31-1-401. Interest pawnbrokers may receive -- civil enforcement. - Montana Statutes

     31-1-401. Interest pawnbrokers may receive -- civil enforcement. (1) A person may not carry on the business of pawnbroker or junk dealer by receiving goods pawned or in pledge for loans at any rate of interest above 10% a year without first obtaining a license. A pawnbroker or junk dealer or the pawnbroker's or junk dealer's employees or agents may not charge a fee of more than 25% of the amount of the loan for a 30-day period. The fee for extending a pawn agreement for 30 days may not exceed 25% of the amount of the loan. For purposes of this section, a fee includes all costs or fees charged, including but not limited to interest, commission, discount, storage, care of property, and purchase option.
     (2) The taking, receiving, reserving, or charging of a fee greater than that allowed under subsection (1) is considered a forfeiture of a sum double the amount of the fee for storage or caring that was agreed to be paid.
     (3) (a) When a rate or charge greater than that provided for in subsection (1) has been paid, the person by whom it has been paid may recover from the pawnbroker or junk dealer reasonable attorney fees and an amount double the amount of the fee paid.
     (b) An action under this section must be brought within 2 years after the payment of the fee. Before a suit may be brought, the party bringing suit shall make written demand for return of the fee paid.

     History: En. Secs. 1 to 8, pp. 206-207, L. 1889; amd. Sec. 3310, Pol. C. 1895; Sec. 2105, Rev. C. 1907; re-en. Sec. 4186, R.C.M. 1921; re-en. Sec. 4186, R.C.M. 1935; amd. Sec. 12, Ch. 185, L. 1977; R.C.M. 1947, 66-1601; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 258, L. 1993.