and may require proper identification and proper authority from the person making the request to place or remove a freeze on behalf of the person with a disability or minor.
(n) The provisions of subsections (c) through (m) of this Section do not apply to the use of a consumer credit report by any of the following:
(1) A person or entity, or a subsidiary, affiliate, or agent of that person or entity, or an assignee of a financial obligation owing by the consumer to that person or entity, or a prospective assignee of a financial obligation owing by the consumer to that person or entity in conjunction with the proposed purchase of the financial obligation, with which the consumer has or had prior to assignment an account or contract, including a demand deposit account, or to whom the consumer issued a negotiable instrument, for the purposes of reviewing the account or collecting the financial obligation owing for the account, contract, or negotiable instrument. For purposes of this subsection, "reviewing the account" includes activities related to account maintenance, monitoring, credit line increases, and account upgrades and enhancements.
(2) A subsidiary, affiliate, agent, assignee, or prospective assignee of a person to whom access has been granted under subsection (f) of this Section for purposes of facilitating the extension of credit or other permissible use.
(3) Any state or local agency, law enforcement agency, trial court, or private collection agency acting pursuant to a court order, warrant, or subpoena.
(4) A child support agency acting pursuant to Title IV-D of the Social Security Act.
(5) The State or its agents or assigns acting to investigate fraud.
(6) The Department of Revenue or its agents or assigns acting to investigate or collect delinquent taxes or unpaid court orders or to fulfill any of its other statutory responsibilities.
(7) The use of credit information for the purposes of prescreening as provided for by the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act.
(8) Any person or entity administering a credit file monitoring subscription or similar service to which the consumer has subscribed.
(9) Any person or entity for the purpose of providing a consumer with a copy of his or her credit report or score upon the consumer's request.
(10) Any person using the information in connection with the underwriting of insurance.
(n-5) A consumer reporting agency may not impose a charge on a consumer for placing a freeze, removing a freeze, or temporarily lifting a freeze.
(o) If a security freeze is in place, a consumer reporting agency shall not change any of the following official information in a credit report without sending a written confirmation of the change to the consumer within 30 days of the change being posted to the consumer's file: (i) name, (ii) date of birth, (iii) Social Security number, and (iv) address. Written confirmation is not required for technical modifications of a consumer's official information, including name and street abbreviations, complete spellings, or transposition of numbers or letters. In the case of an address change, the written confirmation shall be sent to both the new address and to the former address.
(p) The following entities are not required to place a security freeze in a consumer report, however, pursuant to paragraph (3) of this subsection, a consumer reporting agency acting as a reseller shall honor any security freeze placed on a consumer credit report by another consumer reporting agency:
(1) A check services or fraud prevention services company, which issues reports on incidents of fraud or authorizations for the purpose of approving or processing negotiable instruments, electronic funds transfers, or similar methods of payment.
(2) A deposit account information service company, which issues reports regarding account closures due to fraud, substantial overdrafts, ATM abuse, or similar negative information regarding a consumer to inquiring banks or other financial institutions for use only in reviewing a consumer request for a deposit account at the inquiring bank or financial institution.
(3) A consumer reporting agency that:
(A) acts only to resell credit information by assembling and merging information contained in a database of one or more consumer reporting agencies; and
(B) does not maintain a permanent database of credit information from which new credit reports are produced.
(q) For purposes of this Section:
"Credit report" has the same meaning as "consumer report", as ascribed to it in 15 U.S.C. Sec. 1681a(d).
"Consumer reporting agency" has the meaning ascribed to it in 15 U.S.C. Sec. 1681a(f).
"Security freeze" means a notice placed in a consumer's credit report, at the request of the consumer and subject to certain exceptions, that prohibits the consumer reporting agency from releasing the consumer's credit report or score relating to an extension of credit, without the express authorization of the consumer.
"Extension of credit" does not include an increase in an existing open-end credit plan, as defined in Regulation Z of the Federal Reserve System (12 C.F.R. 226.2), or any change to or review of an existing credit account.
"Proper authority" means documentation that shows that a parent, guardian, or agent has authority to act on behalf of a minor or person with a disability. "Proper authority" includes (1) an order issued by a court of law that shows that a guardian has authority to act on behalf of a minor or person with a disability, (2) a written, notarized statement signed by a parent that expressly describes the authority of the parent to act on behalf of the minor, or (3) a durable power of attorney that complies with the Illinois Power of Attorney Act.
"Proper identification" means information generally deemed sufficient to identify a person. Only if the consumer is unable to reasonably identify himself or herself with the information described above, may a consumer reporting agency require additional information concerning the consumer's employment and personal or family history in order to verify his or her identity.
(r) Any person who violates this Section commits an unlawful practice within the meaning of this Act.
(Source: P.A. 99-143, eff. 7-27-15; 99-373, eff. 1-1-16; 99-642, eff. 7-28-16; 100-589, eff. 6-8-18.)
(815 ILCS 505/2NN)
Sec. 2NN. Receipts; credit card and debit card account numbers.
(a) Definitions. As used in this Section:
"Cardholder" has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 17-0.5 of the Criminal Code of 2012.
"Credit card" has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 17-0.5 of the Criminal Code of 2012.
"Debit card" has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 17-0.5 of the Criminal Code of 2012.
"Issuer" has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 17-0.5 of the Criminal Code of 2012.
"Person" has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 17-0.5 of the Criminal Code of 2012.
"Provider" means a person who furnishes money, goods, services, or anything else of value upon presentation, whether physically, in writing, verbally, electronically, or otherwise, of a credit card or debit card by the cardholder, or any agent or employee of that person.
(b) Except as otherwise provided in this Section, no provider may print or otherwise produce or reproduce or permit the printing or other production or reproduction of the following: (i) any part of the credit card or debit card account number, other than the last 4 digits or other characters, (ii) the credit card or debit card expiration date on any receipt provided or made available to the cardholder.
(c) This Section does not apply to a credit card or debit card transaction in which the sole means available to the provider of recording the credit card or debit card account number is by handwriting or by imprint of the card.
(d) This Section does not apply to receipts issued for transactions on the electronic benefits transfer card system in accordance with 7 CFR 274.12(g)(3).
(e) A violation of this Section constitutes an unlawful practice within the meaning of this Act.
(f) This Section is operative on January 1, 2005.
(Source: P.A. 96-1551, eff. 7-1-11; 97-1150, eff. 1-25-13.)
(815 ILCS 505/2OO)
Sec. 2OO. (Reserved).
(Source: None; this Section number is reserved.)
(815 ILCS 505/2PP)
Sec. 2PP. Mail; disclosure.
(a) It is an unlawful practice under this Act to knowingly mail or send or cause to be mailed or sent a postcard or letter to a recipient in this State if:
(1) the postcard or letter contains a request that the recipient contact the sender by mail, telephone, email, website, or other prescribed means; and
(2) the postcard or letter is mailed or sent to induce the recipient to contact the sender by mail, telephone, email, website, or other prescribed means so that goods, services, or other merchandise, as defined in Section 1, may be offered for sale to the recipient; and
(3) the postcard or letter does not disclose or disclaim that it is not a bill and that it is a solicitation for goods, services, or other merchandise, as defined in Section 1, that may be offered for sale if the recipient contacts the sender by mail, telephone, email, website, or any other prescribed means; and
(4) the postcard or letter does not disclose or isclaim any and all affiliations or lack thereof.
(b) All disclosures and disclaimers appearing on a postcard or letter must be conspicuously located at the top of the postcard or letter, be easily readable in clear and unambiguous language, and be printed in at least 14-point bold-face font in a black-outlined box.
(Source: P.A. 103-87, eff. 1-1-24.)
(815 ILCS 505/2QQ)
Sec. 2QQ. Insurance cards; social security number.
(a) As used in this Section, "insurance card" means a card that a person or entity provides to an individual so that the individual may present the card to establish the eligibility of the individual or his or her dependents to receive health, dental, optical, or accident insurance benefits, prescription drug benefits, or benefits under a managed care plan or a plan provided by a health maintenance organization, a health services plan corporation, or a similar entity.
(b) A person or entity may not print an individual's social security number on an insurance card. A person or entity that provides an insurance card must print on the card an identification number unique to the holder of the card in the format prescribed by Section 15 of the Uniform Prescription Drug Information Card Act.
(c) An insurance card issued to an individual before the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 93rd General Assembly that does not comply with subsection (b) must be replaced by January 1, 2006 with an insurance card that complies with subsection (b) if the individual's eligibility for benefits continues after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 93rd General Assembly.
(d) A violation of this Section constitutes an unlawful practice within the meaning of this Act.
(Source: P.A. 95-331, eff. 8-21-07.)
(815 ILCS 505/2RR)
Sec. 2RR. Use of Social Security numbers.
(a) Except as otherwise provided in this Section, a person may not do any of the following:
(1) Publicly post or publicly display in any manner an individual's social security number. As used in this Section, "publicly post" or "publicly display" means to intentionally communicate or otherwise make available to the general public.
(2) Print an individual's social security number on any card required for the individual to access products or services provided by the person or entity, or on a wristband or on the outside of any file associated with the products or services provided by the person or entity; however, a person or entity that provides an insurance card must print on the card an identification number unique to the holder of the card in the format prescribed by Section 15 of the Uniform Prescription Drug Information Card Act.
(3) Require an individual to transmit his or her social security number over the Internet, unless the connection is secure or the social security number is encrypted.
(4) Require an individual to use his or her social security number to access an Internet web site, unless a password or unique personal identification number or other authentication device is also required to access the Internet Web site.
(5) Print an individual's social security number on any materials that are mailed to the individual, unless State or federal law requires the social security number to be on the document to be mailed. Notwithstanding any provision in this Section to the contrary, social security numbers may be included in applications and forms sent by mail, including documents sent as part of an application or enrollment process or to establish, amend, or terminate an account, contract, or policy or to confirm the accuracy of the social security number. A social security number that may permissibly be mailed under this Section may not be printed, in whole or in part, on a postcard or other mailer that does not require an envelope or be visible on an envelope or visible without the envelope having been opened.
(b) A person that used, before July 1, 2005, an individual's social security number in a manner inconsistent with subsection (a) may continue using that individual's social security number in the same manner on or after July 1, 2005 if all of the following conditions are met:
(1) The use of the social security number is continuous. If the use is stopped for any reason, subsection (a) shall apply.
(2) The individual is provided an annual disclosure that informs the individual that he or she has the right to stop the use of his or her social security number in a manner prohibited by subsection (a).
A written request by an individual to stop the use of his or her social security number in a manner prohibited by subsection (a) shall be implemented within 30 days of the receipt of the request. There shall be no fee or charge for implementing the request. A person shall not deny services to an individual because the individual makes such a written request.
(c) This Section does not apply to the collection, use, or release of a social security number as required by State or federal law or the use of a social security number for internal verification or administrative purposes. This Section does not apply to the collection, use, or release of a social security number by the State, a subdivision of the State, or an individual in the employ of the State or a subdivision of the State in connection with his or her official duties.
(d) This Section does not apply to documents that are recorded or required to be open to the public under State or federal law, applicable case law, Supreme Court Rule, or the Constitution of the State of Illinois.
(e) If a federal law takes effect requiring the United States Department of Health and Human Services to establish a national unique patient health identifier program, any person who complies with the federal law shall be deemed to be in compliance with this Section.
(f) A person may not encode or embed a social security number in or on a card or document, including, but not limited to, using a bar code, chip, magnetic strip, or other technology, in place of removing the social security number as required by this Section.
(g) Any person who violates this Section commits an unlawful practice within the meaning of this Act.
(Source: P.A. 97-139, eff. 1-1-12.)
(815 ILCS 505/2SS)
Sec. 2SS. Gift certificates.
(a) "Gift certificate" means a record evidencing a promise, made for consideration, by the seller or issuer of the record that goods or services will be provided to the holder of the record for the value shown in the record and includes, but is not limited to, a record that contains a microprocessor chip, magnetic stripe or other means for the storage of information that is prefunded and for which the value is decremented upon each use, a gift card, an electronic gift card, stored-value card or certificate, a store card or a similar record or card. "Gift certificate" also includes a credit slip issued by a store to a consumer who returns goods that enables the consumer to receive other goods of similar value in exchange for the returned goods. For purposes of this Act, the term "gift certificate" does not include any of the following:
(i) prepaid telecommunications and technology cards including, but not limited to, prepaid telephone calling cards, prepaid technical support cards, and prepaid Internet disks that are distributed to or purchased by a consumer;
(ii) prepaid telecommunications and technology cards including, but not limited to, prepaid telephone calling cards, prepaid technical support cards, and prepaid Internet disks that are provided to a consumer pursuant to any award, loyalty, or promotion program without any money or other thing of value being given in exchange for the card; or
(iii) any gift certificate usable with multiple sellers of goods or services.
(b) On or after January 1, 2008, no person shall sell a gift certificate that is subject to: (1) an expiration date earlier than 5 years after the date of issuance; or (2) a post-purchase fee. Any gift certificate issued prior to January 1, 2008 that is subject to a fee must contain a statement clearly and conspicuously printed on the gift certificate stating whether there is a fee, the amount of the fee, how often the fee will occur, that the fee is triggered by inactivity of the gift certificate, and at what point the fee will be charged. The statement may appear on the front or back of the gift certificate in a location where it is visible to any purchaser prior to the purchase.
(c) The face value of a gift certificate issued on or after January 1, 2008 may not be reduced in value and the holder of a gift certificate issued after January 1, 2008 may not be penalized in any way for non-use or untimely redemption of the gift certificate. Any gift certificate issued prior to January 1, 2008 that is subject to an expiration date must contain a statement clearly and conspicuously printed on the gift certificate stating the expiration date. The statement may appear on the front or back of the gift certificate in a location where it is visible to any purchaser prior to the purchase.
(d) Subsection (c) does not apply to any gift certificate issued prior to January 1, 2008 that contains a toll free phone number and a statement clearly and conspicuously printed on the gift certificate stating that holders can call the toll free number to find out the balance on the gift certificate, if applicable, and the expiration date. The toll free number and statement may appear on the front or back of the gift certificate in a location where it is visible to any purchaser prior to the purchase.
(e) This Section does not apply to any of the following gift certificates:
(i) Gift certificates that are distributed by the issuer to a consumer pursuant to an awards, loyalty, or promotional program without any money or thing of value being given in direct exchange or solely for the gift certificate by the consumer.
(ii) Gift certificates that are sold below face value at a volume discount to employers or to nonprofit and charitable organizations for fundraising purposes if the expiration date on those gift certificates is not more than 30 days after the date of sale.
(iii) Gift certificates that are issued for a food product.
(Source: P.A. 97-954, eff. 1-1-13.)
(815 ILCS 505/2TT)
Sec. 2TT. Prepaid calling service.
(a) For purposes of this Section, the terms "Prepaid Calling Service", "Prepaid Calling Service Provider", "Prepaid Calling Service Retailer", and "Prepaid Calling Service Reseller" shall have the same definitions as those in Sections 13-230, 13-231, 13-232, and 13-233, respectively, of the Public Utilities Act.
For the purposes of this Section, "international preferred destination" means a prepaid calling service that advertises a specific international destination either on the card, the packaging material accompanying the card, or through an offering of sale of the service.
(b) On and after July 1, 2005, it is an unlawful practice under this Act for any prepaid calling service provider or prepaid calling service reseller to sell or offer to sell prepaid calling service to any prepaid calling service retailer unless the prepaid calling service provider has applied for and received a Certificate of Prepaid Calling Service Provider Authority from the Illinois Commerce Commission pursuant to the Public Utilities Act and the prepaid calling service provider or prepaid calling service reseller shows proof of the prepaid calling service provider's Certificate of Prepaid Calling Service Provider Authority to the prepaid calling service retailer.
(c) On and after July 1, 2005, it is an unlawful practice under this Act for any prepaid calling service retailer to sell or offer to sell prepaid calling service to any consumer unless the prepaid calling service retailer retains proof of certification of the prepaid calling service provider by the Illinois Commerce Commission pursuant to the Public Utilities Act. The prepaid calling service retailer must retain proof of certification for one year or the duration of the contract with the reseller, whichever is longer. A prepaid calling service retailer with multiple locations selling prepaid calling cards under contract with a prepaid calling service provider may keep the certification at a central location provided, however, that the prepaid calling service retailer make a copy of the certification available upon reasonable request within 48 hours.
(d) On and after July 1, 2005, no prepaid calling service provider or prepaid calling service reseller shall sell or offer to sell prepaid calling service, as those terms are defined in Article XIII of the Public Utilities Act, to any Illinois consumer, either directly or through a prepaid calling service retailer, unless the following disclosures are made clearly and conspicuously:
(1) At a minimum, the following terms and conditions shall be disclosed clearly and conspicuously on the prepaid calling card, if applicable:
(A) the full name of the Prepaid Calling Service Provider as certificated by the Illinois Commerce Commission;
(B) the toll-free customer service number;
(C) an access number that is toll-free or a number local to the prepaid calling retailer; and
(D) the refund policy or a statement that the refund policy is located on the packaging materials.
(2) At a minimum, all the material terms and conditions pertaining to the specific prepaid calling card shall be disclosed clearly and conspicuously on the packaging materials accompanying the prepaid calling card including, but not limited to, the following, if applicable:
(A) the value of the card in minutes or the domestic rate per minute of the card;
(B) all surcharges and fees applicable to the use of the domestic prepaid calling service;
(C) all applicable rates for international preferred destinations;
(D) all applicable surcharges and fees for international preferred destinations;
(E) a disclosure statement indicating that all rates, surcharges, and fees applicable to international calls are available through the toll-free customer service number and a statement disclosing if international rates vary from domestic rates; and
(F) the expiration policy.
(3) At a minimum, the following information shall be disclosed clearly and conspicuously and accurately through the toll-free customer service telephone number through which the customer is able to speak with a live customer service representative:
(A) the Illinois Commerce Commission certificate number of the Prepaid Calling Service Provider;
(B) all applicable rates, terms, surcharges, and fees for domestic and international calls;
(C) all information necessary to determine the cost of a given call;
(D) the balance of use in the consumer's account; and
(E) the applicable expiration date or period.
The disclosures required under this subsection (d) do not apply to the recharging of dollars or minutes to a previously purchased card allowing prepaid calling service.
(Source: P.A. 95-331, eff. 8-21-07.)
(815 ILCS 505/2UU)
Sec. 2UU. Internet service; cancellation.
(a) As used in this Section:
"Internet service provider" means a person who provides a service that combines computer processing, information storage, protocol conversion, and routing with transmission to enable a consumer to access Internet content and services.
(b) This Section applies only to agreements under which an Internet service provider provides service to consumers, for home and personal use, for a one-year term that is automatically renewed for another one-year term unless a consumer cancels the service.
(c) An Internet service provider must give a consumer who is an Illinois resident the following: (1) a secure method at the Internet service provider's web site that the consumer may use to cancel the service, which method shall not require the consumer to make a telephone call or send U.S. Postal Service mail to effectuate the cancellation; and (2) instructions that the consumer may follow to cancel the service at the Internet service provider's web site.
(d) A person who violates this Section commits an unlawful practice within the meaning of this Act.
(Source: P.A. 95-331, eff. 8-21-07.)
(815 ILCS 505/2VV)
Sec. 2VV. Credit and public utility service; identity theft. It is an unlawful practice for a person to deny credit or public utility service to or reduce the credit limit of a consumer solely because the consumer has been a victim of identity theft as defined in Section 16-30 or 16G-15 of the Criminal Code of 1961 or the Criminal Code of 2012, if the consumer:
(1) has provided a copy of an identity theft report as defined under the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act and implementing regulations evidencing the consumer's claim of identity theft;
(2) has provided a properly completed copy of a standardized affidavit of identity theft developed and made available by the Federal Trade Commission pursuant to 15 U.S.C. 1681g or an affidavit of fact that is acceptable to the person for that purpose;
(3) has obtained placement of an extended fraud alert in his or her file maintained by a nationwide consumer reporting agency, in accordance with the requirements of the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act; and
(4) is able to establish his or her identity and address to the satisfaction of the person providing credit or utility services.
(Source: P.A. 97-597, eff. 1-1-12; 97-1150, eff. 1-25-13.)
(815 ILCS 505/2WW)
Sec. 2WW. Wireless telephone service provider; third party billings. A wireless telephone service provider shall provide a contact telephone number and brief description of the service for all third-party billings on the consumer's bill, to the extent allowed by federal law, or through a customer service representative. For purposes of this Section, "third-party billings" means any billing done by a wireless telephone service provider on behalf of a third party where the wireless telephone service provider is merely the billing agent for the third party with no ability to provide refunds, credits, or otherwise adjust the billings.
(Source: P.A. 94-567, eff. 1-1-06; 95-331, eff. 8-21-07.)
(815 ILCS 505/2XX)
Sec. 2XX. Performing groups.
(a) As used in this Section:
"Performing group" means a vocal or instrumental group seeking to use the name of another group that has previously released a commercial sound recording under that name.
"Recording group" means a vocal or instrumental group at least one of whose members has previously released a commercial sound recording under that group's name and in which the member or members have a legal right by virtue of use or operation under the group name without having abandoned the name or affiliation with the group.
"Sound recording" means a work that results from the fixation on a material object of a series of musical, spoken, or other sounds regardless of the nature of the material object, such as a disc, tape, or other phono-record, in which the sounds are embodied.
(b) It is an unlawful practice for a person to advertise or conduct a live musical performance or production in this State through the use of a false, deceptive, or misleading affiliation, connection, or association between the performing group and the recording group. This Section does not apply if:
(1) the performing group is the authorized registrant and owner of a Federal service mark for that group registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office;
(2) at least one member of the performing group was a member of the recording group and has a legal right by virtue of use or operation under the group name without having abandoned the name or affiliation with the group;
(3) the live musical performance or production is identified in all advertising and promotion as a salute or tribute;
(4) the advertising does not relate to a live musical performance or production taking place in this State; or
(5) the performance or production is expressly authorized by the recording group.
(Source: P.A. 94-854, eff. 1-1-07; 95-331, eff. 8-21-07.)
(815 ILCS 505/2YY)
Sec. 2YY. Work-at-home solicitations. No person shall advertise, represent or imply that any person can earn money working at home by stuffing envelopes, addressing envelopes, mailing circulars, clipping newspaper and magazine articles, assembling products, bill processing, or performing similar work, unless the person making the advertisement or representation:
(1) actually pays the advertised wage, salary, set fee, or commission to others for performing the represented tasks;
(2) at no time requires the person who will perform the represented tasks to purchase instructional booklets, brochures, kits, programs, materials, mailing lists, directories, memberships in cooperative associations, or other similar items or services;
(3) discloses the legal name under which business is conducted and the complete street address from which business is actually conducted in all advertising and promotional materials, including order blanks and forms; and
(4) discloses in writing to the person who will perform the represented tasks an exact description of the work to be performed, the amount of any wage, salary, set fee, or commission to be paid for the performance of the represented tasks, and all terms and conditions for earning such wage, salary, set fee, or commission.
No person shall require an individual to solicit or induce other individuals to participate in a work-at-home program.
A person who violates this Section commits an unlawful practice within the meaning of this Act.
(Source: P.A. 94-999, eff. 7-3-06; 95-331, eff. 8-21-07.)
(815 ILCS 505/2ZZ)
Sec. 2ZZ. Payoff of liens on motor vehicles traded in to dealer.
(a) When a motor vehicle dealer, as defined by Sections 5-101 or 5-102 of the Illinois Vehicle Code, enters into a retail transaction where a consumer trades in or sells a vehicle that is subject to a lien, the dealer shall:
(1) within 21 calendar days of the date of sale remit payment to the lien holder to pay off the lien on the traded-in or sold motor vehicle, unless the underlying contract has been rescinded before expiration of 21 calendar days; and
(2) fully comply with Section 2C of this Act.
(b) A motor vehicle dealer who violates this Section commits an unlawful practice within the meaning of this Act.
(c) For the purposes of this Section, the term "date of sale" shall be the date the parties entered into the transaction as evidenced by the date written in the contract executed by the parties, or the date the motor vehicle dealership took possession of the traded-in or sold vehicle. In the event the date of the contract differs from the date the motor vehicle dealership took possession of the traded-in vehicle, the "date of sale" shall be the date the motor vehicle dealership took possession of the traded-in vehicle.
(Source: P.A. 95-393, eff. 1-1-08; 95-876, eff. 8-21-08; 96-328, eff. 8-11-09.)
(815 ILCS 505/2AAA)
Sec. 2AAA. Mortgage marketing materials.
(a) No person may send marketing materials to a consumer indicating that the person is connected to the consumer's mortgage company, indicating that there is a problem with the consumer's mortgage, or stating that the marketing materials contain information concerning the consumer's mortgage, unless that person sending the marketing materials is actually employed by the consumer's mortgage company or an affiliate of the consumer's mortgage company.
(a-5) Any marketing materials from a mortgage company not connected to the consumer's mortgage company must comply with the following requirements:
(1) no language may be used to state or imply that any response by a consumer who is not an existing customer is required, imminently or otherwise, including, but not limited to, the use of the terms "urgent", "action required", "materials inspected", "time sensitive", or "important account information enclosed";
(2) the name of the solicitor's mortgage company must be prominently stated:
(A) in the body of the text;
(B) at the head of the letter or message in a font bigger than the body of the text; and
(C) on any envelope;
(3) the name of the consumer's mortgage company may not be used to state or insinuate in any way that the marketing material is from the consumer's mortgage company rather than the solicitor's mortgage company, and can only be used in the body of the text and when accompanied by clear language explaining that the solicitation is not from or affiliated with the consumer's mortgage company, and is merely a solicitation. The name of the consumer's mortgage company shall not be visible through an envelope window, appear on the envelope itself, or appear in an email subject line; and
(4) the text must clearly state if the consumer's mortgage company had no part in helping the solicitor obtain the homeowner's mortgage information.
(b) Any person who violates this Section commits an unlawful practice within the meaning of this Act.
(Source: P.A. 103-292, eff. 1-1-24.)
(815 ILCS 505/2BBB)
Sec. 2BBB. Long term care facility, ID/DD facility, MC/DD facility, or specialized mental health rehabilitation facility; Consumer Choice Information Report. A long term care facility that fails to comply with Section 2-214 of the Nursing Home Care Act, a facility that fails to comply with Section 2-214 of the ID/DD Community Care Act, or a facility that fails to comply with Section 2-214 of the MC/DD Act commits an unlawful practice within the meaning of this Act.
(Source: P.A. 98-104, eff. 7-22-13; 99-180, eff. 7-29-15.)
(815 ILCS 505/2CCC)
Sec. 2CCC. Internet game service provider; cancellation.
(a) As used in this Section:
"Internet game service provider" means a person who provides a web site that includes information, software, data, text, photographs, graphics, sound, or video that may be accessed by a consumer on a paid subscription basis for the purpose of the consumer playing a single player or multiplayer game through the Internet or that may be downloaded for the consumer to play on his or her computer outside of the Internet. "Internet game service provider" does not include online gambling or other gaming where a consumer can enter to win money.
(b) This Section applies only to agreements under which an Internet game service provider provides service to consumers, for home and personal use, for a stated term that is automatically renewed for another term unless the consumer cancels the service.
(c) An Internet game service provider must give a consumer who is an Illinois resident a disclosure of the methods the consumer may use to cancel the service. One of the methods of cancellation must provide for online cancellation of the service via email, chat, instant messaging, web-based forms, or any other means of communicating information over a computer network.
(d) This Section does not apply to any entity that merely provides the host platform on the web site to the Internet game service provider.
(e) A person who violates this Section commits an unlawful practice within the meaning of this Act.
(Source: P.A. 95-765, eff. 1-1-09; 96-47, eff. 7-17-09; 96-328, eff. 8-11-09.)
(815 ILCS 505/2DDD)
Sec. 2DDD. Alternative gas suppliers.
(a) Definitions.
(1) "Alternative gas supplier" has the same meaning as in Section 19-105 of the Public Utilities Act.
(2) "Gas utility" has the same meaning as in Section 19-105 of the Public Utilities Act.
(b) It is an unfair or deceptive act or practice within the meaning of Section 2 of this Act for any person to violate any provision of this Section.
(c) Solicitation.
(1) An alternative gas supplier shall not utilize the name of a public utility in any manner that is deceptive or misleading, including, but not limited to, implying or otherwise leading a customer to believe that an alternative gas supplier is soliciting on behalf of or is an agent of a utility. An alternative gas supplier shall not utilize the name, or any other identifying insignia, graphics, or wording, that has been used at any time to represent a public utility company or its services or to identify, label, or define any of its natural gas supply offers and shall not misrepresent the affiliation of any alternative supplier with the gas utility, governmental bodies, or consumer groups.
(2) If any sales solicitation, agreement, contract, or verification is translated into another language and provided to a customer, all of the documents must be provided to the customer in that other language.
(2.3) An alternative gas supplier shall state that it represents an independent seller of gas certified by the Illinois Commerce Commission and that he or she is not employed by, representing, endorsed by, or acting on behalf of a utility, or a utility program.
(2.5) All in-person and telephone solicitations shall be conducted in, translated into, and provided in a language in which the consumer subject to the marketing or solicitation is able to understand and communicate. An alternative gas supplier shall terminate a solicitation if the consumer subject to the marketing or communication is unable to understand and communicate in the language in which the marketing or solicitation is being conducted. An alternative gas supplier shall comply with Section 2N of this Act.
(3) An alternative gas supplier shall clearly and conspicuously disclose the following information to all customers:
(A) the prices, terms, and conditions of the products and services being sold to the customer;
(B) where the solicitation occurs in person, including through door-to-door solicitation, the salesperson's name;
(C) the alternative gas supplier's contact information, including the address, phone number, and website;
(D) contact information for the Illinois Commerce Commission, including the toll-free number for consumer complaints and website;
(E) a statement of the customer's right to rescind the offer within 10 business days of the date on the utility's notice confirming the customer's decision to switch suppliers, as well as phone numbers for the supplier and utility that the consumer may use to rescind the contract;
(F) the amount of the early termination fee, if any; and
(G) the utility gas supply cost rates per therm price available from the Illinois Commerce Commission website applicable at the time the alternative gas supplier is offering or selling the products or services to the customer and shall disclose the following statement:
"(Name of the alternative gas supplier) is not the same entity as your gas delivery company. You are not required to enroll with (name of alternative retail gas supplier). Beginning on (effective date), the utility gas supply cost rate per therm is (cost). The utility gas supply cost will expire on (expiration date). For more information go to the Illinois Commerce Commission's free website at www.icc.illinois.gov/ags/consumereducation.aspx.".
(4) Except as provided in paragraph (5) of this subsection (c), an alternative gas supplier shall send the information described in paragraph (3) of this subsection (c) to all customers within one business day of the authorization of a switch.
(5) An alternative gas supplier engaging in door-to-door solicitation of consumers shall provide the information described in paragraph (3) of this subsection (c) during all door-to-door solicitations that result in a customer deciding to switch his or her supplier.
(d) Customer Authorization. An alternative gas supplier shall not submit or execute a change in a customer's selection of a natural gas provider unless and until: (i) the alternative gas supplier first discloses all material terms and conditions of the offer to the customer; (ii) the alternative gas supplier has obtained the customer's express agreement to accept the offer after the disclosure of all material terms and conditions of the offer; and (iii) the alternative gas supplier has confirmed the request for a change in accordance with one of the following procedures:
(1) The alternative gas supplier has obtained the customer's written or electronically signed authorization in a form that meets the following requirements:
(A) An alternative gas supplier shall obtain any necessary written or electronically signed authorization from a customer for a change in natural gas service by using a letter of agency as specified in this Section. Any letter of agency that does not conform with this Section is invalid.
(B) The letter of agency shall be a separate document (or an easily separable document containing only the authorization language described in item (E) of this paragraph (1)) whose sole purpose is to authorize a natural gas provider change. The letter of agency must be signed and dated by the customer requesting the natural gas provider change.
(C) The letter of agency shall not be combined with inducements of any kind on the same document.
(D) Notwithstanding items (A) and (B) of this paragraph (1), the letter of agency may be combined with checks that contain only the required letter of agency language prescribed in item (E) of this paragraph (1) and the necessary information to make the check a negotiable instrument. The letter of agency check shall not contain any promotional language or material. The letter of agency check shall contain in easily readable, bold face type on the face of the check, a notice that the consumer is authorizing a natural gas provider change by signing the check. The letter of agency language also shall be placed near the signature line on the back of the check.
(E) At a minimum, the letter of agency must be printed with a print of sufficient size to be clearly legible, and must contain clear and unambiguous language that confirms:
(i) the customer's billing name and address;
(ii) the decision to change the natural gas provider from the current provider to the prospective alternative gas supplier;
(iii) the terms, conditions, and nature of the service to be provided to the customer, including, but not limited to, the rates for the service contracted for by the customer; and
(iv) that the customer understands that any natural gas provider selection the customer chooses may involve a charge to the customer for changing the customer's natural gas provider.
(F) Letters of agency shall not suggest or require that a customer take some action in order to retain the customer's current natural gas provider.
(G) If any portion of a letter of agency is translated into another language, then all portions of the letter of agency must be translated into that language.
(2) An appropriately qualified independent third party has obtained, in accordance with the procedures set forth in this paragraph (2), the customer's oral authorization to change natural gas providers that confirms and includes appropriate verification data. The independent third party must: (i) not be owned, managed, controlled, or directed by the alternative gas supplier or the alternative gas supplier's marketing agent; (ii) not have any financial incentive to confirm provider change requests for the alternative gas supplier or the alternative gas supplier's marketing agent; and (iii) operate in a location physically separate from the alternative gas supplier or the alternative gas supplier's marketing agent. Automated third-party verification systems and 3-way conference calls may be used for verification purposes so long as the other requirements of this paragraph (2) are satisfied. An alternative gas supplier or alternative gas supplier's sales representative initiating a 3-way conference call or a call through an automated verification system must drop off the call once the 3-way connection has been established. All third-party verification methods shall elicit, at a minimum, the following information:
(A) the identity of the customer;
(B) confirmation that the person on the call is authorized to make the provider change;
(C) confirmation that the person on the call wants to make the provider change;
(D) the names of the providers affected by the change;
(E) the service address of the service to be switched; and
(F) the price of the service to be provided and the material terms and conditions of the service being offered, including whether any early termination fees apply.
Third-party verifiers may not market the alternative gas supplier's services. All third-party verifications shall be conducted in the same language that was used in the underlying sales transaction and shall be recorded in their entirety. Submitting alternative gas suppliers shall maintain and preserve audio records of verification of customer authorization for a minimum period of 2 years after obtaining the verification. Automated systems must provide customers with an option to speak with a live person at any time during the call. Each disclosure made during the third-party verification must be made individually to obtain clear acknowledgment of each disclosure. The alternative gas supplier must be in a location where he or she cannot hear the customer while the third-party verification is conducted. The alternative gas supplier shall not contact the customer after the third-party verification for a period of 24 hours unless the customer initiates the contact.
(3) The alternative gas supplier has obtained the customer's electronic authorization to change natural gas service via telephone. Such authorization must elicit the information in subparagraphs (A) through (F) of paragraph (2) of this subsection (d). Alternative gas suppliers electing to confirm sales electronically shall establish one or more toll-free telephone numbers exclusively for that purpose. Calls to the number or numbers shall connect a customer to a voice response unit, or similar mechanism, that makes a date-stamped, time-stamped recording of the required information regarding the alternative gas supplier change.
The alternative gas supplier shall not use such electronic authorization systems to market its services.
(4) When a consumer initiates the call to the prospective alternative gas supplier, in order to enroll the consumer as a customer, the prospective alternative gas supplier must, with the consent of the customer, make a date-stamped, time-stamped audio recording that elicits, at a minimum, the following information:
(A) the identity of the customer;
(B) confirmation that the person on the call is authorized to make the provider change;
(C) confirmation that the person on the call wants to make the provider change;
(D) the names of the providers affected by the change;
(E) the service address of the service to be switched; and
(F) the price of the service to be supplied and the material terms and conditions of the service being offered, including whether any early termination fees apply.
Submitting alternative gas suppliers shall maintain and preserve the audio records containing the information set forth above for a minimum period of 2 years.
(5) In the event that a customer enrolls for service from an alternative gas supplier via an Internet website, the alternative gas supplier shall obtain an electronically signed letter of agency in accordance with paragraph (1) of this subsection (d) and any customer information shall be protected in accordance with all applicable statutes and rules. In addition, an alternative gas supplier shall provide the following when marketing via an Internet website:
(A) The Internet enrollment website shall, at a minimum, include:
(i) a copy of the alternative gas supplier's customer contract, which clearly and conspicuously discloses all terms and conditions; and
(ii) a conspicuous prompt for the customer to print or save a copy of the contract.
(B) Any electronic version of the contract shall be identified by version number, in order to ensure the ability to verify the particular contract to which the customer assents.
(C) Throughout the duration of the alternative as supplier's contract with a customer, the alternative gas supplier shall retain and, within 3 business days of the customer's request, provide to the customer an email, paper, or facsimile of the terms and conditions of the numbered contract version to which the customer assents.
(D) The alternative gas supplier shall provide a mechanism by which both the submission and receipt of the electronic letter of agency are recorded by time and date.
(E) After the customer completes the electronic letter of agency, the alternative gas supplier shall disclose conspicuously through its website that the customer has been enrolled and the alternative gas supplier shall provide the customer an enrollment confirmation number.
(6) When a customer is solicited in person by the alternative gas supplier's sales agent, the alternative gas supplier may only obtain the customer's authorization to change natural gas service through the method provided for in paragraph (2) of this subsection (d).
Alternative gas suppliers must be in compliance with the provisions of this subsection (d) within 90 days after April 10, 2009 (the effective date of Public Act 95-1051).
(e) Early Termination.
(1) Beginning January 1, 2020, consumers shall have the right to terminate their contract with an alternative gas supplier at any time without any termination fees or penalties.
(2) In any agreement that contains an early termination clause, an alternative gas supplier shall provide the customer the opportunity to terminate the agreement without any termination fee or penalty within 10 business days after the date of the first bill issued to the customer for products or services provided by the alternative gas supplier. The agreement shall disclose the opportunity and provide a toll-free phone number that the customer may call in order to terminate the agreement.
(f) The alternative gas supplier shall provide each customer the opportunity to rescind its agreement without penalty within 10 business days after the date on the gas utility notice to the customer. The alternative gas supplier shall disclose to the customer all of the following:
(1) that the gas utility shall send a notice confirming the switch;
(2) that from the date the utility issues the notice confirming the switch, the customer shall have 10 business days before the switch will become effective;
(3) that the customer may contact the gas utility or the alternative gas supplier to rescind the switch within 10 business days; and
(4) the contact information for the gas utility and the alternative gas supplier.
The alternative gas supplier disclosure shall be included in its sales solicitations, contracts, and all applicable sales verification scripts.
(f-5)(1) Beginning January 1, 2020, an alternative gas supplier shall not sell or offer to sell any products or services to a consumer pursuant to a contract in which the contract automatically renews, unless an alternative gas supplier provides to the consumer at the outset of the offer, in addition to other disclosures required by law, a separate written statement titled "Automatic Contract Renewal" that clearly and conspicuously discloses in bold lettering in at least 12-point font the terms and conditions of the automatic contract renewal provision, including: (i) the estimated bill cycle on which the initial contract term expires and a statement that it could be later based on when the utility accepts the initial enrollment; (ii) the estimated bill cycle on which the new contract term begins and a statement that it will immediately follow the last billing cycle of the current term; (iii) the procedure to terminate the contract before the new contract term applies; and (iv) the cancellation procedure. If the alternative gas supplier sells or offers to sell the products or services to a consumer during an in-person solicitation or telemarketing solicitation, the disclosures described in this paragraph (1) shall also be made to the consumer verbally during the solicitation. Nothing in this paragraph (1) shall be construed to apply to contracts entered into before January 1, 2020.
(2) At least 30 days before, but not more than 60 days prior, to the end of the initial contract term, in any and all contracts that automatically renew after the initial term, the alternative gas supplier shall send, in addition to other disclosures required by law, a separate written notice of the contract renewal to the consumer that clearly and conspicuously discloses the following:
(A) a statement printed or visible from the outside of the envelope or in the subject line of the email, if the customer has agreed to receive official documents by email, that states "Contract Renewal Notice";
(B) a statement in bold lettering, in at least 12-point font, that the contract will automatically renew unless the customer cancels it;
(C) the billing cycle in which service under the current term will expire;
(D) the billing cycle in which service under the new term will begin;
(E) the process and options available to the consumer to reject the new contract terms;
(F) the cancellation process if the consumer's contract automatically renews before the consumer rejects the new contract terms;
(G) the terms and conditions of the new contract term;
(H) for a fixed rate or flat bill contract, a side-by-side comparison of the current fixed rate or flat bill to the new fixed rate or flat bill; for a variable rate contract or time-of-use product in which the first month's renewal price can be determined, a side-by-side comparison of the current price and the price for the first month of the new variable or time-of-use price; or for a variable or time-of-use contract based on a publicly available index, a side-by-side comparison of the current formula and the new formula; and
(I) the phone number and Internet address to submit a consumer inquiry or complaint to the Illinois Commerce Commission and the Office of the Attorney General.
(3) An alternative gas supplier shall not automatically renew a consumer's enrollment after the current term of the contract expires when the current term of the contract provides that the consumer will be charged a fixed rate and the renewed contract provides that the consumer will be charged a variable rate, unless: (i) the alternative gas supplier complies with paragraphs (1) and (2); and (ii) the customer expressly consents to the contract renewal in writing or by electronic signature at least 30 days, but no more than 60 days, before the contract expires.
(4) An alternative gas supplier shall not submit a change to a customer's gas service provider in violation of Section 19-116 of the Public Utilities Act.
(g) The provisions of this Section shall apply only to alternative gas suppliers serving or seeking to serve residential and small commercial customers and only to the extent such alternative gas suppliers provide services to residential and small commercial customers.
(h) Complaints may be filed with the Commission under this Section by a consumer whose gas service has been provided by an alternative retail gas supplier in a manner not in compliance with this Section or by the Commission on its own motion when it appears to the Commission that an alternative retail gas supplier has provided service in a manner not in compliance with this Section. If, after notice and hearing, the Commission finds that an alternative retail gas supplier has violated this Section, the Commission may in its discretion do any one or more of the following:
(1) require the alternative retail gas supplier to refund to the consumer charges collected in excess of those that would have been charged by the consumer's authorized gas service provider;
(2) require the alternative retail gas supplier to pay to the consumer's authorized gas service provider the amount the authorized gas service provider would have collected for the gas service. The Commission is authorized to reduce this payment by any amount already paid by the alternative retail gas to the consumer's authorized provider for gas service;
(3) require the alternative retail electric supplier to pay a fine of up to $10,000 per occurrence into the Public Utility Fund for each violation of this Section;
(4) issue a cease and desist order; and
(5) for a pattern of violation of this Section or for violations that continue after a cease and desist order, revoke the alternative retail gas supplier's certificate of service authority.
(Source: P.A. 101-590, eff. 1-1-20; 102-558, eff. 8-20-21; 102-958, eff. 1-1-23.)
(815 ILCS 505/2EEE)
Sec. 2EEE. Natural gas service advertising. Any advertisement for natural gas service that lists rates shall clearly and conspicuously disclose all associated costs for such service including, but not limited to, access fees and service fees. It is an unfair or deceptive act or practice within the meaning of Section 2 of this Act for any person to violate this Section.
The provisions of this Section shall apply only to alternative gas suppliers serving or seeking to serve residential and small commercial customers and only to the extent such alternative gas suppliers provide services to residential and small commercial customers.
(Source: P.A. 95-1051, eff. 4-10-09.)
(815 ILCS 505/2FFF)
Sec. 2FFF. All personal information relating to the customer of transmission, distribution, metering, or billing of natural gas service, or the customer purchasing the commodity of natural gas to be delivered through the distribution system of a natural gas provider, shall be maintained by the natural gas providers solely for the purpose of generating the bill for such sales and services, and shall not be divulged to any other persons with the exception of credit bureaus, collection agencies, and persons licensed to market natural gas service in the State of Illinois, without the written consent of the customer. It is an unfair or deceptive act or practice within the meaning of Section 2 of this Act for any person to violate this Section.
The provisions of this Section shall apply only to alternative gas suppliers serving or seeking to serve residential and small commercial customers and only to the extent such alternative gas suppliers provide services to residential and small commercial customers.
(Source: P.A. 95-1051, eff. 4-10-09.)
(815 ILCS 505/2GGG)
Sec. 2GGG. Prohibition of prize promotions to solicit authority to provide alternative natural gas service.
(a) It is an unfair or deceptive act or practice within the meaning of Section 2 of this Act for any person to solicit authority to execute a change of gas suppliers or to solicit authority to provide any alternative gas service through the use of any sweepstakes, contests, or drawings.
(b) Forms or documents used or intended to be used by consumers to enter sweepstakes, contests, or drawings of any description may not be used by any person as written authority to execute a change of any person's gas supplier or to render any gas supply service.
(c) The provisions of this Section shall apply only to alternative gas suppliers serving or seeking to serve residential and small commercial customers and only to the extent such alternative gas suppliers provide services to residential and small commercial customers.
(Source: P.A. 95-1051, eff. 4-10-09.)
(815 ILCS 505/2HHH)
Sec. 2HHH. Product and service charges billed on a telephone bill prohibited.
(a) Definitions. For purposes of this Section:
"Billing agent" means a person that submits charges for services or goods to a telecommunications carrier on behalf of a third-party vendor.
"Third-party vendor" means an entity not affiliated with a telecommunications carrier that sells services or goods to a consumer.
"Telecommunications carrier" has the same meaning as defined in Section 13-202 of the Public Utilities Act.
(b) A third-party vendor shall not bill, directly or through an intermediary, a consumer for goods or services that will appear as a charge on a consumer's telephone bill.
(c) A billing agent, on behalf of a third-party vendor, shall not submit, directly or through an intermediary, a charge to a telecommunications carrier for goods or services that will appear as a charge on a consumer's telephone bill.
(d) Any person who violates this Section commits an unlawful practice within the meaning of this Act.
(e) This Section does not apply to:
(1) services or goods provided by a telecommunications carrier subject to the provisions of Section 13-903 of the Public Utilities Act;
(2) services or goods sold by any affiliate of the telecommunications carrier issuing the bill to the consumer;
(3) services or goods sold by any third-party vendor that has a direct contractual arrangement for the joint or cooperative sale of such services or goods with the telecommunications carrier issuing the bill to the consumer; provided however, that the telecommunications carrier issuing the bill to the consumer shall be responsible for assuring that such services or goods are not sold without the informed authorization of the consumer;
(4) wireless services, as described in Section 13-804 of the Public Utilities Act and any other services or goods billed by or through a provider of wireless services;
(5) message telecommunications services that are initiated by dialing 1+, 0+, 0-, or 1010XXX and calls that are subject to the Pay-Per-Call Services Consumer Protection Act; or
(6) contributions to any charitable organization subject to Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
(Source: P.A. 96-827, eff. 11-30-09; 97-822, eff. 1-1-13.)
(815 ILCS 505/2III)
Sec. 2III. Seller's shipments of similar merchandise to consumer. If a consumer purchases merchandise, it is an unlawful practice under this Act for the seller of the merchandise to periodically send and debit the consumer's account for shipments of similar merchandise, unless the consumer has agreed, by express request or consent, to receive such periodic shipments of merchandise. The seller must clearly and conspicuously disclose any minimum purchase requirement and how the consumer may cancel periodic shipments.
(Source: P.A. 96-1306, eff. 7-27-10; 97-333, eff. 8-12-11.)
(815 ILCS 505/2JJJ)
Sec. 2JJJ. Violations of the Debt Settlement Consumer Protection Act. Any person who violates the Debt Settlement Consumer Protection Act commits an unlawful practice within the meaning of this Act.
(Source: P.A. 96-1420, eff. 8-3-10; 97-333, eff. 8-12-11.)
(815 ILCS 505/2KKK)
Sec. 2KKK. (Reserved).
(Source: None; this Section number is reserved.)
(815 ILCS 505/2LLL)
Sec. 2LLL. Retail rebates.
(a) In this Section, "rebate card" means a card, code, or other device that is issued both (i) to a consumer in connection with the consumer's purchase of a product or service and the consumer's completion of the rebate submission process as part of a rebate program operated or administered by a merchant or product manufacturer and (ii) on a prepaid basis primarily for personal, family, or household purposes to a consumer in a specified amount, whether or not that amount may be increased or reloaded, and is redeemable upon presentation at multiple unaffiliated merchants for goods or services or usable at automated teller machines. "Rebate card" does not include (i) a payroll card as defined in the Illinois Wage Payment and Collection Act, (ii) a gift card as defined in the Revised Uniform Unclaimed Property Act, (iii) a stored-value card, as defined in the Revised Uniform Unclaimed Property Act, that is not issued to a consumer in connection with (1) the consumer's purchase of a product or service and (2) the consumer's completion of the rebate submission process as part of a rebate program operated or administered by a merchant or product manufacturer, or (iv) in-store credit for returned merchandise redeemable for merchandise, goods, or services upon presentation at a single merchant or an affiliated group of merchants.
(b) Any person who offers a rebate to consumers at retail on any merchandise must conspicuously display and clearly disclose to the consumer the type of rebate being offered, whether additional fees may apply on the rebate offered, and the form of remittance that will be provided to the consumer.
(c) It is an unlawful practice within the meaning of this Act for any person to offer to consumers at retail a rebate when the rebate is made on a rebate card that charges dormancy fees or other post-issuance fees to the consumer, except fees for card replacement.
(d) Any person who violates this Section commits an unlawful practice within the meaning of this Act.
(Source: P.A. 101-462, eff. 1-1-20.)
(815 ILCS 505/2MMM)
Sec. 2MMM. Violations of the Private Business and Vocational Schools Act of 2012. A school subject to the Private Business and Vocational Schools Act of 2012 commits an unlawful practice within the meaning of this Act when it violates subsection (k) of Section 85 of the Private Business and Vocational Schools Act of 2012.
(Source: P.A. 97-650, eff. 2-1-12; 98-463, eff. 8-16-13.)
(815 ILCS 505/2NNN)
Sec. 2NNN. Violations of the Tax Refund Anticipation Loan Reform Act. Any person who violates the Tax Refund Anticipation Loan Reform Act commits an unlawful practice within the meaning of this Act.
(Source: P.A. 97-849, eff. 1-1-13.)
(815 ILCS 505/2OOO)
Sec. 2OOO. (Reserved).
(Source: None; this Section number is reserved.)
(815 ILCS 505/2PPP)
Sec. 2PPP. Internet dating, child care, senior care, and home care safety. It is an unlawful practice under this Act for an Internet dating service, Internet child care service, Internet senior care service, or Internet home care service to fail to provide notice or falsely indicate that it has performed criminal background screenings in accordance with the Internet Dating, Internet Child Care, Internet Senior Care, and Internet Home Care Safety Act.
(Source: P.A. 97-1056, eff. 8-24-12; 98-458, eff. 8-16-13; 98-463; eff. 8-16-13.)
(815 ILCS 505/2QQQ)
Sec. 2QQQ. Criminal record information.
(a) It is an unlawful practice for any person engaged in publishing or otherwise disseminating criminal record information through a print or electronic medium to solicit or accept the payment of a fee or other consideration to remove, correct, or modify said criminal record information.
(b) For the purposes of this Section, "criminal record information" includes any and all of the following:
(1) descriptions or notations of any arrests, any formal criminal charges, and the disposition of those criminal charges, including, but not limited to, any information made available under Section 4a of the State Records Act or Section 3b of the Local Records Act;
(2) photographs of the person taken pursuant to an arrest or other involvement in the criminal justice system; or
(3) personal identifying information, including a person's name, address, date of birth, photograph, and social security number or other government-issued identification number.
(c) A person or entity that publishes or otherwise disseminates for profit a person's criminal record information on a publicly available Internet website or in any other publication or criminal history report that charges a fee for removal or correction of the information must correct any errors in the individual's criminal history information within 5 business days after notification of an error. Failure to correct an error in the individual's criminal record information constitutes an unlawful practice within the meaning of this Act.
(d) A person whose criminal record information is published for profit on a publicly available Internet website or in any other publication that charges a fee for removal or correction of the information may demand the publisher to correct the information if the subject of the information, or his or her representative, sends a letter, via certified mail, to the publishing entity demanding the information be corrected and providing documentation of the correct information.
(e) Failure by a for-profit publishing entity that publishes on a publicly available Internet website or in any other publication or criminal history report that charges a fee for removal or correction of the information to correct the person's published criminal record information within 5 business days after receipt of the notice, demand for correction, and the provision of correct information, constitutes an unlawful and deceptive practice within the meaning of this Act. In addition to any other remedy available under this Act, a person who has been injured by a violation of this Section is entitled to the damages of $100 per day, plus attorney's fees, for the publisher's failure to correct the criminal record information.
(f) This Section does not apply to a play, book, magazine, newspaper, musical, composition, visual work, work of art, audiovisual work, radio, motion picture, or television program, or a dramatic, literary, or musical work.
(g) This Section does not apply to a news medium or reporter as defined in Section 8-902 of the Code of Civil Procedure.
(h) This Section does not apply to the Illinois State Police.
(i) This Section does not apply to a consumer reporting agency as defined under 15 U.S.C. 1681a(f).
(j) Nothing in this Section shall be construed to impose liability on an interactive computer service, as defined in 47 U.S.C. 230(f)(2), for content provided by another person.
(Source: P.A. 100-927, eff. 1-1-19; 101-431, eff. 1-1-20.)
(815 ILCS 505/2RRR)
Sec. 2RRR. Household goods recycling bins.
(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a person or entity owning, operating, or maintaining a household goods recycling bin shall have a permanent, written, printed label affixed to the bin that is prominently displayed and includes the following: (1) the name, address, and contact information of the person or entity owning, operating, or maintaining that bin; and (2) whether the person or entity owning, operating, or maintaining the bin is a not for profit entity or a for profit entity. A person or entity who violates this Section commits an unlawful practice within the meaning of this Act.
(b) As used in this Section:
"Household goods recycling bin" or "bin" means a container or receptacle held out to the public as a place for people to discard clothes, shoes, books, and other recyclable items until they are taken away for resale, re-use, recycling, or redistribution by the person or entity that owns, operates, or maintains the bin.
"Not for profit entity" means any entity that is officially recognized by the United States Internal Revenue Service as a tax-exempt entity described in Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (or any successor provision of federal tax law).
(Source: P.A. 98-1116, eff. 1-1-15; 99-78, eff. 7-20-15.)
(815 ILCS 505/2SSS)
Sec. 2SSS. Unfair or deceptive patent infringement demand letters.
(a) As used in this Section:
"Affiliated person" means a person affiliated with the intended recipient of a written or electronic communication.
"Intended recipient" means a person who purchases, rents, leases, or otherwise obtains a product or service in the commercial market that is not for resale in the commercial market and that is, or later becomes, the subject of a patent infringement allegation.
(b) It is an unlawful practice under this Act for a person, in connection with the assertion of a United States patent, to send or cause any person to send any written, including electronic, communication that states that the intended recipient or any affiliated person is infringing or has infringed a patent and bears liability or owes compensation to another person, if:
(1) the communication falsely threatens that administrative or judicial relief will be sought if compensation is not paid or the infringement issue is not otherwise resolved;
(2) the communication falsely states that litigation has been filed against the intended recipient or any affiliated person;
(3) the assertions contained in the communication lack a reasonable basis in fact or law because:
(A) the person asserting the patent is not a person, or does not represent a person, with the current right to license the patent to or enforce the patent against the intended recipient or any affiliated person;
(B) the communication seeks compensation for a patent that has been held to be invalid or unenforceable in a final, unappealable or unappealed, judicial or administrative decision; or
(C) the communication seeks compensation on account of activities undertaken after the patent has expired; or
(4) the content of the communication fails to include information necessary to inform an intended recipient or any affiliated person about the patent assertion by failing to include the following:
(A) the identity of the person asserting a right to license the patent to or enforce the patent against the intended recipient or any affiliated person;
(B) the patent issued by the United States Patent and Trademark Office alleged to have been infringed; and
(C) the factual allegations concerning the specific areas in which the intended recipient's or affiliated person's products, services, or technology infringed the patent or are covered by the claims in the patent.
(c) Nothing in this Section shall be construed to deem it an unlawful practice for any person who owns or has the right to license or enforce a patent to:
(1) advise others of that ownership or right of license or enforcement;
(2) communicate to others that the patent is available for license or sale;
(3) notify another of the infringement of the patent; or
(4) seek compensation on account of past or present infringement or for a license to the patent.
(Source: P.A. 98-1119, eff. 1-1-15; 99-78, eff. 7-20-15.)
(815 ILCS 505/2TTT)
Sec. 2TTT. Standard services.
(a) It is not a fraudulent, unfair, or deceptive act or practice under this Act to differentiate prices for services based upon factors that include, but are not limited to, amount of time, difficulty, cost of providing the services, methods, procedure, or equipment used to accomplish the service, upon the qualifications, experience, or expertise of the individual or business providing the services, market conditions specific to the service or the business, or geographic region where the services are completed or the business is located.
(b) The following sellers shall provide the consumer with a standard services price list upon request:
(1) Tailors or businesses providing aftermarket clothing alterations.
(2) Barbershops or hair salons.
(3) Dry cleaners and laundries providing services to individuals.
The price list may be provided in any format and may be based on customary industry pricing practices.
As used in this subsection, "standard service" means the 10 most frequently requested services provided by the seller.
(c) If a seller identified in subsection (b) is found to be in violation of this Section, the seller shall have 30 days to remedy the violation. Upon a second or subsequent violation within 2 years after the 30-day remediation period, the seller shall be liable for penalties pursuant to Section 7 of this Act.
(Source: P.A. 100-207, eff. 1-1-18; 100-863, eff. 8-14-18.)
(815 ILCS 505/2UUU)
Sec. 2UUU. Non-disparagement clauses in consumer contracts.
(a) A contract or a proposed contract for the sale or lease of consumer merchandise or services may not include a provision waiving the consumer's right to make any statement regarding the seller or lessor or the employees or agents of the seller or lessor or concerning the merchandise or services.
(b) It is an unlawful practice to threaten or to seek to enforce a provision made unlawful under this Section or to otherwise penalize a consumer for making any statement protected under this Section.
(c) Any waiver of the provisions of this Section is contrary to public policy and is void and unenforceable.
(d) This Section may not be construed to prohibit or limit a person or business that hosts online consumer reviews or comments from removing a statement that is otherwise lawful to remove.
(Source: P.A. 100-240, eff. 1-1-18; 100-863, eff. 8-14-18.)
(815 ILCS 505/2VVV)
Sec. 2VVV. Deceptive marketing, advertising, and sale of mental health disorder and substance use disorder treatment.
(a) As used in this Section:
"Facility" has the meaning ascribed to that term in Section 1-10 of the Substance Use Disorder Act when used in reference to a facility that provides substance use disorder treatment. "Facility" has the same meaning as "mental health facility" under Section 1-114 of the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Code when used in reference to a facility that provides mental health disorder treatment.
"Hospital affiliate" has the meaning ascribed to that term in Section 10.8 of the Hospital Licensing Act.
"Mental health disorder" has the same meaning as "mental illness" under Section 1-129 of the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Code.
"Program" means a licensable or fundable activity or service, or a coordinated range of such activities or services, established or licensed by the Department of Human Services.
"Substance use disorder" has the same meaning as "substance abuse" under Section 1-10 of the Substance Use Disorder Act.
"Treatment" has the meaning ascribed to that term in Section 1-10 of the Substance Use Disorder Act when used in reference to treatment for a substance use disorder. "Treatment" has the meaning ascribed to that term in Section 1-128 of the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Code when used in reference to treatment for a mental health disorder.
(b) It is an unlawful practice for any person to engage in misleading or false advertising or promotion that misrepresents the need to seek mental health disorder or substance use disorder treatment outside of the State of Illinois.
(c) Any marketing, advertising, promotional, or sales materials directed to Illinois residents concerning mental health disorder or substance use disorder treatment must:
(1) prominently display or announce the full physical address of the treatment program or facility;
(2) display whether the treatment program or facility is licensed in the State of Illinois;
(3) display whether the treatment program or facility has locations in Illinois;
(4) display whether the services provided by the treatment program or facility are covered by an insurance policy issued to an Illinois resident;
(5) display whether the treatment program or facility is an in-network or out-of-network provider;
(6) include a link to the Internet website for the Department of Human Services' Division of Mental Health and Division of Substance Use Prevention and Recovery, or any successor State agency that provides information regarding licensed providers of services; and
(7) disclose that mental health disorder and substance use disorder treatment may be available at a reduced cost or for free for Illinois residents within the State of Illinois.
(d) It is an unlawful practice for any person to solicit, offer, or enter into an arrangement under which a patient seeking mental health disorder or substance use disorder treatment is referred to a mental health disorder or substance use disorder treatment program or facility in exchange for a fee, a percentage of the treatment program's or facility's revenues that are related to the patient, or any other remuneration that takes into account the volume or value of the referrals to the treatment program or facility. Such practice shall also be considered a violation of the prohibition against fee splitting in Section 22.2 of the Medical Practice Act of 1987 and a violation of the Health Care Worker Self-Referral Act. It is not a violation of this Section for programs or facilities to enter into personal services agreements or management services agreements with third parties that do not take into account the volume or value of referrals. It is not a violation of this Section for programs or facilities to provide discounts for treatment services to clients as long as the discount is based on financial necessity in accordance with the program's or facility's charity care plan, regardless of referral source or reason. Compensation paid by programs or facilities to their employees and independent contractors related to identifying, locating, and securing referrals to that program or facility is not a violation of this Section if the amount of compensation provided to the employee or independent contractor does not vary based upon the volume or value of such referrals. This Section does not apply to health insurance companies, health maintenance organizations, managed care plans, or organizations, including hospitals and hospital affiliates licensed in Illinois.
(Source: P.A. 101-81, eff. 7-12-19; 102-550, eff. 8-20-21.)
(815 ILCS 505/2WWW)
Sec. 2WWW. Termination or early cancellation fees for deceased persons.
(a) Subject to federal law and regulation, no provider of telephone, cellular telephone, television, Internet, energy, medical alert system, or water services shall impose a fee for termination or early cancellation of a service contract in the event the customer has deceased before the end of the contract.
(b) Every violation of this Section is an unlawful practice within the meaning of this Act.
(Source: P.A. 102-112, eff. 1-1-22; 102-813, eff. 5-13-22.)
(815 ILCS 505/2XXX)
Sec. 2XXX. Disclosure requirements for manufactured homes.
(a) A lender, or agent of a lending company, when offering terms for a mortgage note for the purchase of a manufactured home, as defined in the Mobile Home Park Act, that has not been caused to be deemed to be real property by satisfying the requirements of the Conveyance and Encumbrance of Manufactured Homes as Real Property and Severance Act, shall disclose:
(1) any affiliation between the landlord and the lending company;
(2) that the loan is a chattel loan;
(3) that the terms of a chattel loan prohibit refinancing;
(4) that, depending on where the consumer affixes the manufactured home (be it property owned by the consumer or on certain types of leased land), the manufactured home may qualify as real property under the Conveyance and Encumbrance of Manufactured Homes as Real Property and Severance Act; and
(5) any other reason that prohibits refinancing.
(b) A violation of this Section constitutes an unlawful practice within the meaning of this Act.
(Source: P.A. 102-365, eff. 1-1-22; 102-813, eff. 5-13-22.)
(815 ILCS 505/2YYY)
Sec. 2YYY. Deceptive practices targeting veterans and military members.
(a) As used in this Section:
"Veteran or military benefits services" means any services offered or provided to a veteran, military member, or family member who is entitled to receive benefits under federal, State, or local law, policy, or practice as a result of, at least in part, qualifying military service. Such services include assistance in obtaining benefits, increasing benefits, or appealing a decision related to obtaining or increasing benefits.
"Veteran's services disclosure" means providing, in upper case type in size at least as large as the type size of the written communication or by voice-over, the following statement: "VETERAN AND MILITARY BENEFITS SERVICES ARE AVAILABLE FREE OF CHARGE FROM COUNTY VETERAN SERVICE OFFICERS, THE ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS, AND FEDERALLY CHARTERED VETERAN SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS. TO LEARN MORE, CONTACT THESE ORGANIZATIONS OR THE ILLINOIS ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE AT 1-800-382-3000.".
(b) It is an unlawful practice within the meaning of this Act for any person providing veteran or military benefits services to:
(1) Fail in any advertising to conspicuously disclose a veteran's services disclosure when veteran or military benefits services are provided in exchange for a benefit or thing of value.
(2) Fail to obtain, or to obtain a pending application for, all veteran or military benefits services qualifications, certifications, and accreditations required under State or federal law.
(3) Fail, when acting as a fiduciary for a veteran receiving benefits, to meet the responsibilities of fiduciaries under 38 CFR 13.140.
(4) Fail, when providing representation before the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, to meet the standards of conduct under 38 CFR 14.632.
(5) Charge fees or expenses in violation of 38 CFR 14.636 or 14.637.
(Source: P.A. 102-386, eff. 1-1-22; 102-813, eff. 5-13-22.)
(815 ILCS 505/2ZZZ)
Sec. 2ZZZ. Violations of the Educational Planning Services Consumer Protection Act. Any person who violates the Educational Planning Services Consumer Protection Act commits an unlawful practice within the meaning of this Act.
(Source: P.A. 102-571, eff. 1-1-22; 102-813, eff. 5-13-22.)
(815 ILCS 505/2AAAA)
Sec. 2AAAA. Violations of the Consumer Legal Funding Act. Any person who violates the Consumer Legal Funding Act commits an unlawful practice within the meaning of this Act.
(Source: P.A. 102-987, eff. 5-27-22.)
(815 ILCS 505/2BBBB)
(Text of Section from P.A. 103-270)
Sec. 2BBBB. Deceptive practices related to limited services pregnancy centers.
(a) As used in this Section:
"Abortion" means the use of any instrument, medicine, drug, or any other substance or device to terminate the pregnancy of an individual known to be pregnant with an intention other than to increase the probability of a live birth, to preserve the life or health of the child after live birth, or to remove a dead fetus, as defined in Section 1-10 of the Reproductive Health Act.
"Affiliates" has the meaning given to the term "hospital affiliate" as defined in subsection (b) of Section 10.8 of the Hospital Licensing Act.
"Emergency contraception" means one or more prescription drugs (i) used separately or in combination for the purpose of preventing pregnancy, (ii) administered to or self-administered by a patient within a medically recommended amount of time after sexual intercourse, and (iii) dispensed for such purpose in accordance with professional standards of practice.
"Limited services pregnancy center" means an organization or facility, including a mobile facility, that:
(1) does not directly provide abortions or provide or prescribe emergency contraception, or provide referrals for abortions or emergency contraception, and has no affiliation with any organization or provider who provides abortions or provides or prescribes emergency contraception; and
(2) has a primary purpose to offer or provide pregnancy-related services to an individual who is or has reason to believe the individual may be pregnant, whether or not a fee is charged for such services.
"Limited services pregnancy center" does not include:
(1) a health care professional licensed by the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation;
(2) a hospital licensed under the Hospital Licensing Act and its affiliates; or
(3) a hospital licensed under the University of Illinois Hospital Act and its affiliates.
"Limited services pregnancy center" includes an organization or facility that has employees, volunteers, or agents who are health care professionals licensed by the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation.
"Pregnancy-related services" means any medical service, or health counseling service, related to the prevention, preservation, or termination of pregnancy, including, but not limited to, contraception and contraceptive counseling, pregnancy testing, pregnancy diagnosis, pregnancy options counseling, limited obstetric ultrasound, obstetric ultrasound, obstetric sonogram, sexually transmitted infections testing, and prenatal care.
(b) A limited services pregnancy center shall not engage in unfair methods of competition or unfair or deceptive acts or practices, including the use or employment of any deception, fraud, false pretense, false promise, or misrepresentation, or the concealment, suppression, or omission of any material fact, with the intent that others rely upon the concealment, suppression, or omission of such material fact:
(1) to interfere with or prevent an individual from seeking to gain entry or access to a provider of abortion or emergency contraception;
(2) to induce an individual to enter or access the limited services pregnancy center;
(3) in advertising, soliciting, or otherwise offering pregnancy-related services; or
(4) in conducting, providing, or performing pregnancy-related services.
(c) A violation of this Section constitutes a violation of this Act.
(Source: P.A. 103-270, eff. 7-27-23.)
(Text of Section from P.A. 103-482)
Sec. 2BBBB. Violations of the Vision Care Plan Regulation Act. Any person who violates the Vision Care Plan Regulation Act commits an unlawful practice within the meaning of this Act.
(Source: P.A. 103-482, eff. 8-4-23.)
(Text of Section from P.A. 103-559)
Sec. 2BBBB. Sale and marketing of firearms.
(a) As used in this Section:
"Firearm" has the meaning set forth in Section 1.1 of the Firearm Owners Identification Card Act.
"Firearm accessory" means an attachment or device designed or adapted to be inserted into, affixed onto, or used in conjunction with a firearm that is designed, intended, or functions to alter or enhance (i) the firing capabilities of a firearm, frame, or receiver, (ii) the lethality of the firearm, or (iii) a shooter's ability to hold and use a firearm.
"Firearm ammunition" has the meaning set forth in Section 1.1 of the Firearm Owners Identification Card Act.
"Firearm industry member" means a person, firm, corporation, company, partnership, society, joint stock company, or any other entity or association engaged in the design, manufacture, distribution, importation, marketing, wholesale, or retail sale of firearm-related products, including sales by mail, telephone, or Internet or in-person sales.
"Firearm-related product" means a firearm, firearm ammunition, a firearm precursor part, a firearm component, or a firearm accessory that meets any of the following conditions:
(1) the item is sold, made, or distributed in Illinois;
(2) the item is intended to be sold or distributed in Illinois; or
(3) the item is or was possessed in Illinois, and it was reasonably foreseeable that the item would be possessed in Illinois.
"Straw purchaser" means a person who (i) knowingly purchases or attempts to purchase a firearm-related product with intent to deliver that firearm-related product to another person who is prohibited by federal or State law from possessing a firearm-related product or (ii) intentionally provides false or misleading information on a Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives firearms transaction record form to purchase a firearm-related product with the intent to deliver that firearm-related product to another person.
"Unlawful paramilitary or private militia" means a group of armed individuals, organized privately, in violation of the Military Code of Illinois and Section 2 of Article XII of the Illinois Constitution.
(b) It is an unlawful practice within the meaning of this Act for any firearm industry member, through the sale, manufacturing, importing, or marketing of a firearm-related product, to do any of the following:
(1) Knowingly create, maintain, or contribute to a condition in Illinois that endangers the safety or health of the public by conduct either unlawful in itself or unreasonable under all circumstances, including failing to establish or utilize reasonable controls. Reasonable controls include reasonable procedures, safeguards, and business practices that are designed to:
(A) prevent the sale or distribution of a firearm-related product to a straw purchaser, a person prohibited by law from possessing a firearm, or a person who the firearm industry member has reasonable cause to believe is at substantial risk of using a firearm-related product to harm themselves or another individual or of possessing or using a firearm-related product unlawfully;
(B) prevent the loss or theft of a firearm-related product from the firearm industry member; or
(C) comply with all provisions of applicable local, State, and federal law, and do not otherwise promote the unlawful manufacture, sale, possession, marketing, or use of a firearm-related product.
(2) Advertise, market, or promote a firearm-related product in a manner that reasonably appears to support, recommend, or encourage individuals to engage in unlawful paramilitary or private militia activity in Illinois, or individuals who are not in the National Guard, United States armed forces reserves, United States armed forces, or any duly authorized military organization to use a firearm-related product for a military-related purpose in Illinois.
(3) Except as otherwise provided, advertise, market, promote, design, or sell any firearm-related product in a manner that reasonably appears to support, recommend, or encourage persons under 18 years of age to unlawfully purchase or possess or use a firearm-related product in Illinois.
(A) In determining whether the conduct of a firearm industry member, as described in this paragraph, reasonably appears to support, recommend, or encourage persons under 18 years of age to unlawfully purchase a firearm-related product, a court shall consider the totality of the circumstances, including, but not limited to, whether the marketing, advertising promotion, design, or sale:
(i) uses caricatures that reasonably appear to be minors or cartoon characters;
(ii) offers brand name merchandise for minors, including, but not limited to, clothing, toys, games, or stuffed animals, that promotes a firearm industry member or firearm-related product;
(iii) offers firearm-related products in sizes, colors, or designs that are specifically designed to be used by, or appeal to, minors;
(iv) is part of a marketing, advertising, or promotion campaign designed with the intent to appeal to minors;
(v) uses images or depictions of minors in advertising or marketing, or promotion materials, to depict the use of firearm-related products; or
(vi) is placed in a publication created for the purpose of reaching an audience that is predominantly composed of minors and not intended for a more general audience composed of adults.
(B) This paragraph does not apply to communications or promotional materials regarding lawful recreational activity with a firearm such as, but not limited to, practice shooting at targets on established public or private target ranges or hunting, trapping, or fishing in accordance with the Wildlife Code or the Fish and Aquatic Life Code.
(4) Otherwise engage in unfair methods of competition or unfair or deceptive acts or practices declared unlawful under Section 2 of this Act.
(c) Paragraphs (2), (3), and (4) of subsection (b) are declarative of existing law and shall not be construed as new enactments. The provisions of these paragraphs shall apply to all actions commenced or pending on or after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 103rd General Assembly.
(d) The provisions of this Section are severable under Section 1.31 of the Statute on Statutes.
(Source: P.A. 103-559, eff. 8-14-23.)
(815 ILCS 505/2CCCC)
Sec. 2CCCC. Violations of the Vision Care Plan Regulation Act. Any person who violates the Vision Care Plan Regulation Act commits an unlawful practice within the meaning of this Act.
(Source: P.A. 103-482, eff. 8-4-23; 103-605, eff. 7-1-24.)
(815 ILCS 505/2DDDD)
Sec. 2DDDD. Sale and marketing of firearms.
(a) As used in this Section:
"Firearm" has the meaning set forth in Section 1.1 of the Firearm Owners Identification Card Act.
"Firearm accessory" means an attachment or device designed or adapted to be inserted into, affixed onto, or used in conjunction with a firearm that is designed, intended, or functions to alter or enhance (i) the firing capabilities of a firearm, frame, or receiver, (ii) the lethality of the firearm, or (iii) a shooter's ability to hold and use a firearm.
"Firearm ammunition" has the meaning set forth in Section 1.1 of the Firearm Owners Identification Card Act.
"Firearm industry member" means a person, firm, corporation, company, partnership, society, joint stock company, or any other entity or association engaged in the design, manufacture, distribution, importation, marketing, wholesale, or retail sale of firearm-related products, including sales by mail, telephone, or Internet or in-person sales.
"Firearm-related product" means a firearm, firearm ammunition, a firearm precursor part, a firearm component, or a firearm accessory that meets any of the following conditions:
(1) the item is sold, made, or distributed in Illinois;
(2) the item is intended to be sold or distributed in Illinois; or
(3) the item is or was possessed in Illinois, and it was reasonably foreseeable that the item would be possessed in Illinois.
"Straw purchaser" means a person who (i) knowingly purchases or attempts to purchase a firearm-related product with intent to deliver that firearm-related product to another person who is prohibited by federal or State law from possessing a firearm-related product or (ii) intentionally provides false or misleading information on a Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives firearms transaction record form to purchase a firearm-related product with the intent to deliver that firearm-related product to another person.
"Unlawful paramilitary or private militia" means a group of armed individuals, organized privately, in violation of the Military Code of Illinois and Section 2 of Article XII of the Illinois Constitution.
(b) It is an unlawful practice within the meaning of this Act for any firearm industry member, through the sale, manufacturing, importing, or marketing of a firearm-related product, to do any of the following:
(1) Knowingly create, maintain, or contribute to a condition in Illinois that endangers the safety or health of the public by conduct either unlawful in itself or unreasonable under all circumstances, including failing to establish or utilize reasonable controls. Reasonable controls include reasonable procedures, safeguards, and business practices that are designed to:
(A) prevent the sale or distribution of a firearm-related product to a straw purchaser, a person prohibited by law from possessing a firearm, or a person who the firearm industry member has reasonable cause to believe is at substantial risk of using a firearm-related product to harm themselves or another individual or of possessing or using a firearm-related product unlawfully;
(B) prevent the loss or theft of a firearm-related product from the firearm industry member; or
(C) comply with all provisions of applicable local, State, and federal law, and do not otherwise promote the unlawful manufacture, sale, possession, marketing, or use of a firearm-related product.
(2) Advertise, market, or promote a firearm-related product in a manner that reasonably appears to support, recommend, or encourage individuals to engage in unlawful paramilitary or private militia activity in Illinois, or individuals who are not in the National Guard, United States armed forces reserves, United States armed forces, or any duly authorized military organization to use a firearm-related product for a military-related purpose in Illinois.
(3) Except as otherwise provided, advertise, market, promote, design, or sell any firearm-related product in a manner that reasonably appears to support, recommend, or encourage persons under 18 years of age to unlawfully purchase or possess or use a firearm-related product in Illinois.
(A) In determining whether the conduct of a firearm industry member, as described in this paragraph, reasonably appears to support, recommend, or encourage persons under 18 years of age to unlawfully purchase a firearm-related product, a court shall consider the totality of the circumstances, including, but not limited to, whether the marketing, advertising promotion, design, or sale:
(i) uses caricatures that reasonably appear to be minors or cartoon characters;
(ii) offers brand name merchandise for minors, including, but not limited to, clothing, toys, games, or stuffed animals, that promotes a firearm industry member or firearm-related product;
(iii) offers firearm-related products in sizes, colors, or designs that are specifically designed to be used by, or appeal to, minors;
(iv) is part of a marketing, advertising, or promotion campaign designed with the intent to appeal to minors;
(v) uses images or depictions of minors in advertising or marketing, or promotion materials, to depict the use of firearm-related products; or
(vi) is placed in a publication created for the purpose of reaching an audience that is predominantly composed of minors and not intended for a more general audience composed of adults.
(B) This paragraph does not apply to communications or promotional materials regarding lawful recreational activity with a firearm, such as, but not limited to, practice shooting at targets on established public or private target ranges or hunting, trapping, or fishing in accordance with the Wildlife Code or the Fish and Aquatic Life Code.
(4) Otherwise engage in unfair methods of competition or unfair or deceptive acts or practices declared unlawful under Section 2 of this Act.
(c) Paragraphs (2), (3), and (4) of subsection (b) are declarative of existing law and shall not be construed as new enactments. The provisions of these paragraphs shall apply to all actions commenced or pending on or after August 14, 2023 (the effective date of Public Act 103-559).
(d) The provisions of this Section are severable under Section 1.31 of the Statute on Statutes.
(Source: P.A. 103-559, eff. 8-14-23; 103-605, eff. 7-1-24.)
(815 ILCS 505/3) (from Ch. 121 1/2, par. 263)
Sec. 3. When it appears to the Attorney General that a person has engaged in, is engaging in, or is about to engage in any practice declared to be unlawful by this Act; when he receives a written complaint from a consumer or borrower of the commission of a practice declared to be unlawful under this Act; or when he believes it to be in the public interest that an investigation should be made to ascertain whether a person in fact has engaged in, is engaging in or is about to engage in, any practice declared to be unlawful by this Act, he may:
(a) Require that person to file on such terms as he prescribes a statement or report in writing under oath or otherwise, as to all information as he may consider necessary;
(b) Examine under oath any person in connection with the conduct of any trade or commerce;
(c) Examine any merchandise or sample thereof, record, book, document, account or paper as he may consider necessary; and
(d) Pursuant to an order of a Circuit Court impound any record, book, document, account, paper, or sample of merchandise that is produced in accordance with this Act, and retain it in his possession until the completion of all proceedings in connection with which it is produced.
(Source: P.A. 78-904.)
(815 ILCS 505/4) (from Ch. 121 1/2, par. 264)
Sec. 4. To accomplish the objectives and to carry out the duties prescribed by this Act, the Attorney General, in addition to other powers conferred upon him by this Act, may issue subpoenas to any person, administer an oath or affirmation to any person, conduct hearings in aid of any investigation or inquiry, prescribe such forms and promulgate such rules and regulations as may be necessary, which rules and regulations shall have the force of law. To accomplish the objectives and to carry out the duties prescribed by this Act, the State's Attorney of any county may issue subpoenas to any person.
(Source: P.A. 84-748.)
(815 ILCS 505/5) (from Ch. 121 1/2, par. 265)
Sec. 5. Service by the Attorney General of any notice requiring a person to file a statement or report, or of a subpoena upon any person, shall be made
(a) personally by delivery of a duly executed copy thereof to the person to be served, or if a person is not a natural person, in the manner provided in the Civil Practice Law when a complaint is filed, or
(b) by mailing by certified mail a duly executed copy thereof to the person to be served at his last known abode or principal place of business within this State.
Service of any subpoena issued by a State's Attorney shall be made in the manner provided in the Civil Practice Law.
(Source: P.A. 84-748.)
(815 ILCS 505/6) (from Ch. 121 1/2, par. 266)
Sec. 6. If any person fails or refuses to file any statement or report, or obey any subpoena issued by the Attorney General or a State's Attorney, the Attorney General or the State's Attorney may file a complaint in the circuit court for the:
(a) Granting of injunctive relief, restraining the sale or advertisement of any merchandise by such persons, or the conduct of any trade or commerce that is involved;
(b) Vacating, annulling, or suspending of the corporate charter of a corporation created by or under the laws of this State or the revoking or suspending of the certificate of authority to do business in this State of a foreign corporation or the revoking or suspending of any other licenses, permits or certificates issued pursuant to law to such person which are used to further the allegedly unlawful practice; and
(c) Granting of such other relief as may be required; until the person files the statement or report, or obeys the subpoena.
Upon commencement of any action brought under this Act by a State's Attorney, the State's Attorney shall mail a copy of the complaint or other initial pleading to the Attorney General, and upon the entry of any judgment or order in the action, shall mail a copy of such judgment or order to the Attorney General.
(Source: P.A. 84-748.)
(815 ILCS 505/6.1) (from Ch. 121 1/2, par. 266.1)
Sec. 6.1. In the administration of this Act, the Attorney General may accept an Assurance of Voluntary Compliance with respect to any method, act or practice deemed to be violative of the Act from any person who has engaged in, is engaging in, or was about to engage in such method, act or practice. Evidence of a violation of an Assurance of Voluntary Compliance shall be prima facie evidence of a violation of this Act in any subsequent proceeding brought by the Attorney General against the alleged violator.
(Source: P.A. 85-501.)
(815 ILCS 505/7) (from Ch. 121 1/2, par. 267)
Sec. 7. Injunctive relief; restitution; and civil penalties.
(a) Whenever the Attorney General or a State's Attorney has reason to believe that any person is using, has used, or is about to use any method, act or practice declared by this Act to be unlawful, and that proceedings would be in the public interest, he or she may bring an action in the name of the People of the State against such person to restrain by preliminary or permanent injunction the use of such method, act or practice. The Court, in its discretion, may exercise all powers necessary, including but not limited to: injunction; revocation, forfeiture or suspension of any license, charter, franchise, certificate or other evidence of authority of any person to do business in this State; appointment of a receiver; dissolution of domestic corporations or association suspension or termination of the right of foreign corporations or associations to do business in this State; and restitution.
(b) In addition to the remedies provided herein, the Attorney General or State's Attorney may request and the Court may impose a civil penalty in a sum not to exceed $50,000 against any person found by the Court to have engaged in any method, act or practice declared unlawful under this Act. In the event the court finds the method, act or practice to have been entered into with the intent to defraud, the court has the authority to impose a civil penalty in a sum not to exceed $50,000 per violation.
(c) In addition to any other civil penalty provided in this Section, if a person is found by the court to have engaged in any method, act, or practice declared unlawful under this Act, and the violation was committed against a person 65 years of age or older, the court may impose an additional civil penalty not to exceed $10,000 for each violation.
A civil penalty imposed under this subsection (c) shall be paid to the State Treasurer who shall deposit the money in the State treasury in a special fund designated the Department on Aging State Projects Fund. The Treasurer shall deposit such moneys into the Fund monthly. All of the moneys deposited into the Fund shall be appropriated to the Department on Aging for grants to senior centers in Illinois.
An award of restitution under subsection (a) has priority over a civil penalty imposed by the court under this subsection.
In determining whether to impose a civil penalty under this subsection and the amount of any penalty, the court shall consider the following:
(1) Whether the defendant's conduct was in willful disregard of the rights of the person 65 years of age or older.
(2) Whether the defendant knew or should have known that the defendant's conduct was directed to a person 65 years of age or older.
(3) Whether the person 65 years of age or older was substantially more vulnerable to the defendant's conduct because of age, poor health, infirmity, impaired understanding, restricted mobility, or disability, than other persons.
(4) Any other factors the court deems appropriate.
(d) This Section applies if: (i) a court orders a party to make payments to the Attorney General and the payments are to be used for the operations of the Office of the Attorney General or (ii) a party agrees, in an Assurance of Voluntary Compliance under this Act, to make payments to the Attorney General for the operations of the Office of the Attorney General.
(e) Moneys paid under any of the conditions described in subsection (d) shall be deposited into the Attorney General Court Ordered and Voluntary Compliance Payment Projects Fund, which is created as a special fund in the State Treasury. Moneys in the Fund shall be used, subject to appropriation, for the performance of any function pertaining to the exercise of the duties of the Attorney General including but not limited to enforcement of any law of this State and conducting public education programs; however, any moneys in the Fund that are required by the court or by an agreement to be used for a particular purpose shall be used for that purpose.
(Source: P.A. 102-1071, eff. 6-10-22.)
(815 ILCS 505/8) (from Ch. 121 1/2, par. 268)
Sec. 8. When a receiver is appointed by the court pursuant to this Act, he shall have the power to sue for, collect, receive and take into his possession all the goods and chattels, rights and credits, moneys and effects, lands and tenements, books, records, documents, papers, choses in action, bills, notes and property of every description, derived by means of any practice declared to be illegal and prohibited by this Act, including property with which such property has been mingled if it cannot be identified in kind because of such commingling, and to sell, convey, and assign the same and hold and dispose of the proceeds thereof under the direction of the court. Any person who has suffered damages as a result of the use or employment of any unlawful practices and submits proof to the satisfaction of the court that he has in fact been damaged, may participate with general creditors in the distribution of the assets to the extent he has sustained out-of-pocket losses. In the case of a partnership or business entity, the receiver shall settle the estate and distribute the assets under the direction of the court. The court shall have jurisdiction of all questions arising in such proceedings and may make such orders and judgments therein as may be required.
(Source: Laws 1961, p. 1867.)
(815 ILCS 505/9) (from Ch. 121 1/2, par. 269)
Sec. 9. Subject to an order of the court terminating the business affairs of any person after receivership proceedings held pursuant to this Act, the provisions of this Act shall not bar any claim against any person who has acquired any moneys or property, real or personal, by means of any practice herein declared to be unlawful.
(Source: Laws 1961, p. 1867.)
(815 ILCS 505/10) (from Ch. 121 1/2, par. 270)
Sec. 10. In any action brought under the provisions of this Act, the Attorney General or the State's Attorney is entitled to recover costs for the use of this State.
(Source: P.A. 84-748.)
(815 ILCS 505/10a) (from Ch. 121 1/2, par. 270a)
Sec. 10a. Action for actual damages.
(a) Any person who suffers actual damage as a result of a violation of this Act committed by any other person may bring an action against such person. The court, in its discretion may award actual economic damages or any other relief which the court deems proper; provided, however, that no award of punitive damages may be assessed under this Section against a party defendant who is a new vehicle dealer or used vehicle dealer within the meaning of Chapter 5 of the Illinois Vehicle Code or who is the holder of a retail installment contract within the meaning of Section 2.12 of the Motor Vehicle Retail Installment Sales Act, unless the conduct engaged in was willful or intentional and done with evil motive or reckless indifference to the rights of others. Proof of a public injury, a pattern, or an effect on consumers and the public interest generally shall be required in order to state a cause of action under this Section against a party defendant who is a new vehicle dealer or used vehicle dealer within the meaning of Chapter 5 of the Illinois Vehicle Code or who is the holder of a retail installment contract within the meaning of Section 2.12 of the Motor Vehicle Retail Installment Sales Act. Proof of such public injury may be shown by any one of the following factors:
(1) Violation of a statute that has a public interest impact.
(2) Repeated acts prior to the act involving the plaintiff.
(3) Potential for repetition.
(b) Such action may be commenced in the county in which the person against whom it is brought resides, has his principal place of business, or is doing business, or in the county where the transaction or any substantial portion thereof occurred.
(c) Except as provided in subsections (f), (g), and (h) of this Section, in any action brought by a person under this Section, the Court may grant injunctive relief where appropriate and may award, in addition to the relief provided in this Section, reasonable attorney's fees and costs to the prevailing party.
(d) Upon commencement of any action brought under this Section the plaintiff shall mail a copy of the complaint or other initial pleading to the Attorney General and, upon entry of any judgment or order in the action, shall mail a copy of such judgment or order to the Attorney General.
(e) Any action for damages under this Section shall be forever barred unless commenced within 3 years after the cause of action accrued; provided that, whenever any action is brought by the Attorney General or a State's Attorney for a violation of this Act, the running of the foregoing statute of limitations, with respect to every private right of action for damages which is based in whole or in part on any matter complained of in said action by the Attorney General or State's Attorney, shall be suspended during the pendency thereof, and for one year thereafter.
(f) At any time more than 30 days before the commencement of trial, a party, who is a new vehicle dealer or used vehicle dealer within the meaning of Chapter 5 of the Illinois Vehicle Code or who is the holder of a retail installment contract within the meaning of Section 2.12 of the Motor Vehicle Retail Installment Sales Act and who is defending a claim under this Act, may serve upon the party seeking relief under this Act an offer to allow judgment to be taken against the defending party to the effect specified in the offer with costs then accrued. If within 10 days after service of the offer, the offeree serves written notice that the offer is accepted, either party may then file the offer and notice of acceptance together with proof of service of the notice; the court shall then enter judgment. An offer not accepted shall be deemed withdrawn and evidence of the offer is not admissible except in a proceeding to determine costs. When a party seeking relief under this Act does not accept an offer filed with the clerk and served upon the attorney for that party more than 30 days before the commencement of trial and when that party fails to obtain a judgment in an amount more than the total offer of settlement, that party shall forfeit and the court may not award any compensation for attorney's fees and costs incurred after the date of the offer.
(g) At any time more than 30 days before the commencement of trial, a party who is seeking relief under this Act from a new vehicle dealer or used vehicle dealer within the meaning of Chapter 5 of the Illinois Vehicle Code or from the holder of a retail installment contract within the meaning of Section 2.12 of the Motor Vehicle Retail Installment Sales Act may serve the dealer or holder an offer to allow judgment to be taken against the dealer or holder to the effect specified in the offer with costs then accrued. If within 10 days after service of the offer, the offeree serves written notice that the offer is accepted, either party may then file the offer and notice of acceptance together with proof of service of the notice; the court shall then enter judgment. An offer not accepted shall be deemed withdrawn and evidence of the offer is not admissible except in a proceeding to determine costs. When a dealer or holder does not accept an offer filed with the clerk and served upon the attorney for the dealer or holder more than 30 days before the commencement of trial and if the party seeking relief against a dealer or holder obtains a judgment in an amount equal to or in excess of the offer amount, the party seeking relief shall be paid interest on the offer amount at the rate as provided in Section 2-1303 of the Code of Civil Procedure from the date of the offer until the judgment is paid.
(h) At least 30 days prior to the filing of an action under this Section, a party who is seeking relief shall serve a written notice of the nature of the alleged violation and demand for relief upon the prospective party, who is a new vehicle dealer or used vehicle dealer within the meaning of Chapter 5 of the Illinois Vehicle Code or who is the holder of a retail installment contract within the meaning of Section 2.12 of the Motor Vehicle Retail Installment Sales Act, against whom such action will be commenced. Any person receiving such a demand for relief may, within 30 days of service of the demand for relief, submit a written offer of settlement, which offer is to be exclusive of attorney's fees, to the party serving the notice and demand. The party who is seeking relief must certify in any cause of action that the notice and demand was served upon the named defendants and the substance of their response, if any. If the offer of settlement is rejected in writing by the party who is seeking relief, then, in any subsequent action, the court shall deny any award of attorney's fees and costs requested by the party seeking relief under this Act incurred after the rejection of the written offer of settlement, if the judgment is less than the amount contained within the offer of settlement. All written offers of settlement under this subsection shall be presumed to be offered without prejudice in compromise of a disputed matter.
(Source: P.A. 91-270, eff. 1-1-00.)
(815 ILCS 505/10b) (from Ch. 121 1/2, par. 270b)
Sec. 10b. Nothing in this Act shall apply to any of the following:
(1) Actions or transactions specifically authorized by laws administered by any regulatory body or officer acting under statutory authority of this State or the United States; however, notwithstanding any action or approval by a regulatory body or officer acting under statutory authority of this State or the United States, the manufacture, distribution, or sale of a product or service that causes or contributes to cause bodily injury, death, or property damage is not an action or transaction "specifically authorized" within the meaning of this item (1).
(2) The provisions of "An act to protect trademark owners, distributors, and the public against injurious and uneconomic practices in the distribution of articles of standard quality under a trademark, brand or name," approved July 8, 1935, as amended.
(3) Acts done by the publisher, owner, agent, or employee of a newspaper, periodical or radio or television station in the publication or dissemination of an advertisement, when the owner, agent or employee did not have knowledge of the false, misleading or deceptive character of the advertisement, did not prepare the advertisement, or did not have a direct financial interest in the sale or distribution of the advertised product or service.
(4) The communication of any false, misleading or deceptive information, provided by the seller of real estate located in Illinois, by a real estate salesman or broker licensed under "The Real Estate Brokers License Act", unless the salesman or broker knows of the false, misleading or deceptive character of such information. This provision shall be effective as to any communication, whenever occurring.
(5) (Blank).
(6) The communication of any false, misleading, or deceptive information by an insurance producer, registered firm, or limited insurance representative, as those terms are defined in the Illinois Insurance Code, or by an insurance agency or brokerage house concerning the sale, placement, procurement, renewal, binding, cancellation of, or terms of any type of insurance or any policy of insurance unless the insurance producer has actual knowledge of the false, misleading, or deceptive character of the information. This provision shall be effective as to any communications, whenever occurring. This item (6) applies to all causes of action that accrue on or after the effective date of this amendatory Act of 1995.
(Source: P.A. 101-25, eff. 6-21-19.)
(815 ILCS 505/10c)
Sec. 10c. Waiver or modification. Any waiver or modification of the rights, provisions, or remedies of this Act shall be void and unenforceable.
(Source: P.A. 93-400, eff. 1-1-04.)
(815 ILCS 505/10d)
Sec. 10d. Public Utilities Act; Illinois Commerce Commission.
(a) The General Assembly finds that consumer protection is vital to the health, safety, and welfare of Illinois consumers.
(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Illinois Commerce Commission and its staff shall:
(1) work cooperatively with law enforcement authorities, including the Attorney General and State's Attorneys, in their enforcement of consumer protection laws, including this Act;
(2) provide any materials or documents already in the Commission's possession requested by the Attorney General or a State's Attorney pertaining to the enforcement of consumer protection laws; any materials or documents that are proprietary shall not be made public unless the designation as proprietary has been removed by a court or legal body of competent jurisdiction, or the agreement of the parties; and
(3) upon written request, forward any complaintsregarding alleged violations of any consumer protection law to the Attorney General and the State's Attorney of the appropriate county or counties.
(c) Subject to subdivision (1) of Section 10b of this Act, the Attorney General and the State's Attorney of any county shall have available all remedies and authority granted to them by this Act. The remedies for violations of the Public Utilities Act and its rules are not intended to replace other remedies that may be imposed for violations of this Act and are in addition to, and not in substitution for, such other remedies, nor is this Section intended to remove any statutorily defined defenses.
(Source: P.A. 93-881, eff. 1-1-05.)
(815 ILCS 505/11) (from Ch. 121 1/2, par. 271)
Sec. 11. If any provision of this Act or the application thereof to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the invalidity shall not affect other provisions or applications of the Act which can be given effect without the invalid provision or application and to this end the provisions of this Act are severable.
(Source: Laws 1961, p. 1867.)
(815 ILCS 505/11a) (from Ch. 121 1/2, par. 271a)
Sec. 11a. This Act shall be liberally construed to effect the purposes thereof.
(Source: P.A. 78-904.)
(815 ILCS 505/12) (from Ch. 121 1/2, par. 272)
Sec. 12. This Act shall be known and may be cited as the "Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act".
(Source: P.A. 78-904.)
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