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<section article="gcl" article_name="Commercial Law" number="13-101" title_number="13" title_name="Consumer Protection Act" subtitle_number="1" subtitle_name="Definitions; General Provisions">
  <level label="a">
    <text>In this title the following words have the meanings indicated.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <level label="1">
      <text>“Advertisement” means the publication, dissemination, or circulation of any oral or written matter, including labeling, which directly or indirectly tends to induce a person to enter into an obligation, sign a contract, or acquire title or interest in any merchandise, real property, intangibles, or service.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>“Advertisement” includes every device to disguise any form of business solicitation by using:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>A word such as “renewal”, “invoice”, “bill”, “statement”, or “reminder” to create an impression of an existing obligation if there is none; or</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>Other language to mislead a person in relation to a proposed commercial transaction.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <level label="1">
      <text>“Consumer” means an actual or prospective purchaser, lessee, or recipient of consumer goods, consumer services, consumer realty, or consumer credit.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>“Consumer” includes:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>A co–obligor or surety for a consumer;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>A licensee or recipient of computer information or computer programs under a consumer contract as defined in § 22–102 of this article;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>An individual who sells or offers for sale to a merchant consumer goods or consumer realty that the individual acquired primarily for personal, household, family, or agricultural purposes; or</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iv">
        <text>A fraternal, religious, civic, patriotic, educational, or charitable organization that purchases, rents, or leases goods or services for the benefit of the members of the organization.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="d">
    <level label="1">
      <text>“Consumer credit”, “consumer debts”, “consumer goods”, “consumer realty”, and “consumer services” mean, respectively, credit, debts or obligations, goods, real property, and services which are primarily for personal, household, family, or agricultural purposes.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>“Consumer goods” and “consumer services” include, respectively, goods and services which are purchased, rented, or leased by a fraternal, religious, civic, patriotic, educational, or charitable organization for the benefit of the members of the organization.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="e">
    <text>“Division” means the Division of Consumer Protection of the Office of the Attorney General.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="f">
    <text>“Merchandise” means any commodity, object, wares, or goods.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="g">
    <level label="1">
      <text>“Merchant” means a person who directly or indirectly either offers or makes available to consumers any consumer goods, consumer services, consumer realty, or consumer credit.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>“Merchant” includes a person:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>Who directly or indirectly purchases or offers to purchase any consumer goods or consumer realty from a consumer; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>Whose business includes paying off consumer debt in connection with the purchase of any consumer goods or consumer realty from a consumer.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="h">
    <text>“Person” includes an individual, corporation, business trust, statutory trust, estate, trust, partnership, association, two or more persons having a joint or common interest, or any other legal or commercial entity.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="i">
    <text>“Sale” includes any:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>Sale of or offer or attempt to sell merchandise, real property, or intangibles for cash or credit; or</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Service or offer for service which relates to any person, building, or equipment.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="j">
    <text>“Service” means any:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>Building repair or improvement service;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Subprofessional service;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>Repair of a motor vehicle, home appliance, or other similar commodity; or</text>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>Repair, installation, or other servicing of any plumbing, heating, electrical, or mechanical device.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="k">
    <text>“Unfair, abusive, or deceptive trade practice” has the meaning stated in Subtitle 3 of this title.</text>
  </level>
</section>
