15 USC 1679g - Civil liability

U.S Code last checked for updates: Nov 22, 2024

§ 1679g.

Civil liability

(a)

Liability established

Any person who fails to comply with any provision of this subchapter with respect to any other person shall be liable to such person in an amount equal to the sum of the amounts determined under each of the following paragraphs:

(1)

Actual damages

The greater of—

(A)

the amount of any actual damage sustained by such person as a result of such failure; or

(B)

any amount paid by the person to the credit repair organization.

(2)

Punitive damages

(A)

Individual actions

(B)

Class actions

In the case of a class action, the sum of—

(i)

the aggregate of the amount which the court may allow for each named plaintiff; and

(ii)

the aggregate of the amount which the court may allow for each other class member, without regard to any minimum individual recovery.

(3)

Attorneys’ fees

(b)

Factors to be considered in awarding punitive damages

In determining the amount of any liability of any credit repair organization under subsection (a)(2), the court shall consider, among other relevant factors—

(1)

the frequency and persistence of noncompliance by the credit repair organization;

(2)

the nature of the noncompliance;

(3)

the extent to which such noncompliance was intentional; and

(4)

in the case of any class action, the number of consumers adversely affected.

(Pub. L. 90–321, title IV, § 409, as added Pub. L. 104–208, div. A, title II, § 2451, Sept. 30, 1996, 110 Stat. 3009–459.)

cite as: 15 USC 1679g