Title 1.3 - CREDIT CARDS

California Civil Code — §§ 1747-1748.95

Sections (47)

Added by Stats. 1971, Ch. 1019.

This title may be cited as the “Song-Beverly Credit Card Act of 1971.”

Added by Stats. 1982, Ch. 545, Sec. 1.

It is the intent of the Legislature that the provisions of this title as to which there are similar provisions in the federal Truth in Lending Act, as amended (15 U.S.C. 1601, et seq.), essentially conform, and be interpreted by anyone construing the provisions of this title to so conform, to the Truth in Lending Act and any rule, regulation, or interpretation promulgated thereunder by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, and any interpretation issued by an official or employee of the Federal Reserve System duly authorized to issue such interpretation.

Amended by Stats. 2011, Ch. 690, Sec. 1. (AB 1219) Effective October 9, 2011.

As used in this title:

(a)“Credit card” means any card, plate, coupon book, or other single credit device existing for the purpose of being used from time to time upon presentation to obtain money, property, labor, or services on credit. “Credit card” does not mean any of the following:
(1)Any

single credit device used to obtain telephone property, labor, or services in any transaction under public utility tariffs.

(2)Any device that may be used to obtain credit pursuant to an electronic fund transfer, but only if the credit is obtained under an agreement between a consumer and a financial institution to extend credit when the consumer’s asset account is overdrawn or to maintain a specified minimum balance in the consumer’s asset account.
(3)Any key or card key used at an automated dispensing outlet to obtain or purchase petroleum products, as defined in subdivision (c) of Section 13401 of the Business and Professions Code, that will be used primarily for business rather than personal or family purposes.
(b)“Accepted credit card” means any credit card that the cardholder has requested or applied for and

received or has signed, or has used, or has authorized another person to use, for the purpose of obtaining money, property, labor, or services on credit. Any credit card issued in renewal of, or in substitution for, an accepted credit card becomes an accepted credit card when received by the cardholder, whether the credit card is issued by the same or a successor card issuer.

(c)“Card issuer” means any person who issues a credit card or the agent of that person for that purpose with respect to the credit card.
(d)“Cardholder” means a natural person to whom a credit card is issued for consumer credit purposes, or a natural person who has agreed with the card issuer to pay consumer credit obligations arising from the issuance of a credit card to another natural person. For purposes of Sections 1747.05, 1747.10, and 1747.20, the term includes any person to whom a credit card is

issued for any purpose, including business, commercial, or agricultural use, or a person who has agreed with the card issuer to pay obligations arising from the issuance of that credit card to another person.

(e)“Retailer” means every person other than a card issuer who furnishes money, goods, services, or anything else of value upon presentation of a credit card by a cardholder. “Retailer” shall not mean the state, a county, city, city and county, or any other public agency.
(f)“Unauthorized use” means the use of a credit card by a person, other than the cardholder, (1) who does not have actual, implied, or apparent authority for that use and (2) from which the cardholder receives no benefit. “Unauthorized use” does not include the use of a credit card by a person who has been given authority by the cardholder to use the credit card. Any attempted termination by the cardholder

of the person’s authority is ineffective as against the card issuer until the cardholder complies with the procedures required by the card issuer to terminate that authority. Notwithstanding the above, following the card issuer’s receipt of oral or written notice from a cardholder indicating that it wishes to terminate the authority of a previously authorized user of a credit card, the card issuer shall follow its usual procedures for precluding any further use of a credit card by an unauthorized person.

(g)An “inquiry” is a writing that is posted by mail to the address of the card issuer to which payments are normally tendered, unless another address is specifically indicated on the statement for that purpose, then to that other address, and that is received by the card issuer no later than 60 days after the card issuer transmitted the first periodic statement that reflects the alleged billing error, and that does all of the following:
(1)Sets forth sufficient information to enable the card issuer to identify the cardholder and the account.
(2)Sufficiently identifies the billing error.
(3)Sets forth information providing the basis for the cardholder’s belief that the billing error exists.
(h)A “response” is a writing that is responsive to an inquiry and mailed to the cardholder’s address last known to the card issuer.
(i)A “timely response” is a response that is mailed within two complete billing cycles, but in no event later than 90 days, after the card issuer receives an inquiry.
(j)A “billing error” means an error by omission or commission in (1)

posting any debit or credit, or (2) in computation or similar error of an accounting nature contained in a statement given to the cardholder by the card issuer. A “billing error” does not mean any dispute with respect to value, quality, or quantity of goods, services, or other benefit obtained through use of a credit card.

(k)“Adequate notice” means a printed notice to a cardholder that sets forth the pertinent facts clearly and conspicuously so that a person against whom it is to operate could reasonably be expected to have noticed it and understood its meaning.
(l)“Secured credit card” means any credit card issued under an agreement or other instrument that pledges, hypothecates, or places a lien on real property or money or other personal property to secure the cardholder’s obligations to the card issuer.
(m)“Student credit card” means any credit card that is provided to a student at a public or private college or university and is provided to that student solely based on his or her enrollment in a public or private university, or is provided to a student who would not otherwise qualify for that credit card on the basis of his or her income. A “student credit card” does not include a credit card issued to a student who has a cocardholder or cosigner who would otherwise qualify for a credit card other than a student credit card.
(n)“Retail motor fuel dispenser” means a device that dispenses fuel that is used to power internal combustion engines, including motor vehicle engines, that processes the sale of fuel through a remote electronic payment system, and that is in a location where an employee or other agent of the seller is not present.
(o)“Retail motor fuel

payment island automated cashier” means a remote electronic payment processing station that processes the retail sale of fuel that is used to power internal combustion engines, including motor vehicle engines, that is in a location where an employee or other agent of the seller is not present, and that is located in close proximity to a retail motor fuel dispenser.

Amended by Stats. 1982, Ch. 646, Sec. 2.

(a)Any rights or responsibilities created by this title that are based on the use of a credit card shall have no effect with respect to:
(1)Those transactions that constitute an electronic fund transfer as defined by Regulation E of the Federal Reserve Board (12 CFR, Part 205).
(2)Those transactions involving the use of any key or a card key used at an automated dispensing outlet to obtain or purchase petroleum products, as defined in subdivision (c) of Section 13401 of the Business and Professions

Code, which will be used primarily for business rather than personal or family purposes.

(b)Notwithstanding subdivision (a), a person, company, or corporation that has been issued a key or card key described in paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) shall not be liable for losses due to the loss or theft of the key or card key incurred after receipt by the issuer of the key or card key of written or oral notification of the loss or theft.

Added by Stats. 2002, Ch. 815, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 2003.

Any waiver of the provisions of this title is contrary to public policy, and is void and unenforceable.

Amended by Stats. 2002, Ch. 862, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 2003.

(a)No credit card shall be issued except:
(1)In response to an oral or written request or application therefor.
(2)As a renewal of, or in substitution for, an accepted credit card whether that card is issued by the same or a successor card issuer.
(b)A credit card issued in substitution for an accepted credit card may be issued only if the

card issuer provides an activation process whereby the cardholder is required to contact the card issuer to activate the credit card prior to the first use of the credit card in a credit transaction.

(c)This section does not prohibit the completion of an overdraft protection advance or recurring-charge transaction that a cardholder has previously authorized on an accepted credit card.

Added by Stats. 1999, Ch. 423, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 2000. Section operative July 1, 2000, by its own provisions.

(a)A credit card issuer that mails an offer or solicitation to receive a credit card and, in response, receives a completed application for a credit card that lists an address that is different from the address on the offer or solicitation shall verify the change of address by contacting the person to whom the solicitation or offer was mailed.
(b)Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a person to whom an offer or solicitation to receive a

credit card is made shall not be liable for the unauthorized use of a credit card issued in response to that offer or solicitation if the credit card issuer does not verify the change of address pursuant to subdivision (a) prior to the issuance of the credit card, unless the credit card issuer proves that this person actually incurred the charge on the credit card.

(c)When a credit card issuer receives a written or oral request for a change of the cardholder’s billing address and then receives a written or oral request for an additional credit card within 10 days after the requested address change, the credit card issuer shall not mail the requested additional credit card to the new address or, alternatively, activate the requested additional credit card, unless the credit card issuer has verified the change of address.
(d)This section shall become operative on July 1,

2000.

Amended by Stats. 2011, Ch. 690, Sec. 2. (AB 1219) Effective October 9, 2011.

(a)Except as provided in subdivision (c), no person, firm, partnership, association, or corporation that accepts credit cards for the transaction of business shall do any of the following:
(1)Request, or require as a condition to accepting the credit card as payment in full or in part for goods or services, the cardholder to write any

personal identification information upon the credit card transaction form or otherwise.

(2)Request, or require as a condition to accepting the credit card as payment in full or in part for goods or services, the cardholder to provide personal identification information, which the person, firm, partnership, association, or corporation accepting the credit card writes, causes to be written, or otherwise records upon the credit card transaction form or otherwise.
(3)Utilize, in any credit card transaction, a credit card form which contains preprinted spaces specifically designated for filling in any personal identification information of the cardholder.
(b)For purposes of this section “personal identification information,” means information concerning the cardholder, other than information set forth on the credit

card, and including, but not limited to, the cardholder’s address and telephone number.

(c)Subdivision (a) does not apply in the following instances:
(1)If the credit card is being used as a deposit to secure payment in the event of default, loss, damage, or other similar occurrence.
(2)Cash advance transactions.
(3)If any of the following applies:
(A)The person, firm, partnership, association, or corporation accepting the credit card is contractually obligated to provide personal identification information in order to complete the credit card transaction.
(B)The person, firm, partnership, association, or corporation

accepting the credit card in a sales transaction at a retail motor fuel dispenser or retail motor fuel payment island automated cashier uses the Zip Code information solely for prevention of fraud, theft, or identity theft.

(C)The person, firm, partnership, association, or corporation accepting the credit card is obligated to collect and record the personal identification information by federal or state law or regulation.
(4)If personal identification information is required for a special purpose incidental but related to the individual credit card transaction, including, but not limited to, information relating to shipping, delivery, servicing, or installation of the purchased merchandise, or for special orders.
(d)This section does not prohibit any person, firm, partnership, association, or corporation from

requiring the cardholder, as a condition to accepting the credit card as payment in full or in part for goods or services, to provide reasonable forms of positive identification, which may include a driver’s license or a California state identification card, or where one of these is not available, another form of photo identification, provided that none of the information contained thereon is written or recorded on the credit card transaction form or otherwise. If the cardholder pays for the transaction with a credit card number and does not make the credit card available upon request to verify the number, the cardholder’s driver’s license number or identification card number may be recorded on the credit card transaction form or otherwise.

(e)Any person who violates this section shall be subject to a civil penalty not to exceed two hundred fifty dollars ($250) for the first violation and one thousand dollars ($1,000) for each subsequent

violation, to be assessed and collected in a civil action brought by the person paying with a credit card, by the Attorney General, or by the district attorney or city attorney of the county or city in which the violation occurred. However, no civil penalty shall be assessed for a violation of this section if the defendant shows by a preponderance of the evidence that the violation was not intentional and resulted from a bona fide error made notwithstanding the defendant’s maintenance of procedures reasonably adopted to avoid that error. When collected, the civil penalty shall be payable, as appropriate, to the person paying with a credit card who brought the action, or to the general fund of whichever governmental entity brought the action to assess the civil penalty.

(f)The Attorney General, or any district attorney or city attorney within his or her respective jurisdiction, may bring an action in the superior court in the name of the people

of the State of California to enjoin violation of subdivision (a) and, upon notice to the defendant of not less than five days, to temporarily restrain and enjoin the violation. If it appears to the satisfaction of the court that the defendant has, in fact, violated subdivision (a), the court may issue an injunction restraining further violations, without requiring proof that any person has been damaged by the violation. In these proceedings, if the court finds that the defendant has violated subdivision (a), the court may direct the defendant to pay any or all costs incurred by the Attorney General, district attorney, or city attorney in seeking or obtaining injunctive relief pursuant to this subdivision.

(g)Actions for collection of civil penalties under subdivision (e) and for injunctive relief under subdivision (f) may be consolidated.
(h)The changes made to this section by

Chapter 458 of the Statutes of 1995 apply only to credit card transactions entered into on and after January 1, 1996. Nothing in those changes shall be construed to affect any civil action which was filed before January 1, 1996.

Amended by Stats. 2006, Ch. 682, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 2007.

(a)Except as provided in this section, no person, firm, partnership, association, corporation, or limited liability company that accepts credit or debit cards for the transaction of business shall print more than the last five digits of the credit or debit card account number or the expiration date upon any of the following:
(1)Any receipt provided to the cardholder.
(2)Any receipt retained by the person, firm, partnership, association, corporation, or limited liability company, which is printed at the time of the purchase, exchange, refund, or return, and is signed by the cardholder.
(3)Any receipt retained by the person, firm, partnership, association, corporation, or limited liability company, which is printed at the time of the purchase, exchange, refund, or return, but is not signed by the cardholder, because the cardholder used a personal identification number to complete the transaction.
(b)This section shall apply only to receipts that include a credit or debit card account number that are electronically printed and shall not apply to transactions in which the sole means of recording the person’s credit or debit card account number is by handwriting or by an imprint or

copy of the credit or debit card.

(c)This section shall not apply to documents, other than the receipts described in paragraphs (1) to (3), inclusive, of subdivision (a), used for internal administrative purposes.
(d)Paragraphs (2) and (3) of subdivision (a) shall become operative on January 1, 2009.

Repealed and added by Stats. 1982, Ch. 545, Sec. 5.

A cardholder shall be liable for the unauthorized use of a credit card only if all of the following conditions are met:

(a)The card is an accepted credit card.
(b)The liability is not in excess of fifty dollars ($50).
(c)The card issuer gives adequate notice to the cardholder of the potential liability.
(d)The card issuer has provided the cardholder with a description of a means by which the

card issuer may be notified of loss or theft of the card.

(e)The unauthorized use occurs before the card issuer has been notified that an unauthorized use of the credit card has occurred or may occur as the result of loss, theft, or otherwise.
(f)The card issuer has provided a method whereby the user of such card can be identified as the person authorized to use it.

Repealed and added by Stats. 1982, Ch. 545, Sec. 7.

If 10 or more credit cards are issued by one card issuer for use by the employees of an organization, Section 1747.10 does not prohibit the card issuer and the organization from agreeing to liability for unauthorized use without regard to Section 1747.10. However, liability for unauthorized use may be imposed on an employee of the organization, by either the card issuer or the organization, only in accordance with Section 1747.10.

Added by Stats. 1971, Ch. 1019.

If a card issuer fails to give a timely response to an inquiry of a cardholder concerning any debit or credit applicable to an obligation incurred through the use of a credit card, he shall not be entitled to interest, finance charges, service charges, or any other charges thereon, from the date of mailing of the inquiry to date of mailing of the response.

Amended by Stats. 1982, Ch. 545, Sec. 9.

(a)Every card issuer shall correct any billing error made by the card issuer within two complete billing cycles, but in no event later than 90 days, after receiving an inquiry.
(b)Any card issuer who fails to correct a billing error made by the card issuer within the period prescribed by subdivision (a) shall not be entitled to the amount by which the outstanding balance of the cardholder’s account is greater than the correct balance, nor any interest, finance charges, service charges, or other charges on the obligation giving rise to the billing error.
(c)Any cardholder who is injured by a willful violation of this section may bring an action for the recovery of damages. Judgment may be entered for three times the amount at which actual damages are assessed. The cardholder shall be entitled to recover reasonable attorney’s fees and costs incurred in the action.

Added by Stats. 1971, Ch. 1019.

(a)Every retailer shall correct any billing error made by the retailer within 60 days from the date on which an inquiry concerning a billing error was mailed.
(b)Any retailer who fails to correct a billing error made by the retailer within the period prescribed by subdivision (a) shall be liable to the cardholder in the amount by which the outstanding balance of the cardholder’s account is greater than the correct balance, and any interest, finance charges, service charges, or other charges on the obligation giving rise to the billing error.
(c)Any cardholder who is injured by a willful violation of this section may bring an action for the recovery of damages. Judgment may be entered for three times the amount at which actual damages are assessed. The cardholder shall be entitled to recover reasonable attorney’s fees and costs incurred in the action.
(d)As used in this section, an “inquiry” is a writing which is posted by mail to the address of the retailer, unless another address is specifically indicated by the retailer for the purpose of mailing inquiries with respect to billing errors, then to such address.

Added by Stats. 1971, Ch. 1019.

(a)A card issuer shall not be liable for a billing error made by the retailer.
(b)A retailer shall not be liable for a billing error made by a card issuer.

Added by Stats. 1971, Ch. 1019.

(a)No card issuer shall knowingly give any untrue credit information to any other person concerning a cardholder.
(b)No card issuer, after receiving an inquiry from a cardholder regarding a billing error and prior to satisfying the requirements of Section 1747.50, shall communicate unfavorable credit information concerning the cardholder to any person solely because of the cardholder’s failure to pay the amount by which the outstanding balance of the cardholder’s account is greater than the correct balance.
(c)No card

issuer shall cancel or refuse to renew a credit card for the reason that the cardholder has obtained relief under Section 1747.50.

(d)Any cardholder who is injured by a willful violation of this section may bring an action for the recovery of damages. Judgment may be entered for three times the amount at which actual damages are assessed. The cardholder shall be entitled to recover reasonable attorney’s fees and costs incurred in the action.

Amended by Stats. 2007, Ch. 568, Sec. 14. Effective January 1, 2008.

(a)No card issuer shall refuse to issue a credit card to any person solely because of any characteristic listed or defined in subdivision (b) or (e) of Section 51.
(b)Any card issuer who willfully violates this section is liable for each and every offense for the actual damages, and two hundred fifty dollars ($250) in addition thereto, suffered by any person denied a credit card solely for the reasons set forth in subdivision (a). In addition, that person may petition

the court to order the card issuer to issue him or her a credit card upon the terms, conditions, and standards as the card issuer normally utilizes in granting credit to other individuals.

Added by Stats. 1974, Ch. 1252.

(a)If a card issuer has determined in the normal course of business that it will issue a card to a married woman, the card shall be issued bearing either the maiden name or married name of the woman, as the woman may direct.
(b)Card issuers may require that a married woman requesting a card in her maiden name open a new account in that name.

Amended by Stats. 1983, Ch. 1247, Sec. 1.

Unless requested by the cardholder, no card issuer shall cancel a credit card without having first given the cardholder 30 days’ written notice of its intention to do so unless the cardholder is or has been within the last 90 days in default of payment or otherwise in violation of any provision of the agreement between the card issuer and the cardholder governing the cardholder’s use of the credit card or unless the card issuer has evidence or reasonable belief that the cardholder is unable or unwilling to repay obligations incurred under the agreement or that an unauthorized use of the card may be made.

Nothing provided herein shall be construed to prohibit a card issuer from placing the account of a cardholder on inactive status if the cardholder has not used the card for a period in excess of 18 months or from requiring that cardholder, upon subsequent reuse of a card, to provide to the card issuer such updated information as will enable the card issuer to verify the current creditworthiness of the cardholder.

Repealed and added by Stats. 1982, Ch. 545, Sec. 11.

(a)(1) Subject to the limitation contained in subdivision (b), a card issuer who has issued a credit card to a cardholder pursuant to an open-end consumer credit plan shall be subject to all claims and defenses, other than tort claims, arising out of any transaction in which the credit card is used as a method of payment or extension of credit if the following conditions are met:

(A) The cardholder has made a good faith attempt to obtain satisfactory resolution of a disagreement or problem relative to the transaction from the person honoring

the credit card.

(B) The amount of the initial transaction exceeds fifty dollars ($50).

(C) The place where the initial transaction occurred was in California, or, if not within California, then within 100 miles from the cardholder’s current designated address in California.

(2)The limitations set forth in subparagraphs (B) and (C) of paragraph (1) with respect to a cardholder’s right to assert claims and defenses against a card issuer shall not be applicable to any transaction in which the person honoring the credit card satisfies any of the following requirements:
(A)Is the same person as the card issuer.
(B)Is controlled by the card issuer.
(C)Is under direct or indirect common control with the card issuer.
(D)Is a franchised dealer in the card issuer’s products or services.
(E)Has obtained the order for such transaction through a mail solicitation made by or participated in by the card issuer in which the cardholder is solicited to enter into such transaction by using the credit card issued by the card issuer.
(b)The amount of claims or defenses asserted by the cardholder may not exceed the amount of credit outstanding with respect to such transaction at the time the cardholder first notifies the card issuer or the person honoring the credit card of such claim or defense. For the purpose of determining the amount of credit outstanding, payments and credits to the cardholder’s account are

deemed to have been applied, in the order indicated, to the payment of the following:

(1)Late charges in the order of their entry to the account.
(2)Finance charges in order of their entry to the account.
(3)Debits to the account other than those set forth above, in the order in which each debit entry to the account was made.
(c)This section does not apply to the use of a check guarantee card or a debit card in connection with an overdraft credit plan, or to a check guarantee card used in connection with cash advance checks.

Added by Stats. 1991, Ch. 608, Sec. 2.

(a)In addition to any other disclosures required by law, a card issuer of a secured credit card shall, in every advertisement or solicitation to prospective cardholders, expressly identify the credit instrument offered as a “secured credit card” and prominently disclose that credit extended under the secured credit card is secured, and shall describe the security by item or type.
(b)Any deed of trust executed in connection with a secured credit card shall contain a statement that it is security for a secured credit card obligation. However, failure to include the

statement shall not invalidate the deed of trust.

(c)This section does not apply to either of the following:
(1)Any credit card which is issued under an agreement or other instrument creating a purchase money security interest in property purchased with the credit card, but which does not pledge, hypothecate, or place a lien on other property of the cardholder or any co-obligor.
(2)Loans or extensions of credit subject to the Federal Home Equity Loan Consumer Protection Act of 1988 (P. L. 100-709).
(d)Any violation of this section shall constitute unfair competition within the meaning of Section 17200 of the Business and Professions Code.

Added by Stats. 1974, Ch. 1520.

Any provision in a contract between a card issuer and a retailer which has the effect of prohibiting the retailer from offering price discounts or from charging a different and lower price to customers who pay for goods or services by cash instead of by credit card is contrary to public policy and void.

Amended by Stats. 2005, Ch. 426, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 2006.

(a)No retailer in any sales, service, or lease transaction with a consumer may impose a surcharge on a cardholder who elects to use a credit card in lieu of payment by cash, check, or similar means. A retailer may, however, offer discounts for the purpose of inducing payment by cash, check, or other means not involving the use of a credit card, provided that the discount is offered to all prospective buyers.
(b)Any retailer who willfully violates this section by imposing a

surcharge on a cardholder who elects to use a credit card and who fails to pay that amount to the cardholder within 30 days of a written demand by the cardholder to the retailer by certified mail, shall be liable to the cardholder for three times the amount at which actual damages are assessed. The cardholder shall also be entitled to recover reasonable attorney’s fees and costs incurred in the action.

A cause of action under this section may be brought in small claims court, if it does not exceed the jurisdiction of that court, or in any other appropriate court.

(c)A consumer shall not be deemed to have elected to use a credit card in lieu of another means of payment for purposes of this section in a transaction with a retailer if only credit cards are accepted by that retailer in payment for an order made by a consumer over a telephone, and only cash is accepted at a public store or other facility

of the same retailer.

(d)Charges for third-party credit card guarantee services, when added to the price charged by the retailer if cash were to be paid, shall be deemed surcharges for purposes of this section even if they are payable directly to the third party or are charged separately.
(e)It is the intent of the Legislature to promote the effective operation of the free market and protect consumers from deceptive price increases for goods and services by prohibiting credit card surcharges and encouraging the availability of discounts by those retailers who wish to offer a lower price for goods and services purchased by some form of payment other than credit card.
(f)This section does not apply to charges for payment by credit card or debit card that are made by an electrical, gas, or water corporation and

approved by the Public Utilities Commission pursuant to Section 755 of the Public Utilities Code.

Repealed and added by Stats. 1996, Ch. 180, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 1997.

(a)A cardholder may request, not more frequently than once a year, that the card issuer inform the cardholder of the total amount of finance charges assessed on the account during the preceding calendar year and the card issuer shall provide that information to the cardholder within 30 days of receiving the request, without charge.

If the cardholder’s request for the information is made in writing, the card issuer shall provide the information in writing. However, if the card issuer is required to

furnish the cardholder with a periodic billing or periodic statement of account or furnishes the billing or statement of account, the requested statement of finance charges may be furnished along with the periodic billing or periodic statement of account.

(b)This section shall not apply to card issuers or cardholders who issue or use credit cards in connection with a retail installment account, as defined by Section 1802.7.

Added by Stats. 1989, Ch. 855, Sec. 1.

(a)No person shall process, deposit, negotiate, or obtain payment of a credit card charge through a retailer’s account with a financial institution or through a retailer’s agreement with a financial institution, card issuer, or organization of financial institutions or card issuers if that retailer did not furnish or agree to furnish the goods or services which are the subject of the charge.
(b)No retailer shall permit any person to process, deposit, negotiate, or obtain payment of a credit card charge through the retailer’s account with a financial institution or

the retailer’s agreement with a financial institution, card issuer, or organization of financial institutions or card issuers if that retailer did not furnish or agree to furnish the goods or services which are the subject of the charge.

(c)Subdivisions (a) and (b) do not apply to any of the following:
(1)A person who furnishes goods or services on the business premises of a general merchandise retailer and who processes, deposits, negotiates, or obtains payment of a credit card charge through that general merchandise retailer’s account or agreement.
(2)A general merchandise retailer who permits a person described in paragraph (1) to process, deposit, negotiate, or obtain payment of a credit card charge through that general merchandise retailer’s account or agreement.
(3)A franchisee who furnishes the cardholder with goods or services that are provided in whole or in part by the franchisor and who processes, deposits, negotiates, or obtains payment of a credit card charge through that franchisor’s account or agreement.
(4)A franchisor who permits a franchisee described in paragraph (3) to process, deposit, negotiate, or obtain payment of a credit card charge through that franchisor’s account or agreement.
(5)The credit card issuer or a financial institution or a parent, subsidiary, or affiliate of the card issuer or a financial institution.
(6)A person who processes, deposits, negotiates, or obtains payment of less than five hundred dollars ($500) of credit card charges in any one year period through a retailer’s

account or agreement. The person shall have the burden of producing evidence that the person transacted less than five hundred dollars ($500) in credit card charges during any one year period.

(d)Any person injured by a violation of this section may bring an action for the recovery of damages, equitable relief, and reasonable attorney’s fees and costs.
(e)Any person who violates this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor. Each occurrence in which a person processes, deposits, negotiates, or otherwise seeks to obtain payment of a credit card charge in violation of subdivision (a) constitutes a separate offense.
(f)The penalties and remedies provided in this section are in addition to any other remedies or penalties provided by law.
(g)The

exemptions from this title specified in Section 1747.03 do not apply to this section.

(h)As used in this section:
(1)“General merchandise retailer” means any person or entity, regardless of the form of organization, that has continuously offered for sale or lease more than 100 different types of goods or services to the public in this state throughout a period which includes the immediately preceding five years.
(2)“Franchisor” has the same meaning as defined in Section 31007 of the Corporations Code.
(3)“Franchisee” has the same meaning as defined in Section 31006 of the Corporations Code.

Added by Stats. 1999, Ch. 171, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 2000. Operative July 1, 2000, by Sec. 2 of Ch. 171.

(a)A credit card issuer that extends credit to a cardholder through the use of a preprinted check or draft shall disclose on the front of an attachment that is affixed by perforation or other means to the preprinted check or draft, in clear and conspicuous language, all of the following information:
(1)That “use of the attached check or draft will constitute a charge against your credit account.”
(2)The annual percentage rate and the calculation of finance charges, as required by Section 226.16 of Regulation Z of the Code of Federal Regulations, associated with the use of the attached check or draft.
(3)Whether the finance charges are triggered immediately upon the use of the check or draft.

Added by Stats. 2001, Ch. 493, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 2002.

(a)(1) Upon the request of a person who has obtained a police report pursuant to Section 530.6 of the Penal Code, a credit card issuer shall provide to the person, or to a law enforcement officer specified by the person, copies of all application forms or application information containing the person’s name, address, or other identifying information pertaining to the application filed with the credit card issuer by an unauthorized person in violation of Section 530.5 of the Penal Code.
(2)Before providing copies pursuant to paragraph (1), the credit card issuer shall inform the requesting person of the categories of identifying information that the unauthorized person used to complete the application and shall require the requesting person to provide identifying information in those categories and a copy of the police report.
(3)The credit card issuer shall provide copies of all forms and information required by this section, without charge, within 10 business days of receipt of the person’s request and submission of the required copy of the police report and identifying information.
(b)(1) Before a credit card issuer provides copies to a law enforcement officer pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (a), the credit card issuer may require the requesting person to provide

them with a signed and dated statement by which the person does all of the following:

(A) Authorizes disclosure for a stated period.

(B) Specifies the name of the agency or department to which the disclosure is authorized.

(C) Identifies the type of records that the person authorizes to be disclosed.

(2)The credit card issuer shall include in the statement to be signed by the requesting person a notice that the person has the right at any time to revoke the authorization.
(c)As used in this section, “law enforcement officer” means a peace officer as defined by Section 830.1 of the Penal Code.

Amended by Stats. 2001, Ch. 159, Sec. 32. Effective January 1, 2002.

This act shall be known and may be cited as the “Areias Credit Card Full Disclosure Act of 1986.”

Amended by Stats. 2001, Ch. 159, Sec. 33. Effective January 1, 2002.

(a)Any application form or preapproved written solicitation for an open-end credit card account to be used for personal, family, or household purposes that is mailed on or after October 1, 1987, to a consumer residing in this state by or on behalf of a creditor, whether or not the creditor is located in this state, other than an application form or solicitation included in a magazine, newspaper, or other publication distributed by someone other than the creditor, shall contain or be accompanied by either of the following

disclosures:

(1)A disclosure of each of the following, if applicable:
(A)Any periodic rate or rates that may be applied to the account, expressed as an annual percentage rate or rates. If the account is subject to a variable rate, the creditor may instead either disclose the rate as of a specific date and indicate that the rate may vary, or identify the index and any amount or percentage added to, or subtracted from, that index and used to determine the rate. For purposes of this section, that amount or percentage shall be referred to as the “spread.”
(B)Any membership or participation fee that may be imposed for availability of a credit card account, expressed as an annualized amount.
(C)Any per transaction fee that may be imposed on purchases,

expressed as an amount or as a percentage of the transaction, as applicable.

(D)If the creditor provides a period during which the consumer may repay the full balance reflected on a billing statement that is attributable to purchases of goods or services from the creditor or from merchants participating in the credit card plan, without the imposition of additional finance charges, the creditor shall either disclose the number of days of that period, calculated from the closing date of the prior billing cycle to the date designated in the billing statement sent to the consumer as the date by which that payment must be received to avoid additional finance charges, or describe the manner in which the period is calculated. For purposes of this section, the period shall be referred to as the “free period” or “free-ride period.” If the creditor does not provide this period for purchases, the disclosure shall so indicate.
(2)A disclosure that satisfies the initial disclosure statement requirements of Regulation Z.
(b)A creditor need not present the disclosures required by paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) in chart form or use any specific terminology, except as expressly provided in this section. The following chart shall not be construed in any way as a standard by which to determine whether a creditor who elects not to use such a chart has provided the required disclosures in a manner that satisfies paragraph (1) of subdivision (a). However, disclosures shall be conclusively presumed to satisfy the requirements of paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) if a chart with captions substantially as follows is completed with the applicable terms offered by the creditor, or if the creditor presents the applicable terms in tabular, list, or narrative format using terminology substantially similar to the captions

included in the following chart:

(1)For fixed interest rates. If variable rate, creditor may elect to disclose a rate as of a specified date and indicate that the rate may vary.
(2)For variable interest rates. If fixed rate, creditor may eliminate the column, leave the column blank, or indicate “No” or “None” or “Does not apply.”
(3)For example, “30 days” or “Yes, if full payment is received by next billing date” or “Yes, if full new balance is paid by due date.”
(c)For purposes of this section, “Regulation Z” has the meaning attributed to it under Section 1802.18, and all of the terms used in this section have the same meaning as attributed to them

in federal Regulation Z (12 C.F.R. 226.1 et seq.). For the purposes of this section, “open-end credit card account” does not include an account accessed by a device described in paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) of Section 1747.02.

(d)Nothing in this section shall be deemed or construed to prohibit a creditor from disclosing additional terms, conditions, or information, whether or not relating to the disclosures required under this section, in conjunction with the disclosures required by this section.
(e)If a creditor is required under federal law to make any disclosure of the terms applicable to a credit card account in connection with application forms or solicitations, the creditor shall be deemed to have complied with the requirements of paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) with respect to those application forms or solicitations if the creditor complies with the federal

disclosure requirement. For example, in lieu of complying with the requirements of paragraph (1) of subdivision (a), a creditor has the option of disclosing the specific terms required to be disclosed in an advertisement under Regulation Z, if the application forms or solicitations constitute advertisements in which specific terms must be disclosed under Regulation Z.

(f)If for any reason the requirements of this section do not apply equally to creditors located in this state and creditors not located in this state, then the requirements applicable to creditors located in this state shall automatically be reduced to the extent necessary to establish equal requirements for both categories of creditors, until it is otherwise determined by a court of law in a proceeding to which the creditor located in this state is a party.
(g)All application forms for an open-end credit card

account distributed in this state on or after October 1, 1987, other than by mail, shall contain a statement in substantially the following form:

“If you wish to receive disclosure of the terms of this credit card, pursuant to the Areias Credit Card Full Disclosure Act of 1986, check here and return to the address on this application.”

A box shall be printed in or next to this statement for placement of such a checkmark.

However, this subdivision does not apply if the application contains the disclosures provided for in this title.

(h)This title does not apply to any application form or written advertisement or an open-end credit card account where the credit to be extended will be secured by a lien on real or personal property or both real and personal property.
(i)This title does not apply to any person who is subject to Article 10.5 (commencing with Section 1810.20) of Chapter 1 of Title 2.

Repealed (in Sec. 2) and added by Stats. 2000, Ch. 977, Sec. 3. Effective January 1, 2001. Section operative April 1, 2002, by its own provisions.

(a)For purposes of this section:
(1)“Cardholder” means any consumer to whom a credit card is issued, provided that, when more than one credit card has been issued for the same account, all persons holding those credit cards may be treated as a single cardholder.
(2)“Credit card” means any card, plate, coupon book, or other single credit device existing for the purpose of being used

from time to time upon presentation to obtain money, property, labor, or services on credit. “Credit card” does not mean any of the following:

(A)Any single credit device used to obtain telephone property, labor, or services in any transaction under public utility tariffs.
(B)Any device that may be used to obtain credit pursuant to an electronic fund transfer but only if the credit is obtained under an agreement between a consumer and a financial institution to extend credit when the consumer’s asset account is overdrawn or to maintain a specified minimum balance in the consumer’s asset account.
(C)Any key or card key used at an automated dispensing outlet to obtain or purchase petroleum products, as defined in subdivision (c) of Section 13401 of the Business and Professions Code, which will be used primarily for

business rather than personal or family purposes.

(3)“Marketing information” means the categorization of cardholders compiled by a credit card issuer, based on a cardholder’s shopping patterns, spending history, or behavioral characteristics derived from account activity which is provided to a marketer of goods or services or a subsidiary or affiliate organization of the company that collects the information for consideration. “Marketing information” does not include aggregate data that does not identify a cardholder based on the cardholder’s shopping patterns, spending history, or behavioral characteristics derived from account activity or any communications to any person in connection with any transfer, processing, billing, collection, chargeback, fraud prevention, credit card recovery, or acquisition of or for credit card accounts.
(b)If the credit card issuer discloses

marketing information concerning a cardholder to any person, the credit card issuer shall provide a written notice to the cardholder that clearly and conspicuously describes the cardholder’s right to prohibit the disclosure of marketing information concerning the cardholder which discloses the cardholder’s identity. The notice shall be in 10-point type and shall advise the cardholder of his or her ability to respond either by completing a preprinted form or a toll-free telephone number that the cardholder may call to exercise this right.

(c)The requirements of subdivision (b) shall be satisfied by furnishing the notice to the cardholder:
(1)At least 60 days prior to the initial disclosure of marketing information concerning the cardholder by the credit card issuer.
(2)For all new credit cards issued on or after

April 1, 2002, on the form containing the new credit card when the credit card is delivered to the cardholder.

(3)At least once per calendar year, to every cardholder entitled to receive an annual statement of billings rights pursuant to 12 C.F.R. 226.9 (Regulation Z). The notice required by this paragraph may be included on or with any periodic statement or with the delivery of the renewal card.
(d)(1) The cardholder’s election to prohibit disclosure of marketing information shall be effective only with respect to marketing information that is disclosed to any party beginning 30 days after the credit card issuer has received, at the designated address on the form containing the new credit card or on the preprinted form, or by telephone, the cardholder’s election to prohibit disclosure. This does not apply to the disclosure of marketing information prior to

the cardholder’s notification to the credit card issuer of the cardholder’s election.

(2)An election to prohibit disclosure of marketing information shall terminate upon receipt by the credit card issuer of notice from the cardholder that the cardholder’s election to prohibit disclosure is no longer effective.
(e)The requirements of this section do not apply to any of the following communications of marketing information by a credit card issuer:
(1)Communications to any party to, or merchant specified in, the credit card agreement, or to any person whose name appears on the credit card or on whose behalf the credit card is issued.
(2)Communications to consumer credit reporting agencies, as defined in subdivision (d) of Section 1785.3.
(3)To the extent that the Fair Credit Reporting Act preempts the requirements of this section as to communication by a credit card issuer to a corporate subsidiary or affiliate, the credit card issuer may communicate information about a cardholder to a corporate subsidiary or affiliate to the extent and in the manner permitted under that act.
(4)Communications to a third party when the third party is responsible for conveying information from the card issuer to any of its cardholders.
(f)If the laws of the United States require disclosure to cardholders regarding the use of personal information, compliance with the federal requirements shall be deemed to be compliance with this section.
(g)This section shall become operative on April 1,

2002.

Amended by Stats. 2022, Ch. 452, Sec. 19. (SB 1498) Effective January 1, 2023.

(a)A credit card issuer shall, with each billing statement provided to a cardholder in this state, provide the following on the front of the first page of the billing statement in type no smaller than that required for any other required disclosure, but in no case in less than 8-point capitalized type:
(1)A written statement in the following form: “Minimum Payment Warning: Making only the minimum payment will increase the interest you pay and the time it takes to repay your balance.”
(2)Either of the following:
(A)A written statement in the form of and containing the information described in clause (i) or (ii), as applicable, as

follows:

(i)A written three-line statement, as follows:

“A one thousand dollar ($1,000) balance will take 17 years and three months to pay off at a total cost of two thousand five hundred ninety dollars and thirty-five cents ($2,590.35).A two thousand five hundred dollar ($2,500) balance will take 30 years and three months to pay off at a total cost of seven thousand seven hundred thirty-three dollars and forty-nine cents ($7,733.49).A five thousand dollar ($5,000) balance will take 40 years and two months to pay off at a total cost of sixteen thousand three hundred five dollars and thirty-four cents ($16,305.34).This information is based on an annual percentage rate of 17 percent and a minimum payment of 2 percent or ten dollars ($10), whichever is greater.”

In the alternative, a credit card issuer may provide

this information for the three specified amounts at the annual percentage rate and required minimum payment which are applicable to the cardholder’s account. The statement provided shall be immediately preceded by the statement required by paragraph (1).

(ii) Instead of the information required by clause (i), retail credit card issuers shall provide a written three-line statement to read, as follows:

“A two hundred fifty dollar ($250) balance will take two years and eight months to pay off a total cost of three hundred twenty-five dollars and twenty-four cents ($325.24).A five hundred dollar ($500) balance will take four years and five months to pay off at a total cost of seven hundred nine dollars and ninety cents ($709.90).A seven hundred fifty dollar ($750) balance will take five years and five months to pay off at a total cost of one thousand ninety-four dollars

and forty-nine cents ($1,094.49).This information is based on an annual percentage rate of 21 percent and a minimum payment of 5 percent or ten dollars ($10), whichever is greater.”

In the alternative, a retail credit card issuer may provide this information for the three specified amounts at the annual percentage rate and required minimum payment which are applicable to the cardholder’s account. The statement provided shall be immediately preceded by the statement required by paragraph (1). A retail credit card issuer is not required to provide this statement if the cardholder has a balance of less than five hundred dollars ($500).

(B) A written statement providing individualized information indicating an estimate of the number of years and months and the approximate total cost to pay off the entire balance due on an open-end credit card account if the cardholder were to pay only the

minimum amount due on the open-ended account based upon the terms of the credit agreement. For purposes of this subparagraph only, if the account is subject to a variable rate, the creditor may make disclosures based on the rate for the entire balance as of the date of the disclosure and indicate that the rate may vary. In addition, the cardholder shall be provided with referrals or, in the alternative, with the “800” telephone number of the National Foundation for Credit Counseling through which the cardholder can be referred, to credit counseling services in, or closest to, the cardholder’s county of residence. The credit counseling service shall be in good standing with the National Foundation for Credit Counseling or accredited by the Council on Accreditation for Children and Family Services. The creditor is required to provide, or continue to provide, the information required by this paragraph only if the cardholder has not paid more than the minimum payment for six consecutive months, after July 1,

2002.

(3)(A) A written statement in the following form: “For an estimate of the time it would take to repay your balance, making only minimum payments, and the total amount of those payments, call this toll-free telephone number: (Insert toll-free telephone number).” This statement shall be provided immediately following the statement required by subparagraph (A) of paragraph (2). A credit card issuer is not required to provide this statement if the disclosure required by subparagraph (B) of paragraph (2) has been provided.
(B)The toll-free telephone number shall be available between the hours of 8 a.m. and 9 p.m., Pacific standard time, seven days a week, and shall provide consumers with the opportunity to speak with a person, rather than a recording, from whom the information described in subparagraph (A) may be obtained.
(C)The Department of Financial Protection and Innovation shall establish a detailed table illustrating the approximate number of months that it would take and the approximate total cost to repay an outstanding balance if the consumer pays only the required minimum monthly payments and if no other additional charges or fees are incurred on the account, such as additional extension of credit, voluntary credit insurance, late fees, or dishonored check fees by assuming all of the following:
(i)A significant number of different annual percentage rates.

(ii) A significant number of different account balances, with the difference between sequential examples of balances being no greater than one hundred dollars ($100).

(iii) A significant number of different

minimum payment amounts.

(iv) That only minimum monthly payments are made and no additional charges or fees are incurred on the account, such as additional extensions of credit, voluntary credit insurance, late fees, or dishonored check fees.

(D) A creditor that receives a request for information described in subparagraph (A) from a cardholder through the toll-free telephone number disclosed under subparagraph (A), or who is required to provide the information required by subparagraph (B) of paragraph (2), may satisfy its obligation to disclose an estimate of the time it would take and the approximate total cost to repay the cardholder’s balance by disclosing only the information set forth in the table described in subparagraph (C). Including the full chart along with a billing statement does not satisfy the obligation under this section.

(b)For purposes of this section:
(1)“Credit card” has the same meaning as in paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) of Section 1748.12.
(2)“Open-end credit card account” means an account in which consumer credit is granted by a creditor under a plan in which the creditor reasonably contemplates repeated transactions, the creditor may impose a finance charge from time to time on an unpaid balance, and the amount of credit that may be extended to the consumer during the term of the plan is generally made available to the extent that any outstanding balance is repaid and up to any limit set by the creditor.
(3)“Retail credit card” means a credit card is issued by or on behalf of a retailer, or a private label credit card that is limited to customers of a specific

retailer.

(c)(1) This section shall not apply in any billing cycle in which the account agreement requires a minimum payment of at least 10 percent of the outstanding balance.
(2)This section shall not apply in any billing cycle in which finance charges are not imposed.

Added by Stats. 2002, Ch. 815, Sec. 3. Effective January 1, 2003.

Any waiver of the provisions of this title is contrary to public policy, and is void and unenforceable.

Added by Stats. 1986, Ch. 1397, Sec. 3.

This title may be cited as the “ Areias-Robbins Charge Card Full Disclosure Act of 1986.”

Added by Stats. 1986, Ch. 1397, Sec. 3.

For the purposes of this title:

(a)“Charge card” means any card, plate, or other credit device pursuant to which the charge card issuer extends credit to the charge cardholder, primarily for personal, family, or household purposes where (1) the credit extended does not subject the charge cardholder to a finance charge and (2) the charge cardholder cannot automatically access credit that is repayable in installments.
(b)“Charge cardholder” means the person to whom a charge card is issued.
(c)“Charge card issuer” means any person that issues a charge card or that person’s agent with respect to the card.

Amended by Stats. 2000, Ch. 375, Sec. 4. Effective January 1, 2001.

(a)On and after October 1, 1987, issuers of charge cards shall clearly and conspicuously disclose in any charge card application form or preapproved written solicitation for a charge card mailed to a consumer who resides in this state to apply for a charge card, whether or not the charge card issuer is located in this state, other than an application form or solicitation included in a magazine, newspaper, or other publication distributed by someone other than the charge card issuer, the following information:
(1)Any fee or charge assessed for or which may be assessed for the issuance or renewal of the charge card, expressed as an annualized amount. The fee or charge required to be disclosed pursuant to this paragraph shall be denominated as an “annual fee.”
(2)The charge card does not permit the charge cardholder to defer payment of charges incurred by the use of the charge card upon receipt of a periodic statement of charges from the charge card issuer.
(3)Any fee that may be assessed for an extension of credit to a charge cardholder where the extension of credit is made by the charge card issuer, and is not a credit sale and where the charge cardholder receives the extension of credit in the form of cash or where the charge cardholder obtains the extension of credit through the use of a preprinted check, draft, or

similar credit device provided by the charge card issuer to obtain an extension of credit. This fee shall be denominated as a “cash advance fee” in the disclosure required by this paragraph.

(b)A charge card issuer shall be conclusively presumed to have complied with the disclosure requirements of subdivision (a) if the table set out in subdivision (b) of Section 1748.11 is completed with the applicable terms offered by the charge card issuer in a clear and conspicuous manner and the completed table in subdivision (b) of Section 1748.11 is then provided to the person invited to apply for the charge card as a part of or in material which accompanies the charge card application or written advertisement which invites a person to apply for a charge card.

The charge card issuer shall include as part of table set out in subdivision (b) of Section 1748.11 the following sentences in the boxes or in a footnote

outside of the boxes that relate to the interest rate disclosure: “This is a charge card which does not permit the charge cardholder to pay for purchases made using this charge card in installments. All charges made by a person to whom the charge card is issued are due and payable upon the receipt of a periodic statement of charges by the charge cardholder.”

The inclusion or exclusion of an expiration date with table set out in subdivision (b) of Section 1748.11 or the use of footnotes in the boxes of the table to set out the information required to be disclosed by this section outside of the boxes of the table set out in subdivision (b) of Section 1748.11 shall not affect the conclusive presumption of compliance pursuant to this subdivision. If a charge card issuer does not offer or require one of the selected attributes of credit cards in the table set out in subdivision (b) of Section 1748.11 the charge card issuer shall employ the phrase in the appropriate box

or in the appropriate footnote “Not offered” or “Not required” or a substantially similar phrase without losing the conclusive presumption of compliance with the requirements of subdivision (a). If one of the selected attributes of charge cards required to be disclosed pursuant to subdivision (a) is not applicable to the charge card issuer, the charge card issuer may employ in the appropriate box or in the appropriate footnote outside of the box in the table set out in subdivision (b) of Section 1748.11 the phrase “Not applicable” or a substantially similar phrase without losing the conclusive presumption of compliance with the requirements of subdivision (a).

(c)Nothing in this section shall be deemed or construed to prohibit a charge card issuer from disclosing additional terms, conditions, or information, whether or not relating to the disclosures required under this section by subdivision (a) or in connection with the disclosure provided

in subdivision (b), in conjunction with the disclosures required by this section.

(d)If the charge card issuer offers to the charge cardholder any program or service under which the charge cardholder may elect to access open-end credit, the charge card issuer shall provide to the charge cardholder, before the charge cardholder has the right to access that credit, the initial disclosure statement required by Regulation Z, as defined in subdivision (c) of Section 1748.10.
(e)All charge card application forms distributed in this state on or after October 1, 1987, other than by mail, shall contain a statement in substantially the following form:

“If you wish to receive disclosure of the terms of this credit card, pursuant to the Areias Charge Card Full Disclosure Act of 1986, check here and return to the address on this application.”

A box shall be printed in or next to this statement for placing such a checkmark.

However, this subdivision does not apply if the application contains the disclosures provided for in this title.

Added by Stats. 2002, Ch. 815, Sec. 4. Effective January 1, 2003.

Any waiver of the provisions of this title is contrary to public policy, and is void and unenforceable.

Added by Stats. 1999, Ch. 244, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 2000.

For purposes of this title, the following definitions shall apply:

(a)“Accepted debit card” means any debit card which the debit cardholder has requested and received or has signed, or has used, or has authorized another person to use, for the purpose of obtaining money, property, labor, or services. Any debit card issued in renewal of, or in substitution for, an accepted debit card becomes an accepted debit card when received by the debit cardholder, whether the debit card is issued by the same

or by a successor card issuer.

(b)“Account” means a demand deposit (checking), savings, or other consumer asset account, other than an occasional or incidental credit balance in a credit plan, established primarily for personal, family, or household purposes.
(c)“Adequate notice” has the same meaning as found in subdivision (k) of Section 1747.02.
(d)“Debit card” means an accepted debit card or other means of access to a debit cardholder’s account that may be used to initiate electronic funds transfers and may be used without unique identifying information such as a personal identification number to initiate access to the debit cardholder’s account.
(e)“Debit card issuer” means any person who issues a debit card or the agent of that person for that

purpose.

(f)“Debit cardholder” means a natural person to whom a debit card is issued.
(g)“Unauthorized use” means the use of a debit card by a person, other than the debit cardholder, to initiate an electronic fund transfer from the debit cardholder’s account without actual authority to initiate the transfer and from which the debit cardholder receives no benefit. The term does not include an electronic fund transfer initiated in any of the following manners:
(1)By a person who was furnished the debit card to the debit cardholder’s account by the debit cardholder, unless the debit cardholder has notified the debit card issuer that transfers by that person are no longer authorized.
(2)With fraudulent intent by the debit cardholder or any person

acting in concert with the debit cardholder.

(3)By the debit card issuer or its employee.

Added by Stats. 1999, Ch. 244, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 2000.

(a)A debit cardholder shall be liable for an unauthorized use of a debit card only if all of the following conditions are met:
(1)The card is an accepted debit card.
(2)Except as provided in subdivision (b), the liability is not in excess of fifty dollars ($50).
(3)The debit card issuer has given adequate notice to the debit cardholder of the

potential liability.

(4)The debit card issuer has provided the debit cardholder with a description of the means by which the debit card issuer may be notified of loss or theft of the card.
(5)The unauthorized use occurs before the debit card issuer has been notified by the debit cardholder that an unauthorized use of the debit card has occurred or may occur as a result of loss, theft, or otherwise.
(6)The debit card issuer has provided a means to identify the debit cardholder to whom the debit card was issued.
(b)Notwithstanding subdivision (a), if the debit cardholder fails to report an unauthorized use that appears on a periodic statement within 60 days of the debit card issuer’s transmittal of the statement, and if the issuer establishes that an

unauthorized use would not have occurred had the debit cardholder notified the issuer within the 60-day period, the debit cardholder shall be liable for the amount of each unauthorized transfer that occurs after the close of the 60 days and before notice to the issuer. If the debit cardholder’s delay in notifying the debit card issuer was due to extenuating circumstances beyond the debit cardholder’s reasonable control, the time specified above shall be extended by a reasonable period. For the purposes of this subdivision, examples of extenuating circumstances include, but are not limited to, extended travel, the death or serious illness of the debit cardholder or a member of the debit cardholder’s family, hospitalization, permanent mental impairment, or serious physical impairment, unless the circumstance did not reasonably contribute to the cardholder’s delay in notifying the debit card issuer within the 60-day period.

(c)A debit cardholder

shall have no liability for erroneous or fraudulent transfers initiated by a debit card issuer, its agent, or employee.

Added by Stats. 2002, Ch. 815, Sec. 5. Effective January 1, 2003.

Any waiver of the provisions of this title is contrary to public policy, and is void and unenforceable.

Amended by Stats. 2023, Ch. 718, Sec. 2. (SB 644) Effective January 1, 2024.

For purposes of this chapter:

(a)“Accepted debit card” means any debit card which the debit cardholder has requested and received or has signed, or has used, or has authorized another person to use, for the purpose of obtaining money, property, labor, or services. Any debit card issued in renewal of, or in substitution for, an accepted debit card becomes an accepted debit card when received by the debit cardholder, whether the debit card is issued by the same or by a successor card issuer.
(b)“Business” means a proprietorship, partnership, corporation, or other form of commercial enterprise. “Business” does not include a restaurant.
(c)“Cardholder” means

a natural person to whom a prepaid debit card is issued.

(d)“Debit card” means an accepted debit card or other means of access to a debit cardholder’s account that may be used to initiate electronic funds transfers and may be used without unique identifying information such as a personal identification number to initiate access to the debit cardholder’s account.
(e)“Prepaid debit card” means a debit card that meets either of the following:
(1)A card, code, or other means of access to funds of a recipient that is usable at multiple, unaffiliated merchants for goods or services, or usable at automated teller machines.
(2)The same as those terms or related terms are defined in the regulations adopted under the Electronic Fund Transfer Act regarding

general use reloadable cards.

(f)“Refund” means a return of a sum of money to a customer who has overpaid for services or property or is otherwise owed money by the business.

Added by Stats. 2019, Ch. 130, Sec. 1. (AB 1428) Effective January 1, 2020.

If a business offers a refund to a customer via a prepaid debit card for a purchase initiated by the customer in California, the business shall provide the customer with at least one other method of receiving the refund other than a prepaid debit card.

Added by Stats. 2024, Ch. 89, Sec. 1. (AB 1900) Effective January 1, 2025.

Any provision in a contract or agreement that prohibits a consumer from publishing or making statements about the business as a condition of receiving a partial or complete refund or any other consideration or thing of value is contrary to public policy and shall be void

and unenforceable.

Added by Stats. 2023, Ch. 718, Sec. 3. (SB 644) Effective January 1, 2024.

For purposes of this chapter:

(a)“Hosting platform” has the same meaning as defined in Section 22590 of the Business and Professions Code.
(b)(1) “Hotel” means a hotel, motel, bed and breakfast inn, or other similar transient lodging establishment located in this state.
(2)“Hotel” does not include a residential hotel, as defined in Section 50519 of the Health and Safety Code.
(c)“Third-party booking service” means a person that facilitates the booking of a hotel room or short-term rental in this state.
(d)“Short-term rental” means a residential dwelling, or any portion of a residential dwelling, that is rented to a person or persons for 30 or fewer consecutive days and that is located in this state.

Added by Stats. 2023, Ch. 718, Sec. 3. (SB 644) Effective January 1, 2024.

A hosting platform, hotel, third-party booking service, or short-term rental shall allow a reservation for a hotel accommodation or a short-term rental located in California to be canceled without penalty for at least 24 hours after the reservation is confirmed if the reservation is made 72 hours or more before the time of check-in.

Added by Stats. 2023, Ch. 718, Sec. 3. (SB 644) Effective January 1, 2024.

(a)If a consumer cancels a reservation pursuant to Section 1748.81, the hosting platform, hotel, third-party booking service, or short-term rental shall issue a refund to a consumer of all amounts paid to the hosting platform, hotel, third-party booking service, or short-term rental to the original form of payment within 30 days of the cancellation of the reservation.
(b)The refund required by this section shall include a refund of all fees charged to the consumer for optional services.

Added by Stats. 2023, Ch. 718, Sec. 3. (SB 644) Effective January 1, 2024.

(a)An action for a violation of this chapter may be brought only by any of the following:
(1)The Attorney General.
(2)A district attorney.
(3)A city attorney of a city having a population in excess of 750,000.
(4)A county counsel of any county within which a city has a population in excess of 750,000.
(5)With the consent of the district attorney, a city prosecutor in a city that has a full-time city prosecutor.
(b)In

an action alleging a violation of this chapter, the court shall assess a civil penalty of not more than ten thousand dollars ($10,000) for each violation. In determining the amount of the civil penalty, the court shall consider any of the relevant circumstances presented by any of the parties to the case, including, but not limited to, all of the following:

(1)The nature and seriousness of the misconduct.
(2)The number of violations.
(3)The persistence of the misconduct.
(4)The length of time over which the misconduct occurred.
(5)The willfulness of the misconduct.
(6)The defendant’s assets, liabilities, and net

worth.

(c)Each day that a defendant remains in violation of this chapter shall constitute a single violation.
(d)The duties and obligations imposed by this chapter are cumulative with any other duties or obligations imposed under other law and shall not be construed to relieve any party from any duties or obligations imposed under other law.

Added by Stats. 2023, Ch. 718, Sec. 3. (SB 644) Effective January 1, 2024.

This chapter does not apply to a reservation that meets any of the following criteria:

(a)The reservation was made for a negotiated rate that was not advertised, or otherwise made available, for booking by the general public.
(b)The reservation is for a hotel accommodation or short-term rental reservation that was confirmed before July 1, 2024.
(c)The reservation is one in which the specific hotel or short-term rental is not disclosed to the consumer until after the booking is confirmed.