§46A-2-104 Notice to cosigners. - West Virginia Statutes

§46A-2-104. Notice to cosigners.
(a) No person shall be held liable as cosigner, or be charged with personal liability for payment in a consumer credit sale, consumer lease or consumer loan unless that person, in addition to and before signing any instrument evidencing the transaction, signs and receives a separate notice which clearly explains his liability in the event of default by the consumer and also receives a copy of any disclosure required by the "Federal Consumer Credit Protection Act."

(b) Such notice shall be sufficient in a consumer credit sale or consumer loan if it appears under the conspicuous caption "NOTICE TO COSIGNER" and contains substantially the following language:

"You are being asked to guarantee this debt. Think carefully before you do. If the borrower doesn't pay the debt, you will have to. Be sure you can afford to pay it if you have to, and that you want to accept this responsibility."

"You may have to pay up to the full amount of the debt if the borrower does not pay. You may also have to pay late fees or collection costs, which increase this amount."

"The creditor can collect this debt from you without first trying to collect from the borrower. The creditor can use the same collection methods against you that can be used against theborrower, such as suing you, garnishing your wages, etc. If this debt is ever in default, that fact may become a part of your credit record."

"This notice is not the contract that makes you liable for the debt."

The caption shall be typewritten or printed in at least twelve point bold upper case type. The body of the notice shall be typewritten or printed in at least eight point regular type, in upper or lower case, where appropriate.

(c) Such notice shall be sufficient in a consumer lease transaction if it appears under the conspicuous caption "NOTICE TO COSIGNER" and contains substantially the following language:

"You are being asked to guarantee this lease. Think carefully before you do. If the lessee doesn't pay, you will have to. Be sure you can afford to pay it if you have to, and that you want to accept this responsibility."

"You may have to pay up to the full amount if the lessee does not pay. You may also have to pay late fees or collection costs, which increase this amount."

"The creditor can collect this debt from you without first trying to collect from the lessee. The creditor can use the same collection methods against you that can be used against the lessee, such as suing you, garnishing your wages, etc. If this debt is everin default, that fact may become a part of your credit record."

"This notice is not the contract which makes you liable for the debt."

The caption shall be typewritten or printed in at least twelve point bold upper case type. The body of the notice shall be typewritten or printed in at least eight point regular type, in upper or lower case, where appropriate.