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<section article="gbr" article_name="Business Regulation" number="7-205" title_number="7" title_name="Collection Agencies" subtitle_number="2" subtitle_name="State Collection Agency Licensing Board">
  <level label="a">
    <text>To carry out this title, the Board may, subject to § 7-103(b) of this title:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>receive a written complaint and hold a hearing on an alleged violation by a collection agency of the Maryland Consumer Debt Collection Act or this title;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>mediate a dispute between a consumer and a collection agency and suggest monetary compensation of the consumer in an amount agreeable to the consumer and collection agency or other appropriate resolution or both; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>issue orders:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>to cease and desist from the violation and any further similar violations; or</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>requiring the violator to take affirmative action to correct the violation.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <text>If a violator fails to comply with a lawful order issued by the Board, the Board may impose a penalty not exceeding $10,000 for each violation cited in the order, not to exceed $25,000, from which the violator failed to cease and desist or for which the violator failed to take affirmative action to correct, as ordered by the Board.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <text>In determining the amount of any penalty to be imposed under subsection (b) of this section, the Board shall consider:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>the seriousness of the violation;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>the good faith of the violator;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>the violator’s history of previous violations;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>the deleterious effect of the violation on the public and the collection industry; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="5">
      <text>any other factors relevant to the determination of the financial penalty.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
</section>
