(a) If, in the opinion of the commissioner, a person who is required to be licensed under this division is engaged in business as a debt collector without a license from the commissioner, or a person or licensee has violated any provision of this division, an order, or a regulation adopted pursuant to this division, or Title 1.6C (commencing with Section 1788) or Title 1.6C.5 (commencing with Section 1788.50) of Part 4 of Division 3 of the Civil Code, the commissioner may do any of the following:
(1) After notice and an opportunity for a hearing, order the person or licensee to desist and to refrain from engaging in the business of further continuing the violation.
(2) After notice and an opportunity for a hearing, order the person or licensee to pay ancillary relief. The ancillary relief may include, but need not be limited to, refunds, restitution, disgorgement, and payment of damages, as appropriate, on behalf of a person injured by the conduct or practice that constitutes the subject matter of the assessment. A person or licensee may dispute an order to pay ancillary relief for an individual violation of Title 1.6C (commencing with Section 1788) or Title 1.6C.5 (commencing with Section 1788.50) of Part 4 of Division 3 of the Civil Code, if the same injured person brought an action for the same violation against the same person or licensee in court, the action resulted in a final judgment on the merits, and all damages, penalties, or fees have been paid to the injured person.
(b) If, in the opinion of the commissioner, a depository institution, as defined in Section 1420, a person licensed pursuant to Division 9 (commencing with Section 22000) or Division 20 (commencing with Section 50000), or a person licensed pursuant to Part 1 (commencing with Section 10000) of Division 4 of the Business and Professions Code, has violated Title 1.6C (commencing with Section 1788) or Title 1.6C.5 (commencing with Section 1788.50) of Part 4 of Division 3 of the Civil Code, the commissioner may take the actions described in paragraphs (1) and (2) of subdivision (a).
(c) If, within 30 days after an order issued pursuant to subdivision (a) or (b) is served, a written request for a hearing is filed and no hearing is held within 30 days thereafter, the order shall be deemed rescinded.
(Added by Stats. 2020, Ch. 163, Sec. 3. (SB 908) Effective January 1, 2021. Operative January 1, 2022, pursuant to Sec. 100000.5.)