{"meta":{"key":"s_nd--pass-01","task":"S_ND","title":"SND North Dakota provider market access and consumer fees","parent_title":"North Dakota debt and debt relief law","edition":"pass-01","path":"/research/s_nd--pass-01/","kind":"split_pass","category":"state","role":"state","area_numbers":[66],"groups":["collections"],"date":"2026-10-26","tables":10,"claims":37,"sources":21,"review_status":"scoped_review_complete_with_explicit_limits","review_complete":true,"sha256":"77da7e85fffaa107e295f622efa8b8a8622ac251f0faceca528feae9b5a72692","headings":["Bottom line","1. Classification of conduct","1.1 Operative classification matrix","1.2 Marketing labels do not decide coverage","1.3 Consumer versus business-purpose debt","1.4 Resident and remote-provider nexus","2. Prohibited, licensed, bond-filed, and excluded models","2.1 Chapter 13-11: licensed activity","2.2 Chapter 13-11 exclusions","2.3 Self-creditor conduct","2.4 Chapter 13-07: bond-filed activity, not ordinary licensing","2.5 Nonprofit history reconciled","3. Consumer and provider fees","3.1 Consumer-fee matrix","3.2 Chapter 13-11 savings formula","3.3 Chapter 13-11 fee trigger","3.4 Installment settlement ambiguity","3.5 Settlements above 50% of principal","3.6 Chapter 13-11 cancellation and the “application fee” inconsistency","3.7 Chapter 13-07 fee base and first-payment ambiguity","3.8 Chapter 13-07 cancellation gap","4. State timing versus the federal TSR","4.1 Conditional federal baseline","4.2 Consequences for the North Dakota pathways","4.3 Credit-improvement representations","5. Regulator procedure, public lookup, and present market access","5.1 Chapter 13-11 procedure","5.2 Chapter 13-07 procedure","5.3 Rules and currentness","B.1 Current primary and official operational sources","B.2 Enactments and currentness sources","B.3 Federal and judicial sources","C.1 Classification and nexus claims","C.2 Permission and exclusion claims","C.3 Consumer-fee, timing, and refund claims","C.4 Federal interaction, case law, and currentness claims","Example 1 — Chapter 13-11 lump-sum settlement","Example 2 — Lower debt settled above 50% of principal","Example 3 — No savings","Branch A: amount paid exceeds principal","Branch B: amount paid equals principal","Example 4 — Two debts, prior earned fee, and cancellation","Debt A","Debt B","Cancellation","Example 5 — Installment settlement hold","Example 6 — Chapter 13-07 later deposit","Example 7 — Chapter 13-07 initial payment: unresolved gross versus net base","Conservative net-base branch","Unresolved gross-base branch","Example 8 — Small initial Chapter 13-07 payment","Conservative net base","Gross alternative, unresolved","Example 9 — Chapter 13-07 cancellation with prior fees","Actually read","Not read or not established","Method and status limits"],"generation_provenance":{"actual_route":"regular_chat_adaptive_models","actual_model":"GPT-5.6 Sol","actual_mode":"Pro","provenance_limit":"Actual documented capture labels only; missing labels remain unknown. No preferred setting is inferred as actual execution."},"public_id":"S_ND/pass-01","facets":{"geography":["us","us-nd"],"debt_type":[],"stage":[],"subject":["fees-outcomes","provider-licensing"]},"scope":"Fresh NorthDakota provider-access/fees component only; allbroaderstatecategoriesrequired","pending_corrections":0},"markdown":"# S_ND PASS-01 — North Dakota provider market access and consumer fees\n\n**Fresh public-source access:** October 25, 2026, Pacific time\n**Historical baseline:** October 22, 2026, treated only as the assignment baseline\n**Actual mode/model:** Regular Chat using GPT-5.6 Sol Pro as the quality-first fallback; GPT-6 Pro was not available. No Deep Research, Chrome control, Work mode, APIs, account changes, contacts, applications, purchases, CAPTCHA workarounds, other chats, private borrower data, or publication activity.\n\n**Scope:** This is only the North Dakota provider-access/consumer-fee component. It is not a complete North Dakota dossier, provider authorization determination, state acceptance, A066 acceptance, or legal advice.\n\n## Bottom line\n\nNorth Dakota currently has **two materially different statutory pathways**, not one generic “debt adjustment” license:\n\n1. A fee-taking business whose primary purpose is obtaining a reduction of unsecured principal or current balance generally falls under **N.D.C.C. Chapter 13-11, Debt-Settlement Providers**. It must obtain a license from the Department of Financial Institutions before serving a North Dakota resident. The statute reaches both custodial and noncustodial models. [North Dakota Legislative Branch+1](https://ndlegis.gov/cencode/t13c11.pdf)\n2. An agreement contemplating liquidation through structured installments or a reduction of finance charges, late fees, default fees, or delinquency fees falls under **N.D.C.C. Chapter 13-07, Consumer Credit Counseling Services**. Chapter 13-07 does **not** establish an ordinary license. It instead requires a qualifying provider serving a North Dakota resident to file an acceptable bond or security with the Attorney General and comply with the chapter’s contract, budget, trust-account, fee, and disbursement conditions. [North Dakota Legislative Branch+1](https://ndlegis.gov/cencode/t13c07.pdf)\n3. Chapter 13-11 permits only a settlement fee, capped at **30% of savings**, after the state’s performance trigger. Enrollment, setup, upfront, and maintenance fees are prohibited. Chapter 13-07 separately permits an origination fee of up to **$50** and retention of up to **15% of a sum deposited for distribution**, subject to unresolved first-deposit-base and cancellation-refund questions. [North Dakota Legislative Branch+1](https://ndlegis.gov/cencode/t13c11.pdf)\n4. A nonprofit label is neither a current prerequisite nor a blanket exemption. North Dakota removed the former nonprofit limitation in 2013, replacing “nonprofit corporation” with “person.” Attorney involvement is likewise not enough by itself: the current exclusions depend on actual legal services in an attorney-client relationship or an attorney authorized in North Dakota who is genuinely engaged in the practice of law. [North Dakota Legislative Branch+2](https://ndlegis.gov/assembly/63-2013/regular/documents/13-8203-03000.pdf)\n5. When the federal Telemarketing Sales Rule independently applies, its advance-fee trigger and allocation rules remain additional requirements. A North Dakota state fee ceiling is not advance-fee authorization, and a North Dakota trust account is not automatically a federally compliant dedicated account. [eCFR+1](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-16/chapter-I/subchapter-C/part-310/section-310.4)\n\n# A. Substantive findings\n\n## 1. Classification of conduct\n\n### 1.1 Operative classification matrix\n\n| Conduct actually performed | Current North Dakota classification | Access consequence | Claim |\n| --- | --- | --- | --- |\n| Advice, negotiation, intermediation, or other services whose **primary purpose** is satisfying unsecured debt for less than principal or current balance | “Debt-settlement service,” Chapter 13-11 | DFI license required before serving an ND resident, unless a specific exclusion applies | C002, C010 |\n| Advising, encouraging, assisting, or counseling a consumer to accumulate funds for that principal-reduction purpose | Chapter 13-11, even if the provider never holds the accumulated funds | DFI license required; noncustodial structure does not remove coverage | C003 |\n| Tax-settlement advice or intermediation seeking less than the current tax balance | Expressly included in Chapter 13-11 | DFI license required absent an exclusion | C002 |\n| Agreement contemplating liquidation of debts through **structured installments** | “Consumer credit counseling service,” Chapter 13-07 | Bond/security filing with AG plus Chapter 13-07 conditions; no ordinary Chapter 13-07 license found | C004, C014 |\n| Agreement contemplating creditor reduction of finance charges or late, default, or delinquency fees | Chapter 13-07 | Same bond-filed pathway | C004, C014 |\n| Pure education with no qualifying agreement, no principal-reduction purpose, and no contemplated installment/concession plan | Not clearly captured by either definition on these facts alone | Other laws, marketing representations, credit-repair rules, and factual conduct remain open | C009 |\n| Mixed program combining principal reduction with structured payments or concessions | Textually uncertain because Chapter 13-11 excludes a “person engaged” in Chapter 13-07 services, while Chapter 13-07 itself does not expressly authorize principal reduction | Do not assume the Chapter 13-07 bond pathway authorizes principal-reduction settlement; obtain authoritative regulator/court resolution before launch | C005 |\n\nChapter 13-11 expressly covers both direct intermediation and services helping the consumer accumulate settlement funds. It also expressly says no provider trust account is required when the provider does not hold or control consumer money other than earned settlement fees. That confirms that custody is not part of the coverage definition. [North Dakota Legislative Branch+1](https://ndlegis.gov/cencode/t13c11.pdf)\n\nChapter 13-07’s definition is agreement-based, not custody-based. Its trust-account provisions become operational when the service receives payments from or for a debtor. A noncustodial Chapter 13-07 service may still meet the definition, but the 15%-of-deposit fee mechanism cannot operate without a deposited sum “for distribution.” [North Dakota Legislative Branch](https://ndlegis.gov/cencode/t13c07.pdf)\n\n### 1.2 Marketing labels do not decide coverage\n\nCalling a program “credit counseling,” “financial wellness,” “debt resolution,” “legal support,” or “debt management” does not control. The material questions are:\n\n- What does the agreement contemplate?\n- Is the primary purpose principal/current-balance reduction?\n- Are structured installments or charge concessions contemplated?\n- Is compensation received for the service?\n- Does the provider hold itself out as providing the regulated service?\n- Does it receive, control, or direct debtor funds?\n\nThis follows from the conduct-based definitions and the inclusion of anyone soliciting for or acting on behalf of a fee-taking debt-settlement provider. [North Dakota Legislative Branch](https://ndlegis.gov/cencode/t13c11.pdf)\n\n### 1.3 Consumer versus business-purpose debt\n\nChapter 13-11 does **not** contain an express personal, family, or household-purpose limitation. “Consumer” means any “person,” and “person” includes individuals and legal entities. That text leans broader than ordinary consumer-purpose statutes. But “contract” is defined as an agreement with an “individual,” many operative duties use “individual,” and the territorial provision refers to a debtor who “resides” in North Dakota. [North Dakota Legislative Branch](https://ndlegis.gov/cencode/t13c11.pdf)\n\nTherefore:\n\n- **Natural person with personal unsecured debt:** clearly within the intended core.\n- **Natural person with business-purpose unsecured debt:** no express purpose exclusion was found; likely covered if the service otherwise fits, but no controlling interpretation was located.\n- **Corporation, LLC, or other entity debt:** held. The “person” definition points toward inclusion, while the “individual” provisions create a material internal ambiguity.\n- **Chapter 13-07 business/entity debt:** also held because “debtor” is undefined and the chapter has no express purpose limitation or controlling interpretation.\n\nA chapter title using the word “consumer” is not enough to overcome or resolve the operative definitions.\n\n### 1.4 Resident and remote-provider nexus\n\nFor Chapter 13-11, a person is deemed to engage in debt settlement in North Dakota when the debtor resides in North Dakota. The DFI separately states that no physical presence in North Dakota is required for the debt-settlement license. Chapter 13-07 similarly keys the bond filing to an agreement with a debtor who resides in the state. Remote delivery therefore does not avoid either pathway. [North Dakota Legislative Branch+2](https://ndlegis.gov/cencode/t13c11.pdf)\n\n## 2. Prohibited, licensed, bond-filed, and excluded models\n\n### 2.1 Chapter 13-11: licensed activity\n\nIt is unlawful to act as a debt-settlement provider without first obtaining a Chapter 13-11 license. The issuing regulator is the **North Dakota Department of Financial Institutions**, acting through the commissioner. The statute permits use of NMLS, and the DFI directs applicants and the public to NMLS. [North Dakota Legislative Branch+1](https://ndlegis.gov/cencode/t13c11.pdf)\n\nThe current verified provider-side requirements include:\n\n- Written application in the prescribed form.\n- NMLS information and associated background/credit-report processing.\n- Secretary of State registration if otherwise required.\n- $400 nonrefundable investigation fee.\n- $400 annual license fee.\n- $50 annual fee for each branch location.\n- At least a $50,000 surety bond, or a higher amount if validly required by rule.\n- Financial-responsibility, character, fitness, and related licensing findings.\n- Annual renewal; the license expires December 31. [North Dakota Legislative Branch](https://ndlegis.gov/cencode/t13c11.pdf)\n\nThe statute requires renewal applications at least 30 days before expiration. The DFI FAQ describes the NMLS renewal window as November 1 through December 31. The agency webpage does not repeal the statutory lead-time requirement; a provider should not treat the portal’s December 31 closing date as proof that a filing on that date satisfies §13-11-06. [North Dakota Legislative Branch+1](https://ndlegis.gov/cencode/t13c11.pdf)\n\n### 2.2 Chapter 13-11 exclusions\n\nThe current provider definition excludes, subject to the stated conditions:\n\n- An attorney licensed or otherwise authorized to practice in North Dakota **who is engaged in the practice of law**.\n- An escrow agent, accountant, broker-dealer, or investment adviser acting in the ordinary practice of that profession through the ordinary professional entity.\n- Enumerated banks, trust companies, savings institutions, credit unions, farm-credit and similar institutions, title and insurance entities, and state-authorized lenders acting in their ordinary business.\n- A salaried employee performing credit services for an employer that is not itself in the debt-settlement business.\n- A Chapter 13-05-licensed collection agency collecting on its own behalf or for a third party.\n- A public officer acting officially or a person acting under court order.\n- Services incidental to dissolution, winding up, or liquidation of an enterprise.\n- A person already licensed by DFI or registered with the AG, but only while acting in that person’s ordinary profession and not holding out as a debt-settlement provider. [North Dakota Legislative Branch](https://ndlegis.gov/cencode/t13c11.pdf)\n\nThe service definition separately excludes:\n\n- Actual legal services in an attorney-client relationship by an attorney authorized to practice in North Dakota.\n- Actual accounting services in a qualifying CPA-client relationship.\n- Qualifying financial-planning services meeting the statutory professional conditions.\n- A person engaged in Chapter 13-07 consumer credit counseling services. [North Dakota Legislative Branch](https://ndlegis.gov/cencode/t13c11.pdf)\n\n**Failure cases:**\n\n- Merely adding an attorney to ownership, payroll, a referral arrangement, or document review does not establish the attorney exclusion.\n- A foreign attorney who is not authorized in North Dakota does not satisfy the express wording.\n- An existing lender, collection, or other license is not a universal exemption; the ordinary-practice and no-holding-out conditions remain material.\n- A nonprofit label is not an exemption.\n- A separate consumer-paid settlement business cannot safely rely on the fact that an affiliated entity is a creditor, collector, bank, or law firm.\n\n### 2.3 Self-creditor conduct\n\nThere is no express blanket “original creditor” exemption in Chapter 13-11. However, an original creditor merely compromising its own claim, without selling the debtor a separate fee-based settlement service, ordinarily would not appear to be “providing debt-settlement service in exchange for any fee or compensation” to the debtor. That is a textual inference, not a controlling North Dakota holding.\n\nA Chapter 13-05-licensed collection agency collecting its own or a third party’s debt is expressly excluded, but the exclusion should not be extended beyond bona fide collection activity to a separate consumer-paid settlement program without additional authority. [North Dakota Legislative Branch](https://ndlegis.gov/cencode/t13c11.pdf)\n\n### 2.4 Chapter 13-07: bond-filed activity, not ordinary licensing\n\nChapter 13-07 does not say that a consumer credit counseling service must obtain a license or registration. Instead, before entering an agreement with a North Dakota resident, it must file with the Attorney General a bond or other acceptable security equal to the greater of:\n\nlargest amount accrued in the service’s trust account during the prior year\\text{largest amount accrued in the service’s trust account during the prior year}largest amount accrued in the service’s trust account during the prior yearor\n\n$5,000.\\$5{,}000.$5,000.The bond is payable to North Dakota for the benefit of debtors damaged by the service. The provider must also satisfy the written-contract, disclosure, written-budget, trust-account, accounting, fee, disbursement, cancellation-notice, and creditor-notice provisions. [North Dakota Legislative Branch](https://ndlegis.gov/cencode/t13c07.pdf)\n\nThe AG’s current public page says a service providing services to an ND resident must have a surety bond on file and directs consumers to call Consumer Protection to confirm bonding. No public online Chapter 13-07 roster or current bond-filing form was located in this pass, and no call was made. [North Dakota Attorney General](https://attorneygeneral.nd.gov/consumer-resources/consumer-rights/)\n\nChapter 13-07 contains no express attorney, bank, nonprofit, CPA, or institutional exclusion in its seven sections. Absence of an exclusion in Chapter 13-07 does not prove that no other law can affect a specific entity, but no such cross-statute exemption was established in this component.\n\n### 2.5 Nonprofit history reconciled\n\nThe current law does not restrict Chapter 13-07 to nonprofits:\n\n- The 2011 enactment used “nonprofit corporation” and created the initial nonprofit conditions while also creating Chapter 13-11 and repealing former Chapter 13-06. [North Dakota Legislative Branch](https://ndlegis.gov/prod/assembly/62-2011/regular/documents/11-0225-05000.pdf)\n- Enacted SB 2260 in 2013 struck “nonprofit corporation” and substituted “person” in §13-07-01. It made the corresponding change in Chapter 13-11’s cross-exclusion. The official bill page marks SB 2260 as passed, governor-signed, and filed March 19, 2013. [North Dakota Legislative Branch+1](https://ndlegis.gov/assembly/63-2013/regular/documents/13-8203-03000.pdf)\n- The current code carries the amended “person” wording. [North Dakota Legislative Branch](https://ndlegis.gov/cencode/t13c07.pdf)\n\nThe exact original 2013 effective date was not independently recovered in this pass. That does not undermine the current-law conclusion because the current official code embodies the amendment.\n\n## 3. Consumer and provider fees\n\n### 3.1 Consumer-fee matrix\n\n| Pathway | Permitted consumer charge | Base and ceiling | Setup/monthly/per-debt/aggregate treatment | Refund/credit conditions |\n| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |\n| Chapter 13-11 debt settlement | Settlement fee only | No more than 30% of “savings” | Enrollment, setup, any upfront fee, and maintenance fee prohibited. No separate monthly, membership, product, or voluntary-contribution charge established. The debt-specific wording supports calculating savings for each settled debt; no separate statewide aggregate dollar cap exists beyond the formula and the contracted amount. | Only an earned settlement fee may be retained on cancellation. Unearned fees and undisbursed settlement funds must be returned within seven days with an accounting. |\n| Chapter 13-07 credit counseling/DMP | Up to $50 origination fee; up to 15% of a sum deposited for distribution | $50 fixed ceiling plus 15% deposit-retention ceiling | No separate monthly, per-debt, or savings-based charge is stated. The agreement must disclose the total amount that may be retained if fully performed. No separate collection mechanism for a residual “total fee” was established. | Chapter 13-07 prescribes 30 days’ cancellation notice and creditor notice, but contains no explicit fee-refund or undistributed-funds formula. |\n| Provider-to-state Chapter 13-11 charges | $400 investigation; $400 annual license; $50 per branch; NMLS charges; bond | Provider regulatory expenses, not consumer fees | A $50 delinquent-renewal charge and examination charges at a commissioner-set hourly rate may also apply. Exact NMLS and examination amounts were not verified. | These charges do not authorize a provider to pass them through to the consumer as an enrollment or application fee. |\n\nThe current code contains no CPI or periodic indexing mechanism for the $50, 15%, or 30% consumer limits. No current adjustment bulletin or adopted debt-settlement-specific fee rule was located. [North Dakota Legislative Branch+2](https://ndlegis.gov/cencode/t13c11.pdf)\n\n### 3.2 Chapter 13-11 savings formula\n\nFor a particular debt:\n\nSavings=principal amount enrolled at contract formation−amount actually paid in full and complete satisfaction\\text{Savings}\n=\n\\text{principal amount enrolled at contract formation}\n-\n\\text{amount actually paid in full and complete satisfaction}Savings=principal amount enrolled at contract formation−amount actually paid in full and complete satisfactionand\n\nmaximum state settlement fee=30%×Savings.\\text{maximum state settlement fee}\n=\n30\\% \\times \\text{Savings}.maximum state settlement fee=30%×Savings.If the amount paid to satisfy the debt is greater than the enrolled principal amount, the statute expressly says no settlement fee is due. If the amount equals the enrolled principal, savings equal zero and the percentage cap likewise produces zero. [North Dakota Legislative Branch+1](https://ndlegis.gov/cencode/t13c11.pdf?utm_source=chatgpt.com)\n\nThe contract must identify enrolled accounts and principal amounts, itemize fees, describe when each fee becomes due, and give a good-faith estimate of total compensation. The provider may defer an otherwise lawful settlement fee only at no additional expense to the individual. [North Dakota Legislative Branch+1](https://ndlegis.gov/cencode/t13c11.pdf)\n\n### 3.3 Chapter 13-11 fee trigger\n\nA settlement fee may not be collected until:\n\n1. The creditor has entered a legally enforceable agreement;\n2. The agreement identifies a specific dollar amount;\n3. That amount will constitute full and complete satisfaction of the creditor’s claim as to that debt; and\n4. “Those funds” are provided either by the provider for the consumer or directly by the consumer under the provider-negotiated settlement. [North Dakota Legislative Branch](https://ndlegis.gov/cencode/t13c11.pdf)\n\nAccordingly, none of these alone establishes the state trigger:\n\n- A creditor offer.\n- Oral creditor assent without an enforceable agreement.\n- A signed agreement without the required funds being provided.\n- Merely starting a consumer savings account.\n- One ordinary payment to the original creditor.\n- A creditor agreeing only to pause collection.\n- A partial payment that does not satisfy the statutory trigger.\n\n### 3.4 Installment settlement ambiguity\n\nSection 13-11-23(1)(k) recognizes a creditor certification that a payment is part of a payment plan which, upon completion, will produce full settlement. But §13-11-21(4) separately conditions collection of the fee on the specific full-satisfaction amount and “those funds” being provided. [North Dakota Legislative Branch+1](https://ndlegis.gov/cencode/t13c11.pdf)\n\nNo controlling North Dakota decision or current DFI interpretation was found reconciling those provisions. The conservative compliance position is:\n\nDo not collect the Chapter 13-11 fee after only the first installment unless authoritative North Dakota guidance establishes that the state’s “those funds are provided” condition is satisfied.\n\nThe federal TSR’s first-payment trigger, when applicable, does not answer this stricter state question.\n\n### 3.5 Settlements above 50% of principal\n\nA provider may not settle a debt for more than 50% of principal unless the individual assents **after** the creditor has assented. Thus a settlement at 80% of principal may be lawful, but only with the specified sequence of assent. [North Dakota Legislative Branch](https://ndlegis.gov/cencode/t13c11.pdf)\n\n### 3.6 Chapter 13-11 cancellation and the “application fee” inconsistency\n\nA consumer may cancel before the provider has fully performed every contracted or represented service. On cancellation, the provider must return:\n\n- All unearned fees and compensation.\n- All consumer settlement-account funds not disbursed to creditors.\n\nThe provider may retain an earned settlement fee, and §13-11-20 also refers to retaining an “application fee.” Refunds and a full accounting are due within seven days. [North Dakota Legislative Branch+1](https://ndlegis.gov/cencode/t13c11.pdf)\n\nHowever, §13-11-21 says the provider may charge or receive no consumer fee outside that section and expressly prohibits enrollment, setup, and upfront fees. It provides no consumer “application fee.” The $400 application fee in §13-11-04 is paid by the provider to the state.\n\n**Conclusion:** the cancellation reference is not an independent authorization for a consumer application fee. No lawful consumer application-fee pathway was established. Unless a controlling interpretation resolves the inconsistency, the consumer application fee should be treated as zero.\n\nA contract imposing an unauthorized fee is void, and a contract entered when a required provider license is absent is also void. [North Dakota Legislative Branch](https://ndlegis.gov/cencode/t13c11.pdf)\n\n### 3.7 Chapter 13-07 fee base and first-payment ambiguity\n\nSection 13-07-06 permits:\n\n- An origination fee up to $50, which may be subtracted from the debtor’s initial payment.\n- Retention of up to 15% of any sum deposited “for distribution,” as partial payment of the service’s total fee.\n- Disbursement of the remainder to listed creditors within 45 days. [North Dakota Legislative Branch](https://ndlegis.gov/cencode/t13c07.pdf)\n\nThe statute does not say whether, when the $50 is deducted from the initial payment, the 15% is calculated on:\n\n- The original gross payment; or\n- The net amount remaining “for distribution.”\n\nBecause the phrase “for distribution” favors the net amount but no controlling interpretation was located, the exact base is held. A conservative calculation uses the net amount. The gross calculation is shown below only as the unresolved upper branch, not as a safe harbor.\n\n### 3.8 Chapter 13-07 cancellation gap\n\nEither party may cancel without cause upon 30 days’ written notice before automatic termination, and the service must notify the debtor’s creditors within 30 days. Chapter 13-07 does not state:\n\n- Whether previously retained fees are refundable.\n- How to treat an unearned portion of a disclosed total fee.\n- The deadline for returning undistributed trust funds.\n- Whether an origination fee is refundable.\n- The effect of cancellation on a pending deposit’s 15% retention. [North Dakota Legislative Branch](https://ndlegis.gov/cencode/t13c07.pdf)\n\nThose outcomes remain held for the agreement/funds/remedies pass. They must not be invented from Chapter 13-11’s separate seven-day rule.\n\n## 4. State timing versus the federal TSR\n\n### 4.1 Conditional federal baseline\n\nThe federal rule defines “debt relief service” broadly to include programs represented to renegotiate, settle, or otherwise alter terms of unsecured debt, including principal, interest, or fee reductions. “Telemarketing” generally means a plan, program, or campaign to induce purchases through telephones involving more than one interstate call. Application still depends on the complete facts and federal scope and exemptions. [eCFR](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-16/chapter-I/subchapter-C/part-310/section-310.2)\n\nWhen 16 C.F.R. §310.4(a)(5) applies, requesting **or receiving** a fee is prohibited until:\n\n1. The provider has renegotiated, settled, reduced, or otherwise altered at least one debt under a valid customer-executed settlement agreement, DMP, or other agreement;\n2. The customer has made at least one payment under that customer-creditor or customer-debt-collector agreement; and\n3. For debts altered individually, the fee is allocated either:In the same proportion as that debt’s enrolled balance bears to total enrolled debt; orAs the same percentage of savings for every individual debt. [eCFR](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-16/chapter-I/subchapter-C/part-310/section-310.4)\n\n### 4.2 Consequences for the North Dakota pathways\n\n**Chapter 13-11:** The federal first-payment condition may be met before North Dakota’s “those funds are provided” condition. If so, the state condition remains unsatisfied, and the fee should not yet be taken.\n\n**Chapter 13-07:** The state’s $50 origination fee and 15%-of-deposit retention do not override the TSR. If the TSR applies, the provider cannot request or receive those amounts before the federal trigger. In addition, “15% of deposits” is not automatically one of the TSR’s two individual-debt allocation methods.\n\n**Both chapters:** A state-compliant trust account is not automatically a federally compliant dedicated account. The federal rule requires, among other things, an insured financial institution, consumer ownership of funds, an account administrator that is not owned, controlled by, or affiliated with the debt-relief service, no referral compensation involving the account administrator, and withdrawal without penalty with funds returned—except properly earned fees—within seven business days. [eCFR](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-16/chapter-I/subchapter-C/part-310/section-310.4)\n\nNorth Dakota Chapter 13-07 requires the counseling service itself to place received payments in a trust account. Chapter 13-11 likewise permits a provider trust account. Those state structures do not by themselves establish the independent-administrator condition required by the federal dedicated-account provision.\n\n### 4.3 Credit-improvement representations\n\nIf advertising or sales representations promise to remove derogatory information or improve credit history, record, or rating, the TSR has a separate fee prohibition under §310.4(a)(2). It requires both expiration of the represented performance period for all promised goods or services and provision of a consumer-reporting-agency report demonstrating the promised result, issued more than six months after the result was achieved, subject to the FCRA permissible-purpose proviso. [eCFR](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-16/chapter-I/subchapter-C/part-310/section-310.4)\n\nNo North Dakota-specific advertising, script, or credit-improvement promise was supplied here. CROA and any state credit-services overlap therefore remain conditional and unresolved, rather than presumed universally applicable.\n\n## 5. Regulator procedure, public lookup, and present market access\n\n### 5.1 Chapter 13-11 procedure\n\nThe DFI currently directs applicants to the North Dakota NMLS State Resource Center route and directs the public to NMLS Consumer Access for license verification. It states that:\n\n- A license is required to provide debt-settlement services to ND residents.\n- No North Dakota physical presence is required.\n- State application and annual fees are $400 each.\n- Each branch carries a $50 annual fee.\n- Additional NMLS charges apply.\n- Licenses renew annually. [North Dakota Government](https://www.nd.gov/faq/financial-institutions-faq)\n\nLiteral operational routes:\n\n- North Dakota NMLS state route:\nhttps://mortgage.nationwidelicensingsystem.org/slr/Pages/DynamicLicenses.aspx?StateID=ND\n- NMLS checklist compiler:\nhttps://mortgage.nationwidelicensingsystem.org/knowledge/Products/nmls/stateresourcecenter/SitePages/Checklist-Compiler.aspx\n- NMLS Consumer Access:\nhttps://www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org/\n\nThe DFI page was readable, but the dynamic NMLS checklist and direct Consumer Access bodies were not reliably readable through the public research tool. That is an access limitation, not evidence that the checklist, portal, or license does not exist. (Invalid URL)\n\nNo legal entity name or NMLS identifier was supplied, so no named-provider status was checked. Nothing in this report establishes that SettleADebt.com, an affiliate, or any specific provider is authorized in North Dakota.\n\n### 5.2 Chapter 13-07 procedure\n\nThe verified procedure is:\n\n1. Determine that the agreement is a Chapter 13-07 consumer credit counseling agreement.\n2. Prepare the statutory written contract and written budget analysis.\n3. File an acceptable bond or security with the Attorney General before entering the agreement with an ND resident.\n4. Establish and operate the required trust-account and accounting system if payments will be received.\n5. Observe the fee, 45-day disbursement, cancellation-notice, and creditor-notice provisions. [North Dakota Legislative Branch](https://ndlegis.gov/cencode/t13c07.pdf)\n\nThe current AG public page provides only phone-based consumer verification. No readable online application, bond template, provider roster, or electronic status lookup was located. The owner prohibited contacts, so the phone route was not used. [North Dakota Attorney General](https://attorneygeneral.nd.gov/consumer-resources/consumer-rights/)\n\n### 5.3 Rules and currentness\n\nThe current codified Administrative Code says it is updated quarterly. DFI Title 13 currently lists articles through Article 13-08 and does not display a debt-settlement-specific article. This supports a limited negative finding: no separate codified Chapter 13-11 fee schedule, CPI adjustment, or additional-bond rule was found in the current index. It does not prove the absence of uncodified orders, license conditions, informal interpretations, or future rulemaking. [North Dakota Legislative Branch+1](https://ndlegis.gov/prod/agency-rules/north-dakota-administrative-code/)\n\nThe freshest identified enacted amendment touching Chapter 13-11 was 2025 HB 1127. Its Chapter 13-11 provision changed the notice wording in §13-11-10 and did not alter the classification, consumer-fee, or fee-timing provisions analyzed here. HB 1127 became effective August 1, 2025. [North Dakota Legislative Branch+1](https://ndlegis.gov/assembly/69-2025/regular/documents/25-8110-04000.pdf)\n\nThe authenticated September 2026 special-session laws contain only Chapters 660 and 661, concerning appropriations and foods/drugs, with no Title 13 amendment. [North Dakota Legislative Branch](https://ndlegis.gov/assembly/69-2025/special-2/session-laws/sl2026ss2.pdf)\n\nA comprehensive sweep of every proposed or prefiled 2027 measure was not completed. Proposed or future-effective legislation remains a currentness follow-up rather than an enacted-law finding.\n\n# B. Source register\n\n## B.1 Current primary and official operational sources\n\n| Source ID | Title, issuer, and direct literal URL | Exact pinpoint, status, access, and limitation |\n| --- | --- | --- |\n| **S_ND-P1-S001** | **N.D.C.C. Chapter 13-11, Debt-Settlement Providers**, North Dakota Legislative Council. https://ndlegis.gov/cencode/t13c11.pdf | §§13-11-01(2)–(15), 13-11-02–06, 13-11-14, 13-11-17–23, 13-11-26, 13-11-28; PDF pp. 1–15. Current canonical chapter, fresh-read October 25, 2026 Pacific. Full relevant text read. Page itself does not state a discrete compilation date. [North Dakota Legislative Branch+3](https://ndlegis.gov/cencode/t13c11.pdf) |\n| **S_ND-P1-S002** | **N.D.C.C. Chapter 13-07, Consumer Credit Counseling Services**, North Dakota Legislative Council. https://ndlegis.gov/cencode/t13c07.pdf | Entire chapter, §§13-07-01–07, PDF pp. 1–2. Current canonical chapter, fresh-read October 25, 2026 Pacific. [North Dakota Legislative Branch](https://ndlegis.gov/cencode/t13c07.pdf) |\n| **S_ND-P1-S003** | **North Dakota Century Code, Title 13 index**, Legislative Council. https://ndlegis.gov/cencode/t13.html | Title 13 chapter table: Chapter 13-06 marked repealed; Chapter 13-07 and Chapter 13-11 current. Accessed October 25, 2026 Pacific. Index establishes architecture, not section-level terms. [North Dakota Legislative Branch](https://ndlegis.gov/cencode/t13.html) |\n| **S_ND-P1-S004** | **Financial Institutions FAQ**, North Dakota DFI. https://www.nd.gov/faq/financial-institutions-faq | “Non-Depository Questions—Debt-Settlement Providers”: activity requiring license; exemptions; NMLS lookup/application; physical presence; fees; renewal. Live agency procedure page accessed October 25, 2026. No legal effective date shown; operational guidance does not displace statute. [North Dakota Government](https://www.nd.gov/faq/financial-institutions-faq) |\n| **S_ND-P1-S005** | **Consumer Rights—Credit Counseling/Debt Management Services**, North Dakota Attorney General. https://attorneygeneral.nd.gov/consumer-resources/consumer-rights/ | Credit Counseling/Debt Management Services section: bond-on-file requirement and telephone verification. Live agency page accessed October 25, 2026. No online roster or form shown. [North Dakota Attorney General](https://attorneygeneral.nd.gov/consumer-resources/consumer-rights/) |\n| **S_ND-P1-S006** | **North Dakota Administrative Code index**, Legislative Council. https://ndlegis.gov/prod/agency-rules/north-dakota-administrative-code/ | Introductory currentness statement and DFI Title 13, Articles 13-01.1 through 13-08. Accessed October 25, 2026. Negative finding is limited to the codified index; it does not exclude uncodified orders or interpretations. [North Dakota Legislative Branch+1](https://ndlegis.gov/prod/agency-rules/north-dakota-administrative-code/) |\n| **S_ND-P1-S007** | **DFI Enforcement Actions**, North Dakota DFI. https://www.nd.gov/dfi/enforcement-actions | Current operational enforcement page checked October 25, 2026. Supports continued regulator operation only; not a comprehensive license roster and not relied on for a provider-status finding. [North Dakota Government](https://www.nd.gov/dfi/enforcement-actions) |\n| **S_ND-P1-S008** | **North Dakota NMLS Dynamic Licenses route**, NMLS. https://mortgage.nationwidelicensingsystem.org/slr/Pages/DynamicLicenses.aspx?StateID=ND | Officially linked by DFI as application/checklist route. The dynamic body was not readable in this tool. Used only as an operational locator, not substantive legal authority. [North Dakota Government](https://www.nd.gov/faq/financial-institutions-faq) |\n| **S_ND-P1-S009** | **NMLS Checklist Compiler**, NMLS. https://mortgage.nationwidelicensingsystem.org/knowledge/Products/nmls/stateresourcecenter/SitePages/Checklist-Compiler.aspx | Page resolved but returned no readable checklist body. Accessed October 25, 2026. Exact current ND checklist contents remain held. [Nationwide Licensing System](https://mortgage.nationwidelicensingsystem.org/knowledge/Products/nmls/stateresourcecenter/SitePages/Checklist-Compiler.aspx) |\n| **S_ND-P1-S010** | **NMLS Consumer Access information page**, NMLS. https://mortgage.nationwidelicensingsystem.org/knowledge/Products/consumeraccess/SitePages/Home.aspx | Page resolved with no readable body in the tool. DFI independently identifies Consumer Access as the public lookup route. [Nationwide Licensing System+1](https://mortgage.nationwidelicensingsystem.org/knowledge/Products/consumeraccess/SitePages/Home.aspx) |\n| **S_ND-P1-S011** | **NMLS Consumer Access direct portal**, NMLS. https://www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org/ | Direct open failed in the research tool. No named entity or NMLS ID was queried. Failure is an access limitation, not evidence of no license. (Invalid URL) |\n\n## B.2 Enactments and currentness sources\n\n| Source ID | Title, issuer, and direct literal URL | Exact pinpoint, status, access, and limitation |\n| --- | --- | --- |\n| **S_ND-P1-S012** | **Enrolled SB 2260, 2013**, North Dakota Legislative Assembly. https://ndlegis.gov/assembly/63-2013/regular/documents/13-8203-03000.pdf | §§1–2: “nonprofit corporation” changed to “person” in §§13-07-01 and 13-11-01. Enacted historical source, read October 25, 2026. Exact original effective date not separately recovered. [North Dakota Legislative Branch](https://ndlegis.gov/assembly/63-2013/regular/documents/13-8203-03000.pdf) |\n| **S_ND-P1-S013** | **SB 2260 bill overview**, Legislative Assembly. https://ndlegis.gov/assembly/63-2013/regular/bill-overview/bo2260.html | Status: passed; governor signed; filed with Secretary of State March 19. Historical status corroboration. [North Dakota Legislative Branch](https://ndlegis.gov/assembly/63-2013/regular/bill-overview/bo2260.html) |\n| **S_ND-P1-S014** | **Enrolled HB 1038, 2011**, North Dakota Legislative Assembly. https://ndlegis.gov/prod/assembly/62-2011/regular/documents/11-0225-05000.pdf | §§2–3 and title: created Chapter 13-11, amended former nonprofit-only §13-07-01, repealed Chapter 13-06. Historical lineage only. [North Dakota Legislative Branch](https://ndlegis.gov/prod/assembly/62-2011/regular/documents/11-0225-05000.pdf) |\n| **S_ND-P1-S015** | **Enrolled HB 1127, 2025**, North Dakota Legislative Assembly. https://ndlegis.gov/assembly/69-2025/regular/documents/25-8110-04000.pdf | §14, PDF p. 17: amendment to §13-11-10 notice wording only. No fee or definition amendment. [North Dakota Legislative Branch](https://ndlegis.gov/assembly/69-2025/regular/documents/25-8110-04000.pdf) |\n| **S_ND-P1-S016** | **Effective Dates of 2025 Legislation**, North Dakota Legislative Council. https://ndlegis.gov/sites/default/files/resource/69-2025/effective-dates-legislation/25.9565.03000.pdf | HB 1127 entry: August 1, 2025. Document itself dated October 2026. [North Dakota Legislative Branch](https://ndlegis.gov/sites/default/files/resource/69-2025/effective-dates-legislation/25.9565.03000.pdf) |\n| **S_ND-P1-S017** | **2026 Second Special Session Laws**, North Dakota. https://ndlegis.gov/assembly/69-2025/special-2/session-laws/sl2026ss2.pdf | Authentication and table of contents, pp. iii–v: only Chapters 660–661, unrelated to Title 13. Accessed October 25, 2026. Does not constitute a proposed-bill sweep. [North Dakota Legislative Branch](https://ndlegis.gov/assembly/69-2025/special-2/session-laws/sl2026ss2.pdf) |\n\n## B.3 Federal and judicial sources\n\n| Source ID | Title, issuer, and direct literal URL | Exact pinpoint, status, access, and limitation |\n| --- | --- | --- |\n| **S_ND-P1-S018** | **16 C.F.R. §310.4**, eCFR/OFR. https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-16/chapter-I/subchapter-C/part-310/section-310.4 | §310.4(a)(2), (a)(5)(i)–(ii). eCFR displayed Title 16 current through October 22, 2026 and last amended October 19, 2026. Authoritative but unofficial eCFR. Accessed October 25. [eCFR](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-16/chapter-I/subchapter-C/part-310/section-310.4) |\n| **S_ND-P1-S019** | **16 C.F.R. §310.2**, eCFR/OFR. https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-16/chapter-I/subchapter-C/part-310/section-310.2 | §310.2(o), (hh), and (ii): debt-relief service, telemarketer, telemarketing. Same currentness limitations as S018. [eCFR](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-16/chapter-I/subchapter-C/part-310/section-310.2) |\n| **S_ND-P1-S020** | **State ex rel. Heitkamp v. Family Life Services, Inc.**, 2000 ND 166, 616 N.W.2d 826, reproduced by Justia. https://law.justia.com/cases/north-dakota/supreme-court/2000/990212.html | ¶¶1, 5, 22: identity/status, AG authority, and 45-day disbursement application. Controlling ND Supreme Court decision, but read through a secondary reproduction. Historical nonprofit context limits modern classification use. [Justia Law+2](https://law.justia.com/cases/north-dakota/supreme-court/2000/990212.html) |\n| **S_ND-P1-S021** | **Attempted official ND Courts opinion route**. https://www.ndcourts.gov/court/opinions/990212.htm | Official archival route was not retrievable through the research tool. Next action is recovery from the current ND Courts archive or official reporter. No proposition depends solely on the failed route. |\n\n# C. Claim register\n\n## C.1 Classification and nexus claims\n\n| Claim ID | Precise assertion | Sources/pinpoints | Conditions, exceptions, and confidence |\n| --- | --- | --- | --- |\n| **S_ND-P1-C001** | Current Title 13 has Chapter 13-07 and Chapter 13-11; former Chapter 13-06 debt adjusting is repealed. | S003, Title 13 table. [North Dakota Legislative Branch](https://ndlegis.gov/cencode/t13.html) | High. Current official index. |\n| **S_ND-P1-C002** | Fee-based principal/current-balance reduction of unsecured debt, fund-accumulation assistance for that purpose, and tax-balance settlement are Chapter 13-11 services. | S001, §13-11-01(7)(a). [North Dakota Legislative Branch](https://ndlegis.gov/cencode/t13c11.pdf) | High for stated conduct. Secured-debt and mixed models remain open. |\n| **S_ND-P1-C003** | Chapter 13-11 covers noncustodial as well as custodial models. | S001, §§13-11-01(7)(a)(2), 13-11-14(3). [North Dakota Legislative Branch](https://ndlegis.gov/cencode/t13c11.pdf) | High. Custody changes trust-account duties, not core coverage. |\n| **S_ND-P1-C004** | Structured installment liquidation or creditor reduction of finance/late/default/delinquency charges is Chapter 13-07 consumer credit counseling. | S002, §13-07-01. [North Dakota Legislative Branch](https://ndlegis.gov/cencode/t13c07.pdf) | High. “Debtor” and business-purpose reach are undefined. |\n| **S_ND-P1-C005** | Marketing labels do not control, and mixed principal-reduction/DMP programs create unresolved cross-chapter classification. | S001 §13-11-01(6)–(7); S002 §13-07-01. [North Dakota Legislative Branch+1](https://ndlegis.gov/cencode/t13c11.pdf) | High that labels do not control; medium/held on mixed-program outcome. |\n| **S_ND-P1-C006** | ND-resident debtor creates state nexus; remote provider need not have physical presence. | S001 §13-11-02; S002 §13-07-03; S004 DFI FAQ. [North Dakota Legislative Branch+2](https://ndlegis.gov/cencode/t13c11.pdf) | High for natural-person resident. Entity “residence” held. |\n| **S_ND-P1-C007** | Chapter 13-11 lacks an express personal-purpose limitation but has tension between “consumer/person” and “individual”; entity and some business-purpose applications remain unresolved. | S001, §§13-11-01(3), (5), (10). [North Dakota Legislative Branch](https://ndlegis.gov/cencode/t13c11.pdf) | Medium for natural-person business debt; held for entities. |\n| **S_ND-P1-C008** | Ordinary Chapter 13-11 debt settlement is expressly limited to unsecured debt; tax settlement is separately included. | S001, §13-11-01(7)(a). [North Dakota Legislative Branch](https://ndlegis.gov/cencode/t13c11.pdf) | High. Secured-debt treatment remains a later pass. |\n| **S_ND-P1-C009** | Pure education without a qualifying agreement or principal-reduction purpose is not clearly within either chapter on that fact alone. | S001 §13-11-01(7); S002 §13-07-01. [North Dakota Legislative Branch+1](https://ndlegis.gov/cencode/t13c11.pdf) | Medium. Advertising, credit repair, compensation, and actual conduct may alter result. |\n\n## C.2 Permission and exclusion claims\n\n| Claim ID | Precise assertion | Sources/pinpoints | Conditions, exceptions, and confidence |\n| --- | --- | --- | --- |\n| **S_ND-P1-C010** | Chapter 13-11 activity for an ND resident is prohibited without a DFI license. | S001, §13-11-02; S004. [North Dakota Legislative Branch+1](https://ndlegis.gov/cencode/t13c11.pdf) | High. Subject to exact statutory exclusions. |\n| **S_ND-P1-C011** | Chapter 13-11 provider exclusions are conditional and include specified professionals, institutions, employees, collectors, public/court actors, liquidators, and ordinary-practice licensees. | S001, §13-11-01(6)(a)–(h). [North Dakota Legislative Branch](https://ndlegis.gov/cencode/t13c11.pdf) | High. No blanket affiliate or license exemption. |\n| **S_ND-P1-C012** | Attorney, CPA, and financial-planner service exclusions require the qualifying professional relationship and statutory conditions. | S001, §13-11-01(7)(b). [North Dakota Legislative Branch](https://ndlegis.gov/cencode/t13c11.pdf) | High. Attorney connection alone insufficient. |\n| **S_ND-P1-C013** | Nonprofit status is neither required for Chapter 13-07 nor a blanket Chapter 13-11 exemption. | S002 §13-07-01; S012 §§1–2; S013. [North Dakota Legislative Branch+2](https://ndlegis.gov/cencode/t13c07.pdf) | High current-law conclusion. Original 2013 effective date not separately pinned. |\n| **S_ND-P1-C014** | Chapter 13-07 uses an AG bond/security filing rather than an ordinary license; minimum is the greater of prior-year maximum trust accrual or $5,000. | S002, §13-07-03; S005. [North Dakota Legislative Branch+1](https://ndlegis.gov/cencode/t13c07.pdf) | High. Current filing form/acceptance procedure not recovered. |\n| **S_ND-P1-C015** | Chapter 13-07 itself contains no express nonprofit, attorney, bank, CPA, or institutional exclusion. | S002, complete chapter. [North Dakota Legislative Branch](https://ndlegis.gov/cencode/t13c07.pdf) | High as to chapter text; other-law exclusions not exhaustively researched. |\n| **S_ND-P1-C016** | DFI uses NMLS for Chapter 13-11 applications and public license lookup and states no physical presence is required. | S004; S008–S011. [North Dakota Government](https://www.nd.gov/faq/financial-institutions-faq) | High for procedure statement; dynamic checklist and direct portal bodies not read. |\n| **S_ND-P1-C017** | Verified Chapter 13-11 state charges are $400 investigation, $400 annual license, $50 annual branch, and at least $50,000 bond; NMLS and examination costs are additional but exact amounts are unverified. | S001 §§13-11-04, 06, 26; S004. [North Dakota Legislative Branch+2](https://ndlegis.gov/cencode/t13c11.pdf) | High on statutory amounts; exact NMLS/exam rates held. |\n| **S_ND-P1-C018** | License expires December 31; statute requires renewal at least 30 days before expiration, while DFI describes a November 1–December 31 portal window. | S001 §§13-11-05–06; S004. [North Dakota Legislative Branch+1](https://ndlegis.gov/cencode/t13c11.pdf) | High on both texts; webpage does not waive statutory timing. |\n| **S_ND-P1-C019** | No debt-settlement-specific article or fee adjustment appears in the current codified DFI administrative-code index. | S006, Title 13 index. [North Dakota Legislative Branch](https://ndlegis.gov/prod/agency-rules/north-dakota-administrative-code/) | Limited negative finding only; uncodified orders and interpretations remain open. |\n\n## C.3 Consumer-fee, timing, and refund claims\n\n| Claim ID | Precise assertion | Sources/pinpoints | Conditions, exceptions, and confidence |\n| --- | --- | --- | --- |\n| **S_ND-P1-C020** | Chapter 13-11 permits no consumer fee outside §13-11-21 and prohibits enrollment, setup, upfront, and maintenance fees. | S001, §13-11-21(1)–(2). [North Dakota Legislative Branch](https://ndlegis.gov/cencode/t13c11.pdf) | High. Provider government charges are separate. |\n| **S_ND-P1-C021** | Chapter 13-11 settlement fee is capped at 30% of savings; fee is zero when satisfaction amount exceeds principal and mathematically zero when it equals principal. | S001 §§13-11-01(11), (13)–(14), 13-11-21(3). [North Dakota Legislative Branch+1](https://ndlegis.gov/cencode/t13c11.pdf?utm_source=chatgpt.com) | High. Contract may prescribe a lower fee. |\n| **S_ND-P1-C022** | State settlement fee cannot be collected until an enforceable specific-dollar full-satisfaction agreement exists and those funds are provided. | S001, §13-11-21(4). [North Dakota Legislative Branch](https://ndlegis.gov/cencode/t13c11.pdf) | High as text; installment application unresolved. |\n| **S_ND-P1-C023** | Settlement above 50% of principal requires consumer assent after creditor assent. | S001, §13-11-23(1)(b). [North Dakota Legislative Branch](https://ndlegis.gov/cencode/t13c11.pdf) | High. |\n| **S_ND-P1-C024** | Creditor-certified installment settlements are recognized, but no authority was found reconciling that recognition with “those funds are provided” for fee timing. | S001 §§13-11-21(4), 13-11-23(1)(k). [North Dakota Legislative Branch+1](https://ndlegis.gov/cencode/t13c11.pdf) | Unresolved. Conservative no-fee-until-full-funding position stated. |\n| **S_ND-P1-C025** | Cancellation before full performance requires return of unearned fees and undisbursed settlement funds within seven days; the “application fee” exception is not an independent consumer-fee authorization. | S001 §§13-11-19(3)(n), 13-11-20, 13-11-21. [North Dakota Legislative Branch+1](https://ndlegis.gov/cencode/t13c11.pdf) | High on refund; medium/high on reconciling application-fee inconsistency. |\n| **S_ND-P1-C026** | Unauthorized-fee and unlicensed Chapter 13-11 contracts are void under the specified conditions. | S001, §13-11-28. [North Dakota Legislative Branch](https://ndlegis.gov/cencode/t13c11.pdf) | High. Remedies beyond the text are later-pass scope. |\n| **S_ND-P1-C027** | Chapter 13-07 permits up to $50 origination and retention of up to 15% of sums deposited for distribution. | S002, §13-07-06. [North Dakota Legislative Branch](https://ndlegis.gov/cencode/t13c07.pdf) | High on ceiling text. |\n| **S_ND-P1-C028** | Chapter 13-07 does not resolve whether first-payment 15% is calculated before or after deducting the $50 origination fee. | S002, §13-07-06. [North Dakota Legislative Branch](https://ndlegis.gov/cencode/t13c07.pdf) | Unresolved. Net calculation is conservative, not officially approved. |\n| **S_ND-P1-C029** | Chapter 13-07 requires creditor disbursement within 45 days and 30 days’ cancellation/creditor notice, but states no express refund formula. | S002, §13-07-06; S020 ¶22. [North Dakota Legislative Branch+1](https://ndlegis.gov/cencode/t13c07.pdf) | High on timing; refund outcome held. |\n| **S_ND-P1-C030** | No CPI/indexed adjustment mechanism was found for the current $50, 15%, or 30% limits. | S001 §13-11-21; S002 §13-07-06; S006. [North Dakota Legislative Branch+2](https://ndlegis.gov/cencode/t13c11.pdf) | High as to reviewed current authorities; future rules remain possible. |\n\n## C.4 Federal interaction, case law, and currentness claims\n\n| Claim ID | Precise assertion | Sources/pinpoints | Conditions, exceptions, and confidence |\n| --- | --- | --- | --- |\n| **S_ND-P1-C031** | The TSR broadly defines debt-relief service and telemarketing but applies only after full federal scope/exemption analysis. | S019, §310.2(o), (hh), (ii). [eCFR](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-16/chapter-I/subchapter-C/part-310/section-310.2) | High as common federal context; no universal application asserted. |\n| **S_ND-P1-C032** | When applicable, TSR fees require an executed valid agreement, at least one customer payment, and one of two individual-debt allocation methods. | S018, §310.4(a)(5)(i). [eCFR](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-16/chapter-I/subchapter-C/part-310/section-310.4) | High. “Requesting” as well as “receiving” payment is barred. |\n| **S_ND-P1-C033** | State fee ceilings do not authorize earlier federal collection; state trust accounts are not automatically TSR dedicated accounts. | S001 §13-11-14; S002 §13-07-04; S018 §310.4(a)(5)(ii). [North Dakota Legislative Branch+2](https://ndlegis.gov/cencode/t13c11.pdf) | High. Federal exemptions and exact account facts remain material. |\n| **S_ND-P1-C034** | Credit-improvement representations can trigger separate TSR §310.4(a)(2) timing; CROA/state credit-repair overlap was not determined without actual representations. | S018, §310.4(a)(2). [eCFR](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-16/chapter-I/subchapter-C/part-310/section-310.4) | Conditional/held. |\n| **S_ND-P1-C035** | The latest identified enacted Chapter 13-11 amendment changed notice wording only; September 2026 special-session laws did not amend Title 13. | S015–S017. [North Dakota Legislative Branch+2](https://ndlegis.gov/assembly/69-2025/regular/documents/25-8110-04000.pdf) | High for reviewed enactments; comprehensive 2027 proposal sweep open. |\n| **S_ND-P1-C036** | Heitkamp confirms AG enforcement authority and application of the 45-day Chapter 13-07 disbursement rule. | S020 ¶¶5, 22. [Justia Law+1](https://law.justia.com/cases/north-dakota/supreme-court/2000/990212.html) | High as holding; historical nonprofit context and secondary reproduction limit broader use. |\n| **S_ND-P1-C037** | No actual provider authorization has been established. | S004 and failed/unreadable S008–S011. [North Dakota Government](https://www.nd.gov/faq/financial-institutions-faq) | High. No provider legal name or NMLS ID was supplied or searched. |\n\n# D. Worked examples\n\nAll amounts are in dollars and rounded to the nearest cent. These are statutory-ceiling examples, not conclusions that a particular contract, provider, account, or solicitation satisfies every requirement.\n\n## Example 1 — Chapter 13-11 lump-sum settlement\n\n**Inputs**\n\n- Enrolled principal: $10,000\n- Full-and-complete settlement amount: $6,000\n- Contracted fee method: 30% of savings\n\n**Operator**\n\n$10,000−$6,000=$4,000 savings\\$10{,}000-\\$6{,}000=\\$4{,}000\\text{ savings}$10,000−$6,000=$4,000 savings$4,000×0.30=$1,200\\$4{,}000\\times 0.30=\\$1{,}200$4,000×0.30=$1,200**Result**\n\n- Maximum state settlement fee: **$1,200**\n- Before an enforceable full-satisfaction agreement exists and the $6,000 is provided under it: **$0 collectible**\n- A lower contracted percentage would control if below the ceiling.\n**Claims:** C021–C022. [North Dakota Legislative Branch](https://ndlegis.gov/cencode/t13c11.pdf)\n\n## Example 2 — Lower debt settled above 50% of principal\n\n**Inputs**\n\n- Enrolled principal: $1,000\n- Settlement: $800\n- Settlement equals 80% of principal\n- Contracted fee: 30% of savings\n\n**Calculation**\n\n$1,000−$800=$200\\$1{,}000-\\$800=\\$200$1,000−$800=$200$200×0.30=$60\\$200\\times 0.30=\\$60$200×0.30=$60**Result**\n\n- Maximum fee: **$60**\n- Because the settlement exceeds 50% of principal, the consumer must assent **after** creditor assent.\n- Fee timing still requires the §13-11-21(4) agreement-and-funds trigger.\n**Claims:** C021–C023. [North Dakota Legislative Branch+1](https://ndlegis.gov/cencode/t13c11.pdf)\n\n## Example 3 — No savings\n\n### Branch A: amount paid exceeds principal\n\n- Principal: $1,000\n- Satisfaction amount: $1,050\n\nThe statute expressly produces **no settlement fee**.\n\n### Branch B: amount paid equals principal\n\n- Principal: $1,000\n- Satisfaction amount: $1,000\n\n$1,000−$1,000=$0\\$1{,}000-\\$1{,}000=\\$0$1,000−$1,000=$030%×$0=$030\\%\\times \\$0=\\$030%×$0=$0**Result:** no fee in either branch.\n**Claim:** C021. [North Dakota Legislative Branch](https://ndlegis.gov/cencode/t13c11.pdf)\n\n## Example 4 — Two debts, prior earned fee, and cancellation\n\nAssume one consistent contractual method: 30% of savings for every debt.\n\n### Debt A\n\n- Enrolled principal: $5,000\n- Full settlement paid: $3,000\n- Savings: $2,000\n- Earned fee:\n\n$2,000×0.30=$600\\$2{,}000\\times 0.30=\\$600$2,000×0.30=$600### Debt B\n\n- Enrolled principal: $10,000\n- No enforceable full-satisfaction agreement and no qualifying funds provided\n- Earned fee: **$0**\n\n### Cancellation\n\nAssume the consumer cancels while Debt B remains unresolved.\n\n- Provider may retain the **$600** earned on Debt A.\n- Provider may not manufacture a fee on Debt B.\n- Provider may not switch Debt B to an enrolled-balance method after using savings for Debt A merely to generate a fee.\n- All other unearned fees and all undisbursed settlement-account funds must be refunded within seven days with the statutory accounting.\n- No consumer “application fee” is deducted because no lawful authorization for one was established.\n\n**Claims:** C021, C022, C025, C032. [North Dakota Legislative Branch+1](https://ndlegis.gov/cencode/t13c11.pdf)\n\n## Example 5 — Installment settlement hold\n\n**Inputs**\n\n- Principal: $10,000\n- Creditor-certified settlement plan: three payments of $2,000\n- Total settlement: $6,000\n- Savings if completed: $4,000\n- Potential ceiling if fully earned:\n\n$4,000×0.30=$1,200\\$4{,}000\\times 0.30=\\$1{,}200$4,000×0.30=$1,200After the first $2,000 installment:\n\n- A qualifying TSR-covered program may satisfy the federal first-payment element, assuming all other federal conditions and allocation rules are met.\n- North Dakota’s “those funds are provided” requirement remains unresolved.\n- Conservative North Dakota collectible fee at that point: **$0 held**, not $400 or $1,200.\n- Upon full $6,000 funding and satisfaction of all state conditions, the potential state ceiling is $1,200.\n\n**Claim:** C024. [North Dakota Legislative Branch+2](https://ndlegis.gov/cencode/t13c11.pdf)\n\n## Example 6 — Chapter 13-07 later deposit\n\nAssume the $50 origination fee was handled earlier and the contract’s disclosed total fee permits the charge.\n\n**Input**\n\n- New sum deposited for distribution: $400\n\n**Calculation**\n\n$400×0.15=$60\\$400\\times 0.15=\\$60$400×0.15=$60$400−$60=$340\\$400-\\$60=\\$340$400−$60=$340**Result**\n\n- Maximum retained from this deposit: **$60**\n- Amount to listed creditors: **$340**\n- Creditor disbursement deadline: within 45 days after deposit\n- If the TSR applies, the provider must also satisfy the federal fee trigger and allocation method before taking the $60.\n\n**Claims:** C027, C029, C032–C033. [North Dakota Legislative Branch+1](https://ndlegis.gov/cencode/t13c07.pdf)\n\n## Example 7 — Chapter 13-07 initial payment: unresolved gross versus net base\n\n**Initial payment:** $400\n**Origination fee:** $50\n\n### Conservative net-base branch\n\n$400−$50=$350 remaining for distribution\\$400-\\$50=\\$350\\text{ remaining for distribution}$400−$50=$350 remaining for distribution$350×0.15=$52.50\\$350\\times 0.15=\\$52.50$350×0.15=$52.50$350−$52.50=$297.50 to creditors\\$350-\\$52.50=\\$297.50\\text{ to creditors}$350−$52.50=$297.50 to creditorsProvider retains:\n\n$50+$52.50=$102.50\\$50+\\$52.50=\\$102.50$50+$52.50=$102.50### Unresolved gross-base branch\n\n$400×0.15=$60\\$400\\times 0.15=\\$60$400×0.15=$60$400−$50−$60=$290 to creditors\\$400-\\$50-\\$60=\\$290\\text{ to creditors}$400−$50−$60=$290 to creditorsProvider retains:\n\n$50+$60=$110\\$50+\\$60=\\$110$50+$60=$110**Result:** statutory text yields a numerical range of **$102.50 to $110**, but that is not a safe-harbor range. The net-base result is the conservative reading because only the post-origination balance appears to remain “for distribution.” An official interpretation is still required.\n**Claim:** C028. [North Dakota Legislative Branch](https://ndlegis.gov/cencode/t13c07.pdf)\n\n## Example 8 — Small initial Chapter 13-07 payment\n\n**Initial payment:** $100\n**Origination:** $50\n\n### Conservative net base\n\n$100−$50=$50\\$100-\\$50=\\$50$100−$50=$50$50×0.15=$7.50\\$50\\times 0.15=\\$7.50$50×0.15=$7.50$50−$7.50=$42.50\\$50-\\$7.50=\\$42.50$50−$7.50=$42.50- Provider retained: **$57.50**\n- Creditor distribution: **$42.50**\n\n### Gross alternative, unresolved\n\n$100×0.15=$15\\$100\\times0.15=\\$15$100×0.15=$15- Provider retained: **$65**\n- Creditor distribution: **$35**\n\nAgain, the gross result is not established as lawful. Federal timing may independently prevent either charge at origination.\n**Claims:** C028, C032. [North Dakota Legislative Branch+1](https://ndlegis.gov/cencode/t13c07.pdf)\n\n## Example 9 — Chapter 13-07 cancellation with prior fees\n\nAssume:\n\n- A lawful $50 origination fee was previously charged.\n- $1,000 was later deposited for distribution.\n- $150 was retained under the 15% mechanism.\n- $850 was timely sent to creditors.\n- Another $200 is presently in the trust account when the consumer gives cancellation notice.\n\nChapter 13-07 establishes the 30-day written-notice and creditor-notification duties. It does **not** provide enough text to calculate:\n\n- Whether any part of the $200 may be retained.\n- Whether the $50 or $150 must be refunded.\n- The deadline for returning the $200.\n- Whether some separate contract or trust rule controls.\n\n**Result:** refund calculation held; no invented deduction or automatic application of Chapter 13-11’s seven-day rule.\n**Claim:** C029. [North Dakota Legislative Branch](https://ndlegis.gov/cencode/t13c07.pdf)\n\n# D.2 Component coverage and gap table\n\n| Topic within or adjacent to this pass | Status | Claim IDs | Exact unresolved evidence or next investigation |\n| --- | --- | --- | --- |\n| Current Title 13 architecture | **Answered** | C001 | None for this component. |\n| Principal-reduction classification | **Answered** | C002 | Mixed secured/unsecured products remain later scope. |\n| DMP/installment/concession classification | **Answered** | C004 | Mixed principal-reduction plans need authoritative interpretation. |\n| Custodial versus noncustodial Chapter 13-11 | **Answered** | C003 | Detailed third-party-account contracts remain later funds pass. |\n| Noncustodial Chapter 13-07 | **Partial** | C004, C027 | Need AG/court interpretation of fees where no funds are received for distribution. |\n| Resident and remote-provider nexus | **Answered** | C006 | Entity “residence” remains unresolved. |\n| Natural-person business-purpose debt | **Partial** | C007 | Search DFI orders, AG interpretations, and cases addressing commercial-purpose obligations. |\n| Entity debtor coverage | **Unresolved** | C007 | Reconcile “consumer/person” with “individual” and “resides”; seek controlling authority. |\n| Chapter 13-11 license requirement | **Answered** | C010 | Provider-specific approval still requires an actual entity/NMLS search. |\n| Chapter 13-07 bond-filed pathway | **Answered in law; procedure partial** | C014 | Recover current AG bond form, filing instructions, acceptance standards, and public roster if one exists. |\n| Attorney/professional/institutional exclusions | **Answered for Chapter 13-11** | C011–C012 | Chapter 13-07 other-law exclusions remain open. |\n| Nonprofit requirement/exemption | **Answered** | C013 | Original 2013 effective-date pinpoint remains historical follow-up only. |\n| Self-creditor conduct | **Partial** | C011 | Need controlling interpretation for a creditor or affiliate charging a separate consumer fee. |\n| Chapter 13-11 consumer fee types and ceiling | **Answered** | C020–C021 | No adjustment mechanism found. |\n| Chapter 13-11 state timing | **Answered except installments** | C022–C024 | Recover DFI order, interpretive letter, or case applying “those funds are provided” to payment plans. |\n| Chapter 13-11 cancellation/refund | **Answered with drafting ambiguity** | C025 | Seek authority explaining “application fee” despite §13-11-21 prohibition. |\n| Chapter 13-07 consumer fee limits | **Partial** | C027–C028 | Resolve initial gross/net base and any permissible non-deposit residual fee collection. |\n| Chapter 13-07 cancellation/refunds | **Unresolved** | C029 | Read contract, trust, restitution, AG enforcement, and case-law authorities in later pass. |\n| Provider government charges | **Answered/partial** | C017–C018 | Exact NMLS charges, current examination hourly rate, and any applicant-specific higher bond held. |\n| Current rule/indexing check | **Partial negative finding** | C019, C030 | Search rulemaking notices, administrative orders, guidance memoranda, and historical supplements. |\n| Federal TSR timing/allocation | **Answered as conditional common context** | C031–C033 | Full exemptions and entity-specific telemarketing facts remain outside this pass. |\n| Federal dedicated-account interaction | **Answered conditionally** | C033 | Review actual account administrator, ownership, referral, and withdrawal contracts. |\n| Credit repair/CROA overlap | **Conditional/unresolved** | C034 | Requires actual marketing claims, services, and transaction structure. |\n| Public Chapter 13-11 lookup route | **Answered** | C016, C037 | Dynamic portal body was inaccessible; perform named query only when legal name/NMLS ID is provided. |\n| Named-provider authorization | **Not established** | C037 | No provider name or NMLS ID supplied; no status inference from marketing or domain. |\n| Chapter 13-07 public lookup | **Partial** | C014 | Current AG page supplies phone verification only; no contact permitted. |\n| Controlling case law | **Partial** | C036 | Recover official Heitkamp copy and run complete Chapter 13-11/13-07 case and administrative-order search. |\n| Enacted-law currentness | **Answered to reviewed enactments** | C035 | Complete 2027 proposed/prefiled/future-effective sweep. |\n| Agreement contents beyond needed fee points | **Open later pass** | — | Full contract provisions, POA, disclosures, suitability, language, and termination review. |\n| Funds, trust, account ownership, and reconciliation | **Open later pass** | — | Full Chapter 13-07/13-11 trust architecture, banking, dedicated-account contracts, and refunds. |\n| Bonds and claims against bonds | **Open later pass** | — | Form, surety qualification, claim procedure, cancellation, continuation, and applicant-specific amounts. |\n| Remedies, private actions, penalties, and limitations | **Open later pass** | — | Full §§13-11-26–29, Chapter 51-15, Chapter 13-07 remedies, limitations, and defenses. |\n| Collection/litigation and collector licensing | **Open later pass** | — | Chapter 13-05, FDCPA, litigation conduct, settlement communications, and creditor remedies. |\n| Secured debt and sector-specific obligations | **Open later pass** | — | Mortgages, auto, medical, tax, student, farm, utility, and other sectors. |\n| Local, tribal, and jurisdictional overlays | **Open later pass** | — | Tribal law, reservation nexus, local rules, choice of law, and federal preemption. |\n| Provider contracts, actual operations, and actual authorization | **Open/provider-specific** | — | Requires provider identity and documents; none reviewed here. |\n\n# E. Researcher self-check\n\n## Actually read\n\n- The full relevant text of current **Chapter 13-11**, including definitions, exclusions, licensing, fees, timing, trust-account treatment, cancellation, prohibited practices, enforcement, and void-contract provisions.\n- The complete current **Chapter 13-07**, all seven sections.\n- The current Title 13 chapter index showing Chapter 13-06 repealed.\n- The current codified Administrative Code index and all listed DFI Title 13 articles.\n- The current DFI debt-settlement FAQ and its application, lookup, physical-presence, fee, and renewal statements.\n- The current AG credit-counseling consumer page.\n- Enrolled 2011 HB 1038, enrolled 2013 SB 2260 and its official status page, the relevant 2025 HB 1127 amendment and effective-date table, and the authenticated 2026 special-session table of contents.\n- Current eCFR §§310.2 and 310.4 as displayed through October 22, 2026.\n- The identified North Dakota Supreme Court opinion through a complete secondary reproduction, including the relevant AG-authority and 45-day passages.\n\nThe statute and enactment PDFs were inspected as full text and through rendered PDF pages. Search snippets were used only for discovery, not as substitutes for the relied-on statutory passages.\n\n## Not read or not established\n\n- The readable body of the dynamic North Dakota NMLS checklist.\n- A successful direct named-provider search in NMLS Consumer Access.\n- Any Chapter 13-07 AG application, bond form, filing manual, or public roster.\n- An official ND Courts copy of *Heitkamp* from the attempted legacy route.\n- A controlling interpretation of:Chapter 13-11 installment fee timing;The Chapter 13-11 “application fee” cancellation wording;Chapter 13-07 gross versus net initial deposit base;Chapter 13-07 cancellation refunds;Entity/business-purpose debtor coverage;Mixed Chapter 13-07/13-11 programs.\n- A complete administrative-order, interpretive-letter, consent-order, unpublished-decision, or 2027 proposed-legislation sweep.\n- Actual provider identity, contracts, NMLS number, bond acceptance, account structure, scripts, advertisements, or operating facts.\n- Full agreement, funds, bonds, remedies, collection, litigation, limitations, secured-debt, sector, local, tribal, contract, or case-law coverage reserved for later passes.\n\n## Method and status limits\n\nThis was the original PASS-01 research, not an independent review of another North Dakota report. No model act was treated as enacted North Dakota law. No CPI calculation was invented. No license, bond acceptance, exemption, or provider authorization was inferred from a marketing statement or inaccessible page. No local file write or publication readiness is claimed.\n\n**Component conclusion:** North Dakota offers a verifiable Chapter 13-11 licensed path for principal-reduction debt settlement and a separate Chapter 13-07 bond-filed path for structured-payment or charge-concession counseling. The principal consumer-fee ceilings are current and readable, but four consequential issues remain held: Chapter 13-11 installment timing, the cancellation “application fee” inconsistency, Chapter 13-07’s first-payment percentage base, and Chapter 13-07 cancellation refunds.\n\nEND S_ND PASS-01.\n\n","tables":[{"headers":["Conduct actually performed","Current North Dakota classification","Access consequence","Claim"],"index":0,"links":[],"row_links":[[],[],[],[],[],[],[],[]],"rows":[["Conduct actually performed","Current North Dakota classification","Access consequence","Claim"],["Advice, negotiation, intermediation, or other services whose primary purpose is satisfying unsecured debt for less than principal or current balance","“Debt-settlement service,” Chapter 13-11","DFI license required before serving an ND resident, unless a specific exclusion applies","C002, C010"],["Advising, encouraging, assisting, or counseling a consumer to accumulate funds for that principal-reduction purpose","Chapter 13-11, even if the provider never holds the accumulated funds","DFI license required; noncustodial structure does not remove coverage","C003"],["Tax-settlement advice or intermediation seeking less than the current tax balance","Expressly included in Chapter 13-11","DFI license required absent an exclusion","C002"],["Agreement contemplating liquidation of debts through structured installments","“Consumer credit counseling service,” Chapter 13-07","Bond/security filing with AG plus Chapter 13-07 conditions; no ordinary Chapter 13-07 license found","C004, C014"],["Agreement contemplating creditor reduction of finance charges or late, default, or delinquency fees","Chapter 13-07","Same bond-filed pathway","C004, C014"],["Pure education with no qualifying agreement, no principal-reduction purpose, and no contemplated installment/concession plan","Not clearly captured by either definition on these facts alone","Other laws, marketing representations, credit-repair rules, and factual conduct remain open","C009"],["Mixed program combining principal reduction with structured payments or concessions","Textually uncertain because Chapter 13-11 excludes a “person engaged” in Chapter 13-07 services, while Chapter 13-07 itself does not expressly authorize principal reduction","Do not assume the Chapter 13-07 bond pathway authorizes principal-reduction settlement; obtain authoritative regulator/court resolution before launch","C005"]]},{"headers":["Pathway","Permitted consumer charge","Base and ceiling","Setup/monthly/per-debt/aggregate treatment","Refund/credit conditions"],"index":1,"links":[],"row_links":[[],[],[],[]],"rows":[["Pathway","Permitted consumer charge","Base and ceiling","Setup/monthly/per-debt/aggregate treatment","Refund/credit conditions"],["Chapter 13-11 debt settlement","Settlement fee only","No more than 30% of “savings”","Enrollment, setup, any upfront fee, and maintenance fee prohibited. No separate monthly, membership, product, or voluntary-contribution charge established. The debt-specific wording supports calculating savings for each settled debt; no separate statewide aggregate dollar cap exists beyond the formula and the contracted amount.","Only an earned settlement fee may be retained on cancellation. Unearned fees and undisbursed settlement funds must be returned within seven days with an accounting."],["Chapter 13-07 credit counseling/DMP","Up to $50 origination fee; up to 15% of a sum deposited for distribution","$50 fixed ceiling plus 15% deposit-retention ceiling","No separate monthly, per-debt, or savings-based charge is stated. The agreement must disclose the total amount that may be retained if fully performed. No separate collection mechanism for a residual “total fee” was established.","Chapter 13-07 prescribes 30 days’ cancellation notice and creditor notice, but contains no explicit fee-refund or undistributed-funds formula."],["Provider-to-state Chapter 13-11 charges","$400 investigation; $400 annual license; $50 per branch; NMLS charges; bond","Provider regulatory expenses, not consumer fees","A $50 delinquent-renewal charge and examination charges at a commissioner-set hourly rate may also apply. Exact NMLS and examination amounts were not verified.","These charges do not authorize a provider to pass them through to the consumer as an enrollment or application fee."]]},{"headers":["Source ID","Title, issuer, and direct literal URL","Exact pinpoint, status, access, and limitation"],"index":2,"links":[{"href":"https://ndlegis.gov/cencode/t13c11.pdf","text":"North Dakota Legislative Branch\n+3"},{"href":"https://ndlegis.gov/cencode/t13c07.pdf","text":"North Dakota Legislative Branch"},{"href":"https://ndlegis.gov/cencode/t13.html","text":"North Dakota Legislative Branch"},{"href":"https://www.nd.gov/faq/financial-institutions-faq","text":"North Dakota Government"},{"href":"https://attorneygeneral.nd.gov/consumer-resources/consumer-rights/","text":"North Dakota Attorney General"},{"href":"https://ndlegis.gov/prod/agency-rules/north-dakota-administrative-code/","text":"North Dakota Legislative Branch\n+1"},{"href":"https://www.nd.gov/dfi/enforcement-actions","text":"North Dakota Government"},{"href":"https://www.nd.gov/faq/financial-institutions-faq","text":"North Dakota Government"},{"href":"https://mortgage.nationwidelicensingsystem.org/knowledge/Products/nmls/stateresourcecenter/SitePages/Checklist-Compiler.aspx","text":"Nationwide Licensing System"},{"href":"https://mortgage.nationwidelicensingsystem.org/knowledge/Products/consumeraccess/SitePages/Home.aspx","text":"Nationwide Licensing System\n+1"}],"row_links":[[],[{"href":"https://ndlegis.gov/cencode/t13c11.pdf","text":"North Dakota Legislative Branch\n+3"}],[{"href":"https://ndlegis.gov/cencode/t13c07.pdf","text":"North Dakota Legislative Branch"}],[{"href":"https://ndlegis.gov/cencode/t13.html","text":"North Dakota Legislative Branch"}],[{"href":"https://www.nd.gov/faq/financial-institutions-faq","text":"North Dakota Government"}],[{"href":"https://attorneygeneral.nd.gov/consumer-resources/consumer-rights/","text":"North Dakota Attorney General"}],[{"href":"https://ndlegis.gov/prod/agency-rules/north-dakota-administrative-code/","text":"North Dakota Legislative Branch\n+1"}],[{"href":"https://www.nd.gov/dfi/enforcement-actions","text":"North Dakota Government"}],[{"href":"https://www.nd.gov/faq/financial-institutions-faq","text":"North Dakota Government"}],[{"href":"https://mortgage.nationwidelicensingsystem.org/knowledge/Products/nmls/stateresourcecenter/SitePages/Checklist-Compiler.aspx","text":"Nationwide Licensing System"}],[{"href":"https://mortgage.nationwidelicensingsystem.org/knowledge/Products/consumeraccess/SitePages/Home.aspx","text":"Nationwide Licensing System\n+1"}],[]],"rows":[["Source ID","Title, issuer, and direct literal URL","Exact pinpoint, status, access, and limitation"],["S_ND-P1-S001","N.D.C.C. Chapter 13-11, Debt-Settlement Providers, North Dakota Legislative Council. https://ndlegis.gov/cencode/t13c11.pdf","§§13-11-01(2)–(15), 13-11-02–06, 13-11-14, 13-11-17–23, 13-11-26, 13-11-28; PDF pp. 1–15. Current canonical chapter, fresh-read October 25, 2026 Pacific. Full relevant text read. Page itself does not state a discrete compilation date. \nNorth Dakota Legislative Branch\n+3"],["S_ND-P1-S002","N.D.C.C. Chapter 13-07, Consumer Credit Counseling Services, North Dakota Legislative Council. https://ndlegis.gov/cencode/t13c07.pdf","Entire chapter, §§13-07-01–07, PDF pp. 1–2. Current canonical chapter, fresh-read October 25, 2026 Pacific. \nNorth Dakota Legislative Branch"],["S_ND-P1-S003","North Dakota Century Code, Title 13 index, Legislative Council. https://ndlegis.gov/cencode/t13.html","Title 13 chapter table: Chapter 13-06 marked repealed; Chapter 13-07 and Chapter 13-11 current. Accessed October 25, 2026 Pacific. Index establishes architecture, not section-level terms. \nNorth Dakota Legislative Branch"],["S_ND-P1-S004","Financial Institutions FAQ, North Dakota DFI. https://www.nd.gov/faq/financial-institutions-faq","“Non-Depository Questions—Debt-Settlement Providers”: activity requiring license; exemptions; NMLS lookup/application; physical presence; fees; renewal. Live agency procedure page accessed October 25, 2026. No legal effective date shown; operational guidance does not displace statute. \nNorth Dakota Government"],["S_ND-P1-S005","Consumer Rights—Credit Counseling/Debt Management Services, North Dakota Attorney General. https://attorneygeneral.nd.gov/consumer-resources/consumer-rights/","Credit Counseling/Debt Management Services section: bond-on-file requirement and telephone verification. Live agency page accessed October 25, 2026. No online roster or form shown. \nNorth Dakota Attorney General"],["S_ND-P1-S006","North Dakota Administrative Code index, Legislative Council. https://ndlegis.gov/prod/agency-rules/north-dakota-administrative-code/","Introductory currentness statement and DFI Title 13, Articles 13-01.1 through 13-08. Accessed October 25, 2026. Negative finding is limited to the codified index; it does not exclude uncodified orders or interpretations. \nNorth Dakota Legislative Branch\n+1"],["S_ND-P1-S007","DFI Enforcement Actions, North Dakota DFI. https://www.nd.gov/dfi/enforcement-actions","Current operational enforcement page checked October 25, 2026. Supports continued regulator operation only; not a comprehensive license roster and not relied on for a provider-status finding. \nNorth Dakota Government"],["S_ND-P1-S008","North Dakota NMLS Dynamic Licenses route, NMLS. https://mortgage.nationwidelicensingsystem.org/slr/Pages/DynamicLicenses.aspx?StateID=ND","Officially linked by DFI as application/checklist route. The dynamic body was not readable in this tool. Used only as an operational locator, not substantive legal authority. \nNorth Dakota Government"],["S_ND-P1-S009","NMLS Checklist Compiler, NMLS. https://mortgage.nationwidelicensingsystem.org/knowledge/Products/nmls/stateresourcecenter/SitePages/Checklist-Compiler.aspx","Page resolved but returned no readable checklist body. Accessed October 25, 2026. Exact current ND checklist contents remain held. \nNationwide Licensing System"],["S_ND-P1-S010","NMLS Consumer Access information page, NMLS. https://mortgage.nationwidelicensingsystem.org/knowledge/Products/consumeraccess/SitePages/Home.aspx","Page resolved with no readable body in the tool. DFI independently identifies Consumer Access as the public lookup route. \nNationwide Licensing System\n+1"],["S_ND-P1-S011","NMLS Consumer Access direct portal, NMLS. https://www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org/","Direct open failed in the research tool. No named entity or NMLS ID was queried. Failure is an access limitation, not evidence of no license. (Invalid URL)"]]},{"headers":["Source ID","Title, issuer, and direct literal URL","Exact pinpoint, status, access, and limitation"],"index":3,"links":[{"href":"https://ndlegis.gov/assembly/63-2013/regular/documents/13-8203-03000.pdf","text":"North Dakota Legislative Branch"},{"href":"https://ndlegis.gov/assembly/63-2013/regular/bill-overview/bo2260.html","text":"North Dakota Legislative Branch"},{"href":"https://ndlegis.gov/prod/assembly/62-2011/regular/documents/11-0225-05000.pdf","text":"North Dakota Legislative Branch"},{"href":"https://ndlegis.gov/assembly/69-2025/regular/documents/25-8110-04000.pdf","text":"North Dakota Legislative Branch"},{"href":"https://ndlegis.gov/sites/default/files/resource/69-2025/effective-dates-legislation/25.9565.03000.pdf","text":"North Dakota Legislative Branch"},{"href":"https://ndlegis.gov/assembly/69-2025/special-2/session-laws/sl2026ss2.pdf","text":"North Dakota Legislative Branch"}],"row_links":[[],[{"href":"https://ndlegis.gov/assembly/63-2013/regular/documents/13-8203-03000.pdf","text":"North Dakota Legislative Branch"}],[{"href":"https://ndlegis.gov/assembly/63-2013/regular/bill-overview/bo2260.html","text":"North Dakota Legislative Branch"}],[{"href":"https://ndlegis.gov/prod/assembly/62-2011/regular/documents/11-0225-05000.pdf","text":"North Dakota Legislative Branch"}],[{"href":"https://ndlegis.gov/assembly/69-2025/regular/documents/25-8110-04000.pdf","text":"North Dakota Legislative Branch"}],[{"href":"https://ndlegis.gov/sites/default/files/resource/69-2025/effective-dates-legislation/25.9565.03000.pdf","text":"North Dakota Legislative Branch"}],[{"href":"https://ndlegis.gov/assembly/69-2025/special-2/session-laws/sl2026ss2.pdf","text":"North Dakota Legislative Branch"}]],"rows":[["Source ID","Title, issuer, and direct literal URL","Exact pinpoint, status, access, and limitation"],["S_ND-P1-S012","Enrolled SB 2260, 2013, North Dakota Legislative Assembly. https://ndlegis.gov/assembly/63-2013/regular/documents/13-8203-03000.pdf","§§1–2: “nonprofit corporation” changed to “person” in §§13-07-01 and 13-11-01. Enacted historical source, read October 25, 2026. Exact original effective date not separately recovered. \nNorth Dakota Legislative Branch"],["S_ND-P1-S013","SB 2260 bill overview, Legislative Assembly. https://ndlegis.gov/assembly/63-2013/regular/bill-overview/bo2260.html","Status: passed; governor signed; filed with Secretary of State March 19. Historical status corroboration. \nNorth Dakota Legislative Branch"],["S_ND-P1-S014","Enrolled HB 1038, 2011, North Dakota Legislative Assembly. https://ndlegis.gov/prod/assembly/62-2011/regular/documents/11-0225-05000.pdf","§§2–3 and title: created Chapter 13-11, amended former nonprofit-only §13-07-01, repealed Chapter 13-06. Historical lineage only. \nNorth Dakota Legislative Branch"],["S_ND-P1-S015","Enrolled HB 1127, 2025, North Dakota Legislative Assembly. https://ndlegis.gov/assembly/69-2025/regular/documents/25-8110-04000.pdf","§14, PDF p. 17: amendment to §13-11-10 notice wording only. No fee or definition amendment. \nNorth Dakota Legislative Branch"],["S_ND-P1-S016","Effective Dates of 2025 Legislation, North Dakota Legislative Council. https://ndlegis.gov/sites/default/files/resource/69-2025/effective-dates-legislation/25.9565.03000.pdf","HB 1127 entry: August 1, 2025. Document itself dated October 2026. \nNorth Dakota Legislative Branch"],["S_ND-P1-S017","2026 Second Special Session Laws, North Dakota. https://ndlegis.gov/assembly/69-2025/special-2/session-laws/sl2026ss2.pdf","Authentication and table of contents, pp. iii–v: only Chapters 660–661, unrelated to Title 13. Accessed October 25, 2026. Does not constitute a proposed-bill sweep. \nNorth Dakota Legislative Branch"]]},{"headers":["Source ID","Title, issuer, and direct literal URL","Exact pinpoint, status, access, and limitation"],"index":4,"links":[{"href":"https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-16/chapter-I/subchapter-C/part-310/section-310.4","text":"eCFR"},{"href":"https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-16/chapter-I/subchapter-C/part-310/section-310.2","text":"eCFR"},{"href":"https://law.justia.com/cases/north-dakota/supreme-court/2000/990212.html","text":"Justia Law\n+2"}],"row_links":[[],[{"href":"https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-16/chapter-I/subchapter-C/part-310/section-310.4","text":"eCFR"}],[{"href":"https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-16/chapter-I/subchapter-C/part-310/section-310.2","text":"eCFR"}],[{"href":"https://law.justia.com/cases/north-dakota/supreme-court/2000/990212.html","text":"Justia Law\n+2"}],[]],"rows":[["Source ID","Title, issuer, and direct literal URL","Exact pinpoint, status, access, and limitation"],["S_ND-P1-S018","16 C.F.R. §310.4, eCFR/OFR. https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-16/chapter-I/subchapter-C/part-310/section-310.4","§310.4(a)(2), (a)(5)(i)–(ii). eCFR displayed Title 16 current through October 22, 2026 and last amended October 19, 2026. Authoritative but unofficial eCFR. Accessed October 25. \neCFR"],["S_ND-P1-S019","16 C.F.R. §310.2, eCFR/OFR. https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-16/chapter-I/subchapter-C/part-310/section-310.2","§310.2(o), (hh), and (ii): debt-relief service, telemarketer, telemarketing. Same currentness limitations as S018. \neCFR"],["S_ND-P1-S020","State ex rel. Heitkamp v. Family Life Services, Inc., 2000 ND 166, 616 N.W.2d 826, reproduced by Justia. https://law.justia.com/cases/north-dakota/supreme-court/2000/990212.html","¶¶1, 5, 22: identity/status, AG authority, and 45-day disbursement application. Controlling ND Supreme Court decision, but read through a secondary reproduction. Historical nonprofit context limits modern classification use. \nJustia Law\n+2"],["S_ND-P1-S021","Attempted official ND Courts opinion route. https://www.ndcourts.gov/court/opinions/990212.htm","Official archival route was not retrievable through the research tool. Next action is recovery from the current ND Courts archive or official reporter. No proposition depends solely on the failed route."]]},{"headers":["Claim ID","Precise assertion","Sources/pinpoints","Conditions, exceptions, and confidence"],"index":5,"links":[{"href":"https://ndlegis.gov/cencode/t13.html","text":"North Dakota Legislative Branch"},{"href":"https://ndlegis.gov/cencode/t13c11.pdf","text":"North Dakota Legislative Branch"},{"href":"https://ndlegis.gov/cencode/t13c11.pdf","text":"North Dakota Legislative Branch"},{"href":"https://ndlegis.gov/cencode/t13c07.pdf","text":"North Dakota Legislative Branch"},{"href":"https://ndlegis.gov/cencode/t13c11.pdf","text":"North Dakota Legislative Branch\n+1"},{"href":"https://ndlegis.gov/cencode/t13c11.pdf","text":"North Dakota Legislative Branch\n+2"},{"href":"https://ndlegis.gov/cencode/t13c11.pdf","text":"North Dakota Legislative Branch"},{"href":"https://ndlegis.gov/cencode/t13c11.pdf","text":"North Dakota Legislative Branch"},{"href":"https://ndlegis.gov/cencode/t13c11.pdf","text":"North Dakota Legislative Branch\n+1"}],"row_links":[[],[{"href":"https://ndlegis.gov/cencode/t13.html","text":"North Dakota Legislative Branch"}],[{"href":"https://ndlegis.gov/cencode/t13c11.pdf","text":"North Dakota Legislative Branch"}],[{"href":"https://ndlegis.gov/cencode/t13c11.pdf","text":"North Dakota Legislative Branch"}],[{"href":"https://ndlegis.gov/cencode/t13c07.pdf","text":"North Dakota Legislative Branch"}],[{"href":"https://ndlegis.gov/cencode/t13c11.pdf","text":"North Dakota Legislative Branch\n+1"}],[{"href":"https://ndlegis.gov/cencode/t13c11.pdf","text":"North Dakota Legislative Branch\n+2"}],[{"href":"https://ndlegis.gov/cencode/t13c11.pdf","text":"North Dakota Legislative Branch"}],[{"href":"https://ndlegis.gov/cencode/t13c11.pdf","text":"North Dakota Legislative Branch"}],[{"href":"https://ndlegis.gov/cencode/t13c11.pdf","text":"North Dakota Legislative Branch\n+1"}]],"rows":[["Claim ID","Precise assertion","Sources/pinpoints","Conditions, exceptions, and confidence"],["S_ND-P1-C001","Current Title 13 has Chapter 13-07 and Chapter 13-11; former Chapter 13-06 debt adjusting is repealed.","S003, Title 13 table. \nNorth Dakota Legislative Branch","High. Current official index."],["S_ND-P1-C002","Fee-based principal/current-balance reduction of unsecured debt, fund-accumulation assistance for that purpose, and tax-balance settlement are Chapter 13-11 services.","S001, §13-11-01(7)(a). \nNorth Dakota Legislative Branch","High for stated conduct. Secured-debt and mixed models remain open."],["S_ND-P1-C003","Chapter 13-11 covers noncustodial as well as custodial models.","S001, §§13-11-01(7)(a)(2), 13-11-14(3). \nNorth Dakota Legislative Branch","High. Custody changes trust-account duties, not core coverage."],["S_ND-P1-C004","Structured installment liquidation or creditor reduction of finance/late/default/delinquency charges is Chapter 13-07 consumer credit counseling.","S002, §13-07-01. \nNorth Dakota Legislative Branch","High. “Debtor” and business-purpose reach are undefined."],["S_ND-P1-C005","Marketing labels do not control, and mixed principal-reduction/DMP programs create unresolved cross-chapter classification.","S001 §13-11-01(6)–(7); S002 §13-07-01. \nNorth Dakota Legislative Branch\n+1","High that labels do not control; medium/held on mixed-program outcome."],["S_ND-P1-C006","ND-resident debtor creates state nexus; remote provider need not have physical presence.","S001 §13-11-02; S002 §13-07-03; S004 DFI FAQ. \nNorth Dakota Legislative Branch\n+2","High for natural-person resident. Entity “residence” held."],["S_ND-P1-C007","Chapter 13-11 lacks an express personal-purpose limitation but has tension between “consumer/person” and “individual”; entity and some business-purpose applications remain unresolved.","S001, §§13-11-01(3), (5), (10). \nNorth Dakota Legislative Branch","Medium for natural-person business debt; held for entities."],["S_ND-P1-C008","Ordinary Chapter 13-11 debt settlement is expressly limited to unsecured debt; tax settlement is separately included.","S001, §13-11-01(7)(a). \nNorth Dakota Legislative Branch","High. Secured-debt treatment remains a later pass."],["S_ND-P1-C009","Pure education without a qualifying agreement or principal-reduction purpose is not clearly within either chapter on that fact alone.","S001 §13-11-01(7); S002 §13-07-01. \nNorth Dakota Legislative Branch\n+1","Medium. Advertising, credit repair, compensation, and actual conduct may alter result."]]},{"headers":["Claim ID","Precise assertion","Sources/pinpoints","Conditions, exceptions, and confidence"],"index":6,"links":[{"href":"https://ndlegis.gov/cencode/t13c11.pdf","text":"North Dakota Legislative Branch\n+1"},{"href":"https://ndlegis.gov/cencode/t13c11.pdf","text":"North Dakota Legislative Branch"},{"href":"https://ndlegis.gov/cencode/t13c11.pdf","text":"North Dakota Legislative Branch"},{"href":"https://ndlegis.gov/cencode/t13c07.pdf","text":"North Dakota Legislative Branch\n+2"},{"href":"https://ndlegis.gov/cencode/t13c07.pdf","text":"North Dakota Legislative Branch\n+1"},{"href":"https://ndlegis.gov/cencode/t13c07.pdf","text":"North Dakota Legislative Branch"},{"href":"https://www.nd.gov/faq/financial-institutions-faq","text":"North Dakota Government"},{"href":"https://ndlegis.gov/cencode/t13c11.pdf","text":"North Dakota Legislative Branch\n+2"},{"href":"https://ndlegis.gov/cencode/t13c11.pdf","text":"North Dakota Legislative Branch\n+1"},{"href":"https://ndlegis.gov/prod/agency-rules/north-dakota-administrative-code/","text":"North Dakota Legislative Branch"}],"row_links":[[],[{"href":"https://ndlegis.gov/cencode/t13c11.pdf","text":"North Dakota Legislative Branch\n+1"}],[{"href":"https://ndlegis.gov/cencode/t13c11.pdf","text":"North Dakota Legislative Branch"}],[{"href":"https://ndlegis.gov/cencode/t13c11.pdf","text":"North Dakota Legislative Branch"}],[{"href":"https://ndlegis.gov/cencode/t13c07.pdf","text":"North Dakota Legislative Branch\n+2"}],[{"href":"https://ndlegis.gov/cencode/t13c07.pdf","text":"North Dakota Legislative Branch\n+1"}],[{"href":"https://ndlegis.gov/cencode/t13c07.pdf","text":"North Dakota Legislative Branch"}],[{"href":"https://www.nd.gov/faq/financial-institutions-faq","text":"North Dakota Government"}],[{"href":"https://ndlegis.gov/cencode/t13c11.pdf","text":"North Dakota Legislative Branch\n+2"}],[{"href":"https://ndlegis.gov/cencode/t13c11.pdf","text":"North Dakota Legislative Branch\n+1"}],[{"href":"https://ndlegis.gov/prod/agency-rules/north-dakota-administrative-code/","text":"North Dakota Legislative Branch"}]],"rows":[["Claim ID","Precise assertion","Sources/pinpoints","Conditions, exceptions, and confidence"],["S_ND-P1-C010","Chapter 13-11 activity for an ND resident is prohibited without a DFI license.","S001, §13-11-02; S004. \nNorth Dakota Legislative Branch\n+1","High. Subject to exact statutory exclusions."],["S_ND-P1-C011","Chapter 13-11 provider exclusions are conditional and include specified professionals, institutions, employees, collectors, public/court actors, liquidators, and ordinary-practice licensees.","S001, §13-11-01(6)(a)–(h). \nNorth Dakota Legislative Branch","High. No blanket affiliate or license exemption."],["S_ND-P1-C012","Attorney, CPA, and financial-planner service exclusions require the qualifying professional relationship and statutory conditions.","S001, §13-11-01(7)(b). \nNorth Dakota Legislative Branch","High. Attorney connection alone insufficient."],["S_ND-P1-C013","Nonprofit status is neither required for Chapter 13-07 nor a blanket Chapter 13-11 exemption.","S002 §13-07-01; S012 §§1–2; S013. \nNorth Dakota Legislative Branch\n+2","High current-law conclusion. Original 2013 effective date not separately pinned."],["S_ND-P1-C014","Chapter 13-07 uses an AG bond/security filing rather than an ordinary license; minimum is the greater of prior-year maximum trust accrual or $5,000.","S002, §13-07-03; S005. \nNorth Dakota Legislative Branch\n+1","High. Current filing form/acceptance procedure not recovered."],["S_ND-P1-C015","Chapter 13-07 itself contains no express nonprofit, attorney, bank, CPA, or institutional exclusion.","S002, complete chapter. \nNorth Dakota Legislative Branch","High as to chapter text; other-law exclusions not exhaustively researched."],["S_ND-P1-C016","DFI uses NMLS for Chapter 13-11 applications and public license lookup and states no physical presence is required.","S004; S008–S011. \nNorth Dakota Government","High for procedure statement; dynamic checklist and direct portal bodies not read."],["S_ND-P1-C017","Verified Chapter 13-11 state charges are $400 investigation, $400 annual license, $50 annual branch, and at least $50,000 bond; NMLS and examination costs are additional but exact amounts are unverified.","S001 §§13-11-04, 06, 26; S004. \nNorth Dakota Legislative Branch\n+2","High on statutory amounts; exact NMLS/exam rates held."],["S_ND-P1-C018","License expires December 31; statute requires renewal at least 30 days before expiration, while DFI describes a November 1–December 31 portal window.","S001 §§13-11-05–06; S004. \nNorth Dakota Legislative Branch\n+1","High on both texts; webpage does not waive statutory timing."],["S_ND-P1-C019","No debt-settlement-specific article or fee adjustment appears in the current codified DFI administrative-code index.","S006, Title 13 index. \nNorth Dakota Legislative Branch","Limited negative finding only; uncodified orders and interpretations remain open."]]},{"headers":["Claim ID","Precise assertion","Sources/pinpoints","Conditions, exceptions, and confidence"],"index":7,"links":[{"href":"https://ndlegis.gov/cencode/t13c11.pdf","text":"North Dakota Legislative Branch"},{"href":"https://ndlegis.gov/cencode/t13c11.pdf?utm_source=chatgpt.com","text":"North Dakota Legislative Branch\n+1"},{"href":"https://ndlegis.gov/cencode/t13c11.pdf","text":"North Dakota Legislative Branch"},{"href":"https://ndlegis.gov/cencode/t13c11.pdf","text":"North Dakota Legislative Branch"},{"href":"https://ndlegis.gov/cencode/t13c11.pdf","text":"North Dakota Legislative Branch\n+1"},{"href":"https://ndlegis.gov/cencode/t13c11.pdf","text":"North Dakota Legislative Branch\n+1"},{"href":"https://ndlegis.gov/cencode/t13c11.pdf","text":"North Dakota Legislative Branch"},{"href":"https://ndlegis.gov/cencode/t13c07.pdf","text":"North Dakota Legislative Branch"},{"href":"https://ndlegis.gov/cencode/t13c07.pdf","text":"North Dakota Legislative Branch"},{"href":"https://ndlegis.gov/cencode/t13c07.pdf","text":"North Dakota Legislative Branch\n+1"},{"href":"https://ndlegis.gov/cencode/t13c11.pdf","text":"North Dakota Legislative Branch\n+2"}],"row_links":[[],[{"href":"https://ndlegis.gov/cencode/t13c11.pdf","text":"North Dakota Legislative Branch"}],[{"href":"https://ndlegis.gov/cencode/t13c11.pdf?utm_source=chatgpt.com","text":"North Dakota Legislative Branch\n+1"}],[{"href":"https://ndlegis.gov/cencode/t13c11.pdf","text":"North Dakota Legislative Branch"}],[{"href":"https://ndlegis.gov/cencode/t13c11.pdf","text":"North Dakota Legislative Branch"}],[{"href":"https://ndlegis.gov/cencode/t13c11.pdf","text":"North Dakota Legislative Branch\n+1"}],[{"href":"https://ndlegis.gov/cencode/t13c11.pdf","text":"North Dakota Legislative Branch\n+1"}],[{"href":"https://ndlegis.gov/cencode/t13c11.pdf","text":"North Dakota Legislative Branch"}],[{"href":"https://ndlegis.gov/cencode/t13c07.pdf","text":"North Dakota Legislative Branch"}],[{"href":"https://ndlegis.gov/cencode/t13c07.pdf","text":"North Dakota Legislative Branch"}],[{"href":"https://ndlegis.gov/cencode/t13c07.pdf","text":"North Dakota Legislative Branch\n+1"}],[{"href":"https://ndlegis.gov/cencode/t13c11.pdf","text":"North Dakota Legislative Branch\n+2"}]],"rows":[["Claim ID","Precise assertion","Sources/pinpoints","Conditions, exceptions, and confidence"],["S_ND-P1-C020","Chapter 13-11 permits no consumer fee outside §13-11-21 and prohibits enrollment, setup, upfront, and maintenance fees.","S001, §13-11-21(1)–(2). \nNorth Dakota Legislative Branch","High. Provider government charges are separate."],["S_ND-P1-C021","Chapter 13-11 settlement fee is capped at 30% of savings; fee is zero when satisfaction amount exceeds principal and mathematically zero when it equals principal.","S001 §§13-11-01(11), (13)–(14), 13-11-21(3). \nNorth Dakota Legislative Branch\n+1","High. Contract may prescribe a lower fee."],["S_ND-P1-C022","State settlement fee cannot be collected until an enforceable specific-dollar full-satisfaction agreement exists and those funds are provided.","S001, §13-11-21(4). \nNorth Dakota Legislative Branch","High as text; installment application unresolved."],["S_ND-P1-C023","Settlement above 50% of principal requires consumer assent after creditor assent.","S001, §13-11-23(1)(b). \nNorth Dakota Legislative Branch","High."],["S_ND-P1-C024","Creditor-certified installment settlements are recognized, but no authority was found reconciling that recognition with “those funds are provided” for fee timing.","S001 §§13-11-21(4), 13-11-23(1)(k). \nNorth Dakota Legislative Branch\n+1","Unresolved. Conservative no-fee-until-full-funding position stated."],["S_ND-P1-C025","Cancellation before full performance requires return of unearned fees and undisbursed settlement funds within seven days; the “application fee” exception is not an independent consumer-fee authorization.","S001 §§13-11-19(3)(n), 13-11-20, 13-11-21. \nNorth Dakota Legislative Branch\n+1","High on refund; medium/high on reconciling application-fee inconsistency."],["S_ND-P1-C026","Unauthorized-fee and unlicensed Chapter 13-11 contracts are void under the specified conditions.","S001, §13-11-28. \nNorth Dakota Legislative Branch","High. Remedies beyond the text are later-pass scope."],["S_ND-P1-C027","Chapter 13-07 permits up to $50 origination and retention of up to 15% of sums deposited for distribution.","S002, §13-07-06. \nNorth Dakota Legislative Branch","High on ceiling text."],["S_ND-P1-C028","Chapter 13-07 does not resolve whether first-payment 15% is calculated before or after deducting the $50 origination fee.","S002, §13-07-06. \nNorth Dakota Legislative Branch","Unresolved. Net calculation is conservative, not officially approved."],["S_ND-P1-C029","Chapter 13-07 requires creditor disbursement within 45 days and 30 days’ cancellation/creditor notice, but states no express refund formula.","S002, §13-07-06; S020 ¶22. \nNorth Dakota Legislative Branch\n+1","High on timing; refund outcome held."],["S_ND-P1-C030","No CPI/indexed adjustment mechanism was found for the current $50, 15%, or 30% limits.","S001 §13-11-21; S002 §13-07-06; S006. \nNorth Dakota Legislative Branch\n+2","High as to reviewed current authorities; future rules remain possible."]]},{"headers":["Claim ID","Precise assertion","Sources/pinpoints","Conditions, exceptions, and confidence"],"index":8,"links":[{"href":"https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-16/chapter-I/subchapter-C/part-310/section-310.2","text":"eCFR"},{"href":"https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-16/chapter-I/subchapter-C/part-310/section-310.4","text":"eCFR"},{"href":"https://ndlegis.gov/cencode/t13c11.pdf","text":"North Dakota Legislative Branch\n+2"},{"href":"https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-16/chapter-I/subchapter-C/part-310/section-310.4","text":"eCFR"},{"href":"https://ndlegis.gov/assembly/69-2025/regular/documents/25-8110-04000.pdf","text":"North Dakota Legislative Branch\n+2"},{"href":"https://law.justia.com/cases/north-dakota/supreme-court/2000/990212.html","text":"Justia Law\n+1"},{"href":"https://www.nd.gov/faq/financial-institutions-faq","text":"North Dakota Government"}],"row_links":[[],[{"href":"https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-16/chapter-I/subchapter-C/part-310/section-310.2","text":"eCFR"}],[{"href":"https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-16/chapter-I/subchapter-C/part-310/section-310.4","text":"eCFR"}],[{"href":"https://ndlegis.gov/cencode/t13c11.pdf","text":"North Dakota Legislative Branch\n+2"}],[{"href":"https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-16/chapter-I/subchapter-C/part-310/section-310.4","text":"eCFR"}],[{"href":"https://ndlegis.gov/assembly/69-2025/regular/documents/25-8110-04000.pdf","text":"North Dakota Legislative Branch\n+2"}],[{"href":"https://law.justia.com/cases/north-dakota/supreme-court/2000/990212.html","text":"Justia Law\n+1"}],[{"href":"https://www.nd.gov/faq/financial-institutions-faq","text":"North Dakota Government"}]],"rows":[["Claim ID","Precise assertion","Sources/pinpoints","Conditions, exceptions, and confidence"],["S_ND-P1-C031","The TSR broadly defines debt-relief service and telemarketing but applies only after full federal scope/exemption analysis.","S019, §310.2(o), (hh), (ii). \neCFR","High as common federal context; no universal application asserted."],["S_ND-P1-C032","When applicable, TSR fees require an executed valid agreement, at least one customer payment, and one of two individual-debt allocation methods.","S018, §310.4(a)(5)(i). \neCFR","High. “Requesting” as well as “receiving” payment is barred."],["S_ND-P1-C033","State fee ceilings do not authorize earlier federal collection; state trust accounts are not automatically TSR dedicated accounts.","S001 §13-11-14; S002 §13-07-04; S018 §310.4(a)(5)(ii). \nNorth Dakota Legislative Branch\n+2","High. Federal exemptions and exact account facts remain material."],["S_ND-P1-C034","Credit-improvement representations can trigger separate TSR §310.4(a)(2) timing; CROA/state credit-repair overlap was not determined without actual representations.","S018, §310.4(a)(2). \neCFR","Conditional/held."],["S_ND-P1-C035","The latest identified enacted Chapter 13-11 amendment changed notice wording only; September 2026 special-session laws did not amend Title 13.","S015–S017. \nNorth Dakota Legislative Branch\n+2","High for reviewed enactments; comprehensive 2027 proposal sweep open."],["S_ND-P1-C036","Heitkamp confirms AG enforcement authority and application of the 45-day Chapter 13-07 disbursement rule.","S020 ¶¶5, 22. \nJustia Law\n+1","High as holding; historical nonprofit context and secondary reproduction limit broader use."],["S_ND-P1-C037","No actual provider authorization has been established.","S004 and failed/unreadable S008–S011. \nNorth Dakota Government","High. No provider legal name or NMLS ID was supplied or searched."]]},{"headers":["Topic within or adjacent to this pass","Status","Claim IDs","Exact unresolved evidence or next investigation"],"index":9,"links":[],"row_links":[[],[],[],[],[],[],[],[],[],[],[],[],[],[],[],[],[],[],[],[],[],[],[],[],[],[],[],[],[],[],[],[],[],[],[],[],[]],"rows":[["Topic within or adjacent to this pass","Status","Claim IDs","Exact unresolved evidence or next investigation"],["Current Title 13 architecture","Answered","C001","None for this component."],["Principal-reduction classification","Answered","C002","Mixed secured/unsecured products remain later scope."],["DMP/installment/concession classification","Answered","C004","Mixed principal-reduction plans need authoritative interpretation."],["Custodial versus noncustodial Chapter 13-11","Answered","C003","Detailed third-party-account contracts remain later funds pass."],["Noncustodial Chapter 13-07","Partial","C004, C027","Need AG/court interpretation of fees where no funds are received for distribution."],["Resident and remote-provider nexus","Answered","C006","Entity “residence” remains unresolved."],["Natural-person business-purpose debt","Partial","C007","Search DFI orders, AG interpretations, and cases addressing commercial-purpose obligations."],["Entity debtor coverage","Unresolved","C007","Reconcile “consumer/person” with “individual” and “resides”; seek controlling authority."],["Chapter 13-11 license requirement","Answered","C010","Provider-specific approval still requires an actual entity/NMLS search."],["Chapter 13-07 bond-filed pathway","Answered in law; procedure partial","C014","Recover current AG bond form, filing instructions, acceptance standards, and public roster if one exists."],["Attorney/professional/institutional exclusions","Answered for Chapter 13-11","C011–C012","Chapter 13-07 other-law exclusions remain open."],["Nonprofit requirement/exemption","Answered","C013","Original 2013 effective-date pinpoint remains historical follow-up only."],["Self-creditor conduct","Partial","C011","Need controlling interpretation for a creditor or affiliate charging a separate consumer fee."],["Chapter 13-11 consumer fee types and ceiling","Answered","C020–C021","No adjustment mechanism found."],["Chapter 13-11 state timing","Answered except installments","C022–C024","Recover DFI order, interpretive letter, or case applying “those funds are provided” to payment plans."],["Chapter 13-11 cancellation/refund","Answered with drafting ambiguity","C025","Seek authority explaining “application fee” despite §13-11-21 prohibition."],["Chapter 13-07 consumer fee limits","Partial","C027–C028","Resolve initial gross/net base and any permissible non-deposit residual fee collection."],["Chapter 13-07 cancellation/refunds","Unresolved","C029","Read contract, trust, restitution, AG enforcement, and case-law authorities in later pass."],["Provider government charges","Answered/partial","C017–C018","Exact NMLS charges, current examination hourly rate, and any applicant-specific higher bond held."],["Current rule/indexing check","Partial negative finding","C019, C030","Search rulemaking notices, administrative orders, guidance memoranda, and historical supplements."],["Federal TSR timing/allocation","Answered as conditional common context","C031–C033","Full exemptions and entity-specific telemarketing facts remain outside this pass."],["Federal dedicated-account interaction","Answered conditionally","C033","Review actual account administrator, ownership, referral, and withdrawal contracts."],["Credit repair/CROA overlap","Conditional/unresolved","C034","Requires actual marketing claims, services, and transaction structure."],["Public Chapter 13-11 lookup route","Answered","C016, C037","Dynamic portal body was inaccessible; perform named query only when legal name/NMLS ID is provided."],["Named-provider authorization","Not established","C037","No provider name or NMLS ID supplied; no status inference from marketing or domain."],["Chapter 13-07 public lookup","Partial","C014","Current AG page supplies phone verification only; no contact permitted."],["Controlling case law","Partial","C036","Recover official Heitkamp copy and run complete Chapter 13-11/13-07 case and administrative-order search."],["Enacted-law currentness","Answered to reviewed enactments","C035","Complete 2027 proposed/prefiled/future-effective sweep."],["Agreement contents beyond needed fee points","Open later pass","—","Full contract provisions, POA, disclosures, suitability, language, and termination review."],["Funds, trust, account ownership, and reconciliation","Open later pass","—","Full Chapter 13-07/13-11 trust architecture, banking, dedicated-account contracts, and refunds."],["Bonds and claims against bonds","Open later pass","—","Form, surety qualification, claim procedure, cancellation, continuation, and applicant-specific amounts."],["Remedies, private actions, penalties, and limitations","Open later pass","—","Full §§13-11-26–29, Chapter 51-15, Chapter 13-07 remedies, limitations, and defenses."],["Collection/litigation and collector licensing","Open later pass","—","Chapter 13-05, FDCPA, litigation conduct, settlement communications, and creditor remedies."],["Secured debt and sector-specific obligations","Open later pass","—","Mortgages, auto, medical, tax, student, farm, utility, and other sectors."],["Local, tribal, and jurisdictional overlays","Open later pass","—","Tribal law, reservation nexus, local rules, choice of law, and federal preemption."],["Provider contracts, actual operations, and actual authorization","Open/provider-specific","—","Requires provider identity and documents; none reviewed here."]]}],"claims":[{"claim_id":"S_ND-P1-C001","area_numbers":[66],"area_assignment_method":"task_scope_fallback","researcher_record":{"Claim ID":"S_ND-P1-C001","Precise assertion":"Current Title 13 has Chapter 13-07 and Chapter 13-11; former Chapter 13-06 debt adjusting is repealed.","Sources/pinpoints":"S003, Title 13 table. \nNorth Dakota Legislative Branch","Conditions, exceptions, and confidence":"High. Current official index."},"coordinator_verification_status":"scoped_review_complete_with_retained_limits","coordinator_review":"[internal evidence reference]"},{"claim_id":"S_ND-P1-C002","area_numbers":[66],"area_assignment_method":"task_scope_fallback","researcher_record":{"Claim ID":"S_ND-P1-C002","Precise assertion":"Fee-based principal/current-balance reduction of unsecured debt, fund-accumulation assistance for that purpose, and tax-balance settlement are Chapter 13-11 services.","Sources/pinpoints":"S001, §13-11-01(7)(a). \nNorth Dakota Legislative Branch","Conditions, exceptions, and confidence":"High for stated conduct. Secured-debt and mixed models remain open."},"coordinator_verification_status":"scoped_review_complete_with_retained_limits","coordinator_review":"[internal evidence reference]"},{"claim_id":"S_ND-P1-C003","area_numbers":[66],"area_assignment_method":"task_scope_fallback","researcher_record":{"Claim ID":"S_ND-P1-C003","Precise assertion":"Chapter 13-11 covers noncustodial as well as custodial models.","Sources/pinpoints":"S001, §§13-11-01(7)(a)(2), 13-11-14(3). \nNorth Dakota Legislative Branch","Conditions, exceptions, and confidence":"High. Custody changes trust-account duties, not core coverage."},"coordinator_verification_status":"scoped_review_complete_with_retained_limits","coordinator_review":"[internal evidence reference]"},{"claim_id":"S_ND-P1-C004","area_numbers":[66],"area_assignment_method":"task_scope_fallback","researcher_record":{"Claim ID":"S_ND-P1-C004","Precise assertion":"Structured installment liquidation or creditor reduction of finance/late/default/delinquency charges is Chapter 13-07 consumer credit counseling.","Sources/pinpoints":"S002, §13-07-01. \nNorth Dakota Legislative Branch","Conditions, exceptions, and confidence":"High. “Debtor” and business-purpose reach are undefined."},"coordinator_verification_status":"scoped_review_complete_with_retained_limits","coordinator_review":"[internal evidence reference]"},{"claim_id":"S_ND-P1-C005","area_numbers":[66],"area_assignment_method":"task_scope_fallback","researcher_record":{"Claim ID":"S_ND-P1-C005","Precise assertion":"Marketing labels do not control, and mixed principal-reduction/DMP programs create unresolved cross-chapter classification.","Sources/pinpoints":"S001 §13-11-01(6)–(7); S002 §13-07-01. \nNorth Dakota Legislative Branch\n+1","Conditions, exceptions, and confidence":"High that labels do not control; medium/held on mixed-program outcome."},"coordinator_verification_status":"scoped_review_complete_with_retained_limits","coordinator_review":"[internal evidence reference]"},{"claim_id":"S_ND-P1-C006","area_numbers":[66],"area_assignment_method":"task_scope_fallback","researcher_record":{"Claim ID":"S_ND-P1-C006","Precise assertion":"ND-resident debtor creates state nexus; remote provider need not have physical presence.","Sources/pinpoints":"S001 §13-11-02; S002 §13-07-03; S004 DFI FAQ. \nNorth Dakota Legislative Branch\n+2","Conditions, exceptions, and confidence":"High for natural-person resident. Entity “residence” held."},"coordinator_verification_status":"scoped_review_complete_with_retained_limits","coordinator_review":"[internal evidence reference]"},{"claim_id":"S_ND-P1-C007","area_numbers":[66],"area_assignment_method":"task_scope_fallback","researcher_record":{"Claim ID":"S_ND-P1-C007","Precise assertion":"Chapter 13-11 lacks an express personal-purpose limitation but has tension between “consumer/person” and “individual”; entity and some business-purpose applications remain unresolved.","Sources/pinpoints":"S001, §§13-11-01(3), (5), (10). \nNorth Dakota Legislative Branch","Conditions, exceptions, and confidence":"Medium for natural-person business debt; held for entities."},"coordinator_verification_status":"scoped_review_complete_with_retained_limits","coordinator_review":"[internal evidence reference]"},{"claim_id":"S_ND-P1-C008","area_numbers":[66],"area_assignment_method":"task_scope_fallback","researcher_record":{"Claim ID":"S_ND-P1-C008","Precise assertion":"Ordinary Chapter 13-11 debt settlement is expressly limited to unsecured debt; tax settlement is separately included.","Sources/pinpoints":"S001, §13-11-01(7)(a). \nNorth Dakota Legislative Branch","Conditions, exceptions, and confidence":"High. Secured-debt treatment remains a later pass."},"coordinator_verification_status":"scoped_review_complete_with_retained_limits","coordinator_review":"[internal evidence reference]"},{"claim_id":"S_ND-P1-C009","area_numbers":[66],"area_assignment_method":"task_scope_fallback","researcher_record":{"Claim ID":"S_ND-P1-C009","Precise assertion":"Pure education without a qualifying agreement or principal-reduction purpose is not clearly within either chapter on that fact alone.","Sources/pinpoints":"S001 §13-11-01(7); S002 §13-07-01. \nNorth Dakota Legislative Branch\n+1","Conditions, exceptions, and confidence":"Medium. Advertising, credit repair, compensation, and actual conduct may alter result."},"coordinator_verification_status":"scoped_review_complete_with_retained_limits","coordinator_review":"[internal evidence reference]"},{"claim_id":"S_ND-P1-C010","area_numbers":[66],"area_assignment_method":"task_scope_fallback","researcher_record":{"Claim ID":"S_ND-P1-C010","Precise assertion":"Chapter 13-11 activity for an ND resident is prohibited without a DFI license.","Sources/pinpoints":"S001, §13-11-02; S004. \nNorth Dakota Legislative Branch\n+1","Conditions, exceptions, and confidence":"High. Subject to exact statutory exclusions."},"coordinator_verification_status":"scoped_review_complete_with_retained_limits","coordinator_review":"[internal evidence reference]"},{"claim_id":"S_ND-P1-C011","area_numbers":[66],"area_assignment_method":"task_scope_fallback","researcher_record":{"Claim ID":"S_ND-P1-C011","Precise assertion":"Chapter 13-11 provider exclusions are conditional and include specified professionals, institutions, employees, collectors, public/court actors, liquidators, and ordinary-practice licensees.","Sources/pinpoints":"S001, §13-11-01(6)(a)–(h). \nNorth Dakota Legislative Branch","Conditions, exceptions, and confidence":"High. No blanket affiliate or license exemption."},"coordinator_verification_status":"scoped_review_complete_with_retained_limits","coordinator_review":"[internal evidence reference]"},{"claim_id":"S_ND-P1-C012","area_numbers":[66],"area_assignment_method":"task_scope_fallback","researcher_record":{"Claim ID":"S_ND-P1-C012","Precise assertion":"Attorney, CPA, and financial-planner service exclusions require the qualifying professional relationship and statutory conditions.","Sources/pinpoints":"S001, §13-11-01(7)(b). \nNorth Dakota Legislative Branch","Conditions, exceptions, and confidence":"High. Attorney connection alone insufficient."},"coordinator_verification_status":"scoped_review_complete_with_retained_limits","coordinator_review":"[internal evidence reference]"},{"claim_id":"S_ND-P1-C013","area_numbers":[66],"area_assignment_method":"task_scope_fallback","researcher_record":{"Claim ID":"S_ND-P1-C013","Precise assertion":"Nonprofit status is neither required for Chapter 13-07 nor a blanket Chapter 13-11 exemption.","Sources/pinpoints":"S002 §13-07-01; S012 §§1–2; S013. \nNorth Dakota Legislative Branch\n+2","Conditions, exceptions, and confidence":"High current-law conclusion. Original 2013 effective date not separately pinned."},"coordinator_verification_status":"scoped_review_complete_with_retained_limits","coordinator_review":"[internal evidence reference]"},{"claim_id":"S_ND-P1-C014","area_numbers":[66],"area_assignment_method":"task_scope_fallback","researcher_record":{"Claim ID":"S_ND-P1-C014","Precise assertion":"Chapter 13-07 uses an AG bond/security filing rather than an ordinary license; minimum is the greater of prior-year maximum trust accrual or $5,000.","Sources/pinpoints":"S002, §13-07-03; S005. \nNorth Dakota Legislative Branch\n+1","Conditions, exceptions, and confidence":"High. Current filing form/acceptance procedure not recovered."},"coordinator_verification_status":"scoped_review_complete_with_retained_limits","coordinator_review":"[internal evidence reference]"},{"claim_id":"S_ND-P1-C015","area_numbers":[66],"area_assignment_method":"task_scope_fallback","researcher_record":{"Claim ID":"S_ND-P1-C015","Precise assertion":"Chapter 13-07 itself contains no express nonprofit, attorney, bank, CPA, or institutional exclusion.","Sources/pinpoints":"S002, complete chapter. \nNorth Dakota Legislative Branch","Conditions, exceptions, and confidence":"High as to chapter text; other-law exclusions not exhaustively researched."},"coordinator_verification_status":"scoped_review_complete_with_retained_limits","coordinator_review":"[internal evidence reference]"},{"claim_id":"S_ND-P1-C016","area_numbers":[66],"area_assignment_method":"task_scope_fallback","researcher_record":{"Claim ID":"S_ND-P1-C016","Precise assertion":"DFI uses NMLS for Chapter 13-11 applications and public license lookup and states no physical presence is required.","Sources/pinpoints":"S004; S008–S011. \nNorth Dakota Government","Conditions, exceptions, and confidence":"High for procedure statement; dynamic checklist and direct portal bodies not read."},"coordinator_verification_status":"scoped_review_complete_with_retained_limits","coordinator_review":"[internal evidence reference]"},{"claim_id":"S_ND-P1-C017","area_numbers":[66],"area_assignment_method":"task_scope_fallback","researcher_record":{"Claim ID":"S_ND-P1-C017","Precise assertion":"Verified Chapter 13-11 state charges are $400 investigation, $400 annual license, $50 annual branch, and at least $50,000 bond; NMLS and examination costs are additional but exact amounts are unverified.","Sources/pinpoints":"S001 §§13-11-04, 06, 26; S004. \nNorth Dakota Legislative Branch\n+2","Conditions, exceptions, and confidence":"High on statutory amounts; exact NMLS/exam rates held."},"coordinator_verification_status":"scoped_review_complete_with_retained_limits","coordinator_review":"[internal evidence reference]"},{"claim_id":"S_ND-P1-C018","area_numbers":[66],"area_assignment_method":"task_scope_fallback","researcher_record":{"Claim ID":"S_ND-P1-C018","Precise assertion":"License expires December 31; statute requires renewal at least 30 days before expiration, while DFI describes a November 1–December 31 portal window.","Sources/pinpoints":"S001 §§13-11-05–06; S004. \nNorth Dakota Legislative Branch\n+1","Conditions, exceptions, and confidence":"High on both texts; webpage does not waive statutory timing."},"coordinator_verification_status":"scoped_review_complete_with_retained_limits","coordinator_review":"[internal evidence reference]"},{"claim_id":"S_ND-P1-C019","area_numbers":[66],"area_assignment_method":"task_scope_fallback","researcher_record":{"Claim ID":"S_ND-P1-C019","Precise assertion":"No debt-settlement-specific article or fee adjustment appears in the current codified DFI administrative-code index.","Sources/pinpoints":"S006, Title 13 index. \nNorth Dakota Legislative Branch","Conditions, exceptions, and confidence":"Limited negative finding only; uncodified orders and interpretations remain open."},"coordinator_verification_status":"scoped_review_complete_with_retained_limits","coordinator_review":"[internal evidence reference]"},{"claim_id":"S_ND-P1-C020","area_numbers":[66],"area_assignment_method":"task_scope_fallback","researcher_record":{"Claim ID":"S_ND-P1-C020","Precise assertion":"Chapter 13-11 permits no consumer fee outside §13-11-21 and prohibits enrollment, setup, upfront, and maintenance fees.","Sources/pinpoints":"S001, §13-11-21(1)–(2). \nNorth Dakota Legislative Branch","Conditions, exceptions, and confidence":"High. Provider government charges are separate."},"coordinator_verification_status":"scoped_review_complete_with_retained_limits","coordinator_review":"[internal evidence reference]"},{"claim_id":"S_ND-P1-C021","area_numbers":[66],"area_assignment_method":"task_scope_fallback","researcher_record":{"Claim ID":"S_ND-P1-C021","Precise assertion":"Chapter 13-11 settlement fee is capped at 30% of savings; fee is zero when satisfaction amount exceeds principal and mathematically zero when it equals principal.","Sources/pinpoints":"S001 §§13-11-01(11), (13)–(14), 13-11-21(3). \nNorth Dakota Legislative Branch\n+1","Conditions, exceptions, and confidence":"High. Contract may prescribe a lower fee."},"coordinator_verification_status":"scoped_review_complete_with_retained_limits","coordinator_review":"[internal evidence reference]"},{"claim_id":"S_ND-P1-C022","area_numbers":[66],"area_assignment_method":"task_scope_fallback","researcher_record":{"Claim ID":"S_ND-P1-C022","Precise assertion":"State settlement fee cannot be collected until an enforceable specific-dollar full-satisfaction agreement exists and those funds are provided.","Sources/pinpoints":"S001, §13-11-21(4). \nNorth Dakota Legislative Branch","Conditions, exceptions, and confidence":"High as text; installment application unresolved."},"coordinator_verification_status":"scoped_review_complete_with_retained_limits","coordinator_review":"[internal evidence reference]"},{"claim_id":"S_ND-P1-C023","area_numbers":[66],"area_assignment_method":"task_scope_fallback","researcher_record":{"Claim ID":"S_ND-P1-C023","Precise assertion":"Settlement above 50% of principal requires consumer assent after creditor assent.","Sources/pinpoints":"S001, §13-11-23(1)(b). \nNorth Dakota Legislative Branch","Conditions, exceptions, and confidence":"High."},"coordinator_verification_status":"scoped_review_complete_with_retained_limits","coordinator_review":"[internal evidence reference]"},{"claim_id":"S_ND-P1-C024","area_numbers":[66],"area_assignment_method":"task_scope_fallback","researcher_record":{"Claim ID":"S_ND-P1-C024","Precise assertion":"Creditor-certified installment settlements are recognized, but no authority was found reconciling that recognition with “those funds are provided” for fee timing.","Sources/pinpoints":"S001 §§13-11-21(4), 13-11-23(1)(k). \nNorth Dakota Legislative Branch\n+1","Conditions, exceptions, and confidence":"Unresolved. Conservative no-fee-until-full-funding position stated."},"coordinator_verification_status":"scoped_review_complete_with_retained_limits","coordinator_review":"[internal evidence reference]"},{"claim_id":"S_ND-P1-C025","area_numbers":[66],"area_assignment_method":"task_scope_fallback","researcher_record":{"Claim ID":"S_ND-P1-C025","Precise assertion":"Cancellation before full performance requires return of unearned fees and undisbursed settlement funds within seven days; the “application fee” exception is not an independent consumer-fee authorization.","Sources/pinpoints":"S001 §§13-11-19(3)(n), 13-11-20, 13-11-21. \nNorth Dakota Legislative Branch\n+1","Conditions, exceptions, and confidence":"High on refund; medium/high on reconciling application-fee inconsistency."},"coordinator_verification_status":"scoped_review_complete_with_retained_limits","coordinator_review":"[internal evidence reference]"},{"claim_id":"S_ND-P1-C026","area_numbers":[66],"area_assignment_method":"task_scope_fallback","researcher_record":{"Claim ID":"S_ND-P1-C026","Precise assertion":"Unauthorized-fee and unlicensed Chapter 13-11 contracts are void under the specified conditions.","Sources/pinpoints":"S001, §13-11-28. \nNorth Dakota Legislative Branch","Conditions, exceptions, and confidence":"High. Remedies beyond the text are later-pass scope."},"coordinator_verification_status":"scoped_review_complete_with_retained_limits","coordinator_review":"[internal evidence reference]"},{"claim_id":"S_ND-P1-C027","area_numbers":[66],"area_assignment_method":"task_scope_fallback","researcher_record":{"Claim ID":"S_ND-P1-C027","Precise assertion":"Chapter 13-07 permits up to $50 origination and retention of up to 15% of sums deposited for distribution.","Sources/pinpoints":"S002, §13-07-06. \nNorth Dakota Legislative Branch","Conditions, exceptions, and confidence":"High on ceiling text."},"coordinator_verification_status":"scoped_review_complete_with_retained_limits","coordinator_review":"[internal evidence reference]"},{"claim_id":"S_ND-P1-C028","area_numbers":[66],"area_assignment_method":"task_scope_fallback","researcher_record":{"Claim ID":"S_ND-P1-C028","Precise assertion":"Chapter 13-07 does not resolve whether first-payment 15% is calculated before or after deducting the $50 origination fee.","Sources/pinpoints":"S002, §13-07-06. \nNorth Dakota Legislative Branch","Conditions, exceptions, and confidence":"Unresolved. Net calculation is conservative, not officially approved."},"coordinator_verification_status":"scoped_review_complete_with_retained_limits","coordinator_review":"[internal evidence reference]"},{"claim_id":"S_ND-P1-C029","area_numbers":[66],"area_assignment_method":"task_scope_fallback","researcher_record":{"Claim ID":"S_ND-P1-C029","Precise assertion":"Chapter 13-07 requires creditor disbursement within 45 days and 30 days’ cancellation/creditor notice, but states no express refund formula.","Sources/pinpoints":"S002, §13-07-06; S020 ¶22. \nNorth Dakota Legislative Branch\n+1","Conditions, exceptions, and confidence":"High on timing; refund outcome held."},"coordinator_verification_status":"scoped_review_complete_with_retained_limits","coordinator_review":"[internal evidence reference]"},{"claim_id":"S_ND-P1-C030","area_numbers":[66],"area_assignment_method":"task_scope_fallback","researcher_record":{"Claim ID":"S_ND-P1-C030","Precise assertion":"No CPI/indexed adjustment mechanism was found for the current $50, 15%, or 30% limits.","Sources/pinpoints":"S001 §13-11-21; S002 §13-07-06; S006. \nNorth Dakota Legislative Branch\n+2","Conditions, exceptions, and confidence":"High as to reviewed current authorities; future rules remain possible."},"coordinator_verification_status":"scoped_review_complete_with_retained_limits","coordinator_review":"[internal evidence reference]"},{"claim_id":"S_ND-P1-C031","area_numbers":[66],"area_assignment_method":"task_scope_fallback","researcher_record":{"Claim ID":"S_ND-P1-C031","Precise assertion":"The TSR broadly defines debt-relief service and telemarketing but applies only after full federal scope/exemption analysis.","Sources/pinpoints":"S019, §310.2(o), (hh), (ii). \neCFR","Conditions, exceptions, and confidence":"High as common federal context; no universal application asserted."},"coordinator_verification_status":"scoped_review_complete_with_retained_limits","coordinator_review":"[internal evidence reference]"},{"claim_id":"S_ND-P1-C032","area_numbers":[66],"area_assignment_method":"task_scope_fallback","researcher_record":{"Claim ID":"S_ND-P1-C032","Precise assertion":"When applicable, TSR fees require an executed valid agreement, at least one customer payment, and one of two individual-debt allocation methods.","Sources/pinpoints":"S018, §310.4(a)(5)(i). \neCFR","Conditions, exceptions, and confidence":"High. “Requesting” as well as “receiving” payment is barred."},"coordinator_verification_status":"scoped_review_complete_with_retained_limits","coordinator_review":"[internal evidence reference]"},{"claim_id":"S_ND-P1-C033","area_numbers":[66],"area_assignment_method":"task_scope_fallback","researcher_record":{"Claim ID":"S_ND-P1-C033","Precise assertion":"State fee ceilings do not authorize earlier federal collection; state trust accounts are not automatically TSR dedicated accounts.","Sources/pinpoints":"S001 §13-11-14; S002 §13-07-04; S018 §310.4(a)(5)(ii). \nNorth Dakota Legislative Branch\n+2","Conditions, exceptions, and confidence":"High. Federal exemptions and exact account facts remain material."},"coordinator_verification_status":"scoped_review_complete_with_retained_limits","coordinator_review":"[internal evidence reference]"},{"claim_id":"S_ND-P1-C034","area_numbers":[66],"area_assignment_method":"task_scope_fallback","researcher_record":{"Claim ID":"S_ND-P1-C034","Precise assertion":"Credit-improvement representations can trigger separate TSR §310.4(a)(2) timing; CROA/state credit-repair overlap was not determined without actual representations.","Sources/pinpoints":"S018, §310.4(a)(2). \neCFR","Conditions, exceptions, and confidence":"Conditional/held."},"coordinator_verification_status":"scoped_review_complete_with_retained_limits","coordinator_review":"[internal evidence reference]"},{"claim_id":"S_ND-P1-C035","area_numbers":[66],"area_assignment_method":"task_scope_fallback","researcher_record":{"Claim ID":"S_ND-P1-C035","Precise assertion":"The latest identified enacted Chapter 13-11 amendment changed notice wording only; September 2026 special-session laws did not amend Title 13.","Sources/pinpoints":"S015–S017. \nNorth Dakota Legislative Branch\n+2","Conditions, exceptions, and confidence":"High for reviewed enactments; comprehensive 2027 proposal sweep open."},"coordinator_verification_status":"scoped_review_complete_with_retained_limits","coordinator_review":"[internal evidence reference]"},{"claim_id":"S_ND-P1-C036","area_numbers":[66],"area_assignment_method":"task_scope_fallback","researcher_record":{"Claim ID":"S_ND-P1-C036","Precise assertion":"Heitkamp confirms AG enforcement authority and application of the 45-day Chapter 13-07 disbursement rule.","Sources/pinpoints":"S020 ¶¶5, 22. \nJustia Law\n+1","Conditions, exceptions, and confidence":"High as holding; historical nonprofit context and secondary reproduction limit broader use."},"coordinator_verification_status":"scoped_review_complete_with_retained_limits","coordinator_review":"[internal evidence reference]"},{"claim_id":"S_ND-P1-C037","area_numbers":[66],"area_assignment_method":"task_scope_fallback","researcher_record":{"Claim ID":"S_ND-P1-C037","Precise assertion":"No actual provider authorization has been established.","Sources/pinpoints":"S004 and failed/unreadable S008–S011. \nNorth Dakota Government","Conditions, exceptions, and confidence":"High. No provider legal name or NMLS ID was supplied or searched."},"coordinator_verification_status":"scoped_review_complete_with_retained_limits","coordinator_review":"[internal evidence reference]"}],"sources":[{"source_id":"S_ND-P1-S001","urls":["https://ndlegis.gov/cencode/t13c11.pdf"],"researcher_record":{"Source ID":"S_ND-P1-S001","Title, issuer, and direct literal URL":"N.D.C.C. Chapter 13-11, Debt-Settlement Providers, North Dakota Legislative Council. https://ndlegis.gov/cencode/t13c11.pdf","Exact pinpoint, status, access, and limitation":"§§13-11-01(2)–(15), 13-11-02–06, 13-11-14, 13-11-17–23, 13-11-26, 13-11-28; PDF pp. 1–15. Current canonical chapter, fresh-read October 25, 2026 Pacific. Full relevant text read. Page itself does not state a discrete compilation date. \nNorth Dakota Legislative Branch\n+3"},"coordinator_verification_status":"scoped_review_complete_with_retained_limits","coordinator_review":"[internal evidence reference]"},{"source_id":"S_ND-P1-S002","urls":["https://ndlegis.gov/cencode/t13c07.pdf"],"researcher_record":{"Source ID":"S_ND-P1-S002","Title, issuer, and direct literal URL":"N.D.C.C. Chapter 13-07, Consumer Credit Counseling Services, North Dakota Legislative Council. https://ndlegis.gov/cencode/t13c07.pdf","Exact pinpoint, status, access, and limitation":"Entire chapter, §§13-07-01–07, PDF pp. 1–2. Current canonical chapter, fresh-read October 25, 2026 Pacific. \nNorth Dakota Legislative Branch"},"coordinator_verification_status":"scoped_review_complete_with_retained_limits","coordinator_review":"[internal evidence reference]"},{"source_id":"S_ND-P1-S003","urls":["https://ndlegis.gov/cencode/t13.html"],"researcher_record":{"Source ID":"S_ND-P1-S003","Title, issuer, and direct literal URL":"North Dakota Century Code, Title 13 index, Legislative Council. https://ndlegis.gov/cencode/t13.html","Exact pinpoint, status, access, and limitation":"Title 13 chapter table: Chapter 13-06 marked repealed; Chapter 13-07 and Chapter 13-11 current. Accessed October 25, 2026 Pacific. Index establishes architecture, not section-level terms. \nNorth Dakota Legislative Branch"},"coordinator_verification_status":"scoped_review_complete_with_retained_limits","coordinator_review":"[internal evidence reference]"},{"source_id":"S_ND-P1-S004","urls":["https://www.nd.gov/faq/financial-institutions-faq"],"researcher_record":{"Source ID":"S_ND-P1-S004","Title, issuer, and direct literal URL":"Financial Institutions FAQ, North Dakota DFI. https://www.nd.gov/faq/financial-institutions-faq","Exact pinpoint, status, access, and limitation":"“Non-Depository Questions—Debt-Settlement Providers”: activity requiring license; exemptions; NMLS lookup/application; physical presence; fees; renewal. Live agency procedure page accessed October 25, 2026. No legal effective date shown; operational guidance does not displace statute. \nNorth Dakota Government"},"coordinator_verification_status":"scoped_review_complete_with_retained_limits","coordinator_review":"[internal evidence reference]"},{"source_id":"S_ND-P1-S005","urls":["https://attorneygeneral.nd.gov/consumer-resources/consumer-rights/"],"researcher_record":{"Source ID":"S_ND-P1-S005","Title, issuer, and direct literal URL":"Consumer Rights—Credit Counseling/Debt Management Services, North Dakota Attorney General. https://attorneygeneral.nd.gov/consumer-resources/consumer-rights/","Exact pinpoint, status, access, and limitation":"Credit Counseling/Debt Management Services section: bond-on-file requirement and telephone verification. Live agency page accessed October 25, 2026. No online roster or form shown. \nNorth Dakota Attorney General"},"coordinator_verification_status":"scoped_review_complete_with_retained_limits","coordinator_review":"[internal evidence reference]"},{"source_id":"S_ND-P1-S006","urls":["https://ndlegis.gov/prod/agency-rules/north-dakota-administrative-code/"],"researcher_record":{"Source ID":"S_ND-P1-S006","Title, issuer, and direct literal URL":"North Dakota Administrative Code index, Legislative Council. https://ndlegis.gov/prod/agency-rules/north-dakota-administrative-code/","Exact pinpoint, status, access, and limitation":"Introductory currentness statement and DFI Title 13, Articles 13-01.1 through 13-08. Accessed October 25, 2026. Negative finding is limited to the codified index; it does not exclude uncodified orders or interpretations. \nNorth Dakota Legislative Branch\n+1"},"coordinator_verification_status":"scoped_review_complete_with_retained_limits","coordinator_review":"[internal evidence reference]"},{"source_id":"S_ND-P1-S007","urls":["https://www.nd.gov/dfi/enforcement-actions"],"researcher_record":{"Source ID":"S_ND-P1-S007","Title, issuer, and direct literal URL":"DFI Enforcement Actions, North Dakota DFI. https://www.nd.gov/dfi/enforcement-actions","Exact pinpoint, status, access, and limitation":"Current operational enforcement page checked October 25, 2026. Supports continued regulator operation only; not a comprehensive license roster and not relied on for a provider-status finding. \nNorth Dakota Government"},"coordinator_verification_status":"scoped_review_complete_with_retained_limits","coordinator_review":"[internal evidence reference]"},{"source_id":"S_ND-P1-S008","urls":["https://mortgage.nationwidelicensingsystem.org/slr/Pages/DynamicLicenses.aspx?StateID=ND","https://www.nd.gov/faq/financial-institutions-faq"],"researcher_record":{"Source ID":"S_ND-P1-S008","Title, issuer, and direct literal URL":"North Dakota NMLS Dynamic Licenses route, NMLS. https://mortgage.nationwidelicensingsystem.org/slr/Pages/DynamicLicenses.aspx?StateID=ND","Exact pinpoint, status, access, and limitation":"Officially linked by DFI as application/checklist route. The dynamic body was not readable in this tool. Used only as an operational locator, not substantive legal authority. \nNorth Dakota Government"},"coordinator_verification_status":"scoped_review_complete_with_retained_limits","coordinator_review":"[internal evidence reference]"},{"source_id":"S_ND-P1-S009","urls":["https://mortgage.nationwidelicensingsystem.org/knowledge/Products/nmls/stateresourcecenter/SitePages/Checklist-Compiler.aspx"],"researcher_record":{"Source ID":"S_ND-P1-S009","Title, issuer, and direct literal URL":"NMLS Checklist Compiler, NMLS. https://mortgage.nationwidelicensingsystem.org/knowledge/Products/nmls/stateresourcecenter/SitePages/Checklist-Compiler.aspx","Exact pinpoint, status, access, and limitation":"Page resolved but returned no readable checklist body. Accessed October 25, 2026. Exact current ND checklist contents remain held. \nNationwide Licensing System"},"coordinator_verification_status":"scoped_review_complete_with_retained_limits","coordinator_review":"[internal evidence reference]"},{"source_id":"S_ND-P1-S010","urls":["https://mortgage.nationwidelicensingsystem.org/knowledge/Products/consumeraccess/SitePages/Home.aspx"],"researcher_record":{"Source ID":"S_ND-P1-S010","Title, issuer, and direct literal URL":"NMLS Consumer Access information page, NMLS. https://mortgage.nationwidelicensingsystem.org/knowledge/Products/consumeraccess/SitePages/Home.aspx","Exact pinpoint, status, access, and limitation":"Page resolved with no readable body in the tool. DFI independently identifies Consumer Access as the public lookup route. \nNationwide Licensing System\n+1"},"coordinator_verification_status":"scoped_review_complete_with_retained_limits","coordinator_review":"[internal evidence reference]"},{"source_id":"S_ND-P1-S011","urls":["https://www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org/"],"researcher_record":{"Source ID":"S_ND-P1-S011","Title, issuer, and direct literal URL":"NMLS Consumer Access direct portal, NMLS. https://www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org/","Exact pinpoint, status, access, and limitation":"Direct open failed in the research tool. No named entity or NMLS ID was queried. Failure is an access limitation, not evidence of no license. (Invalid URL)"},"coordinator_verification_status":"scoped_review_complete_with_retained_limits","coordinator_review":"[internal evidence reference]"},{"source_id":"S_ND-P1-S012","urls":["https://ndlegis.gov/assembly/63-2013/regular/documents/13-8203-03000.pdf"],"researcher_record":{"Source ID":"S_ND-P1-S012","Title, issuer, and direct literal URL":"Enrolled SB 2260, 2013, North Dakota Legislative Assembly. https://ndlegis.gov/assembly/63-2013/regular/documents/13-8203-03000.pdf","Exact pinpoint, status, access, and limitation":"§§1–2: “nonprofit corporation” changed to “person” in §§13-07-01 and 13-11-01. Enacted historical source, read October 25, 2026. Exact original effective date not separately recovered. \nNorth Dakota Legislative Branch"},"coordinator_verification_status":"scoped_review_complete_with_retained_limits","coordinator_review":"[internal evidence reference]"},{"source_id":"S_ND-P1-S013","urls":["https://ndlegis.gov/assembly/63-2013/regular/bill-overview/bo2260.html"],"researcher_record":{"Source ID":"S_ND-P1-S013","Title, issuer, and direct literal URL":"SB 2260 bill overview, Legislative Assembly. https://ndlegis.gov/assembly/63-2013/regular/bill-overview/bo2260.html","Exact pinpoint, status, access, and limitation":"Status: passed; governor signed; filed with Secretary of State March 19. Historical status corroboration. \nNorth Dakota Legislative Branch"},"coordinator_verification_status":"scoped_review_complete_with_retained_limits","coordinator_review":"[internal evidence reference]"},{"source_id":"S_ND-P1-S014","urls":["https://ndlegis.gov/prod/assembly/62-2011/regular/documents/11-0225-05000.pdf"],"researcher_record":{"Source ID":"S_ND-P1-S014","Title, issuer, and direct literal URL":"Enrolled HB 1038, 2011, North Dakota Legislative Assembly. https://ndlegis.gov/prod/assembly/62-2011/regular/documents/11-0225-05000.pdf","Exact pinpoint, status, access, and limitation":"§§2–3 and title: created Chapter 13-11, amended former nonprofit-only §13-07-01, repealed Chapter 13-06. Historical lineage only. \nNorth Dakota Legislative Branch"},"coordinator_verification_status":"scoped_review_complete_with_retained_limits","coordinator_review":"[internal evidence reference]"},{"source_id":"S_ND-P1-S015","urls":["https://ndlegis.gov/assembly/69-2025/regular/documents/25-8110-04000.pdf"],"researcher_record":{"Source ID":"S_ND-P1-S015","Title, issuer, and direct literal URL":"Enrolled HB 1127, 2025, North Dakota Legislative Assembly. https://ndlegis.gov/assembly/69-2025/regular/documents/25-8110-04000.pdf","Exact pinpoint, status, access, and limitation":"§14, PDF p. 17: amendment to §13-11-10 notice wording only. No fee or definition amendment. \nNorth Dakota Legislative Branch"},"coordinator_verification_status":"scoped_review_complete_with_retained_limits","coordinator_review":"[internal evidence reference]"},{"source_id":"S_ND-P1-S016","urls":["https://ndlegis.gov/sites/default/files/resource/69-2025/effective-dates-legislation/25.9565.03000.pdf"],"researcher_record":{"Source ID":"S_ND-P1-S016","Title, issuer, and direct literal URL":"Effective Dates of 2025 Legislation, North Dakota Legislative Council. https://ndlegis.gov/sites/default/files/resource/69-2025/effective-dates-legislation/25.9565.03000.pdf","Exact pinpoint, status, access, and limitation":"HB 1127 entry: August 1, 2025. Document itself dated October 2026. \nNorth Dakota Legislative Branch"},"coordinator_verification_status":"scoped_review_complete_with_retained_limits","coordinator_review":"[internal evidence reference]"},{"source_id":"S_ND-P1-S017","urls":["https://ndlegis.gov/assembly/69-2025/special-2/session-laws/sl2026ss2.pdf"],"researcher_record":{"Source ID":"S_ND-P1-S017","Title, issuer, and direct literal URL":"2026 Second Special Session Laws, North Dakota. https://ndlegis.gov/assembly/69-2025/special-2/session-laws/sl2026ss2.pdf","Exact pinpoint, status, access, and limitation":"Authentication and table of contents, pp. iii–v: only Chapters 660–661, unrelated to Title 13. Accessed October 25, 2026. Does not constitute a proposed-bill sweep. \nNorth Dakota Legislative Branch"},"coordinator_verification_status":"scoped_review_complete_with_retained_limits","coordinator_review":"[internal evidence reference]"},{"source_id":"S_ND-P1-S018","urls":["https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-16/chapter-I/subchapter-C/part-310/section-310.4"],"researcher_record":{"Source ID":"S_ND-P1-S018","Title, issuer, and direct literal URL":"16 C.F.R. §310.4, eCFR/OFR. https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-16/chapter-I/subchapter-C/part-310/section-310.4","Exact pinpoint, status, access, and limitation":"§310.4(a)(2), (a)(5)(i)–(ii). eCFR displayed Title 16 current through October 22, 2026 and last amended October 19, 2026. Authoritative but unofficial eCFR. Accessed October 25. \neCFR"},"coordinator_verification_status":"scoped_review_complete_with_retained_limits","coordinator_review":"[internal evidence reference]"},{"source_id":"S_ND-P1-S019","urls":["https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-16/chapter-I/subchapter-C/part-310/section-310.2"],"researcher_record":{"Source ID":"S_ND-P1-S019","Title, issuer, and direct literal URL":"16 C.F.R. §310.2, eCFR/OFR. https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-16/chapter-I/subchapter-C/part-310/section-310.2","Exact pinpoint, status, access, and limitation":"§310.2(o), (hh), and (ii): debt-relief service, telemarketer, telemarketing. Same currentness limitations as S018. \neCFR"},"coordinator_verification_status":"scoped_review_complete_with_retained_limits","coordinator_review":"[internal evidence reference]"},{"source_id":"S_ND-P1-S020","urls":["https://law.justia.com/cases/north-dakota/supreme-court/2000/990212.html"],"researcher_record":{"Source ID":"S_ND-P1-S020","Title, issuer, and direct literal URL":"State ex rel. Heitkamp v. Family Life Services, Inc., 2000 ND 166, 616 N.W.2d 826, reproduced by Justia. https://law.justia.com/cases/north-dakota/supreme-court/2000/990212.html","Exact pinpoint, status, access, and limitation":"¶¶1, 5, 22: identity/status, AG authority, and 45-day disbursement application. Controlling ND Supreme Court decision, but read through a secondary reproduction. Historical nonprofit context limits modern classification use. \nJustia Law\n+2"},"coordinator_verification_status":"scoped_review_complete_with_retained_limits","coordinator_review":"[internal evidence reference]"},{"source_id":"S_ND-P1-S021","urls":["https://www.ndcourts.gov/court/opinions/990212.htm"],"researcher_record":{"Source ID":"S_ND-P1-S021","Title, issuer, and direct literal URL":"Attempted official ND Courts opinion route. https://www.ndcourts.gov/court/opinions/990212.htm","Exact pinpoint, status, access, and limitation":"Official archival route was not retrievable through the research tool. Next action is recovery from the current ND Courts archive or official reporter. No proposition depends solely on the failed route."},"coordinator_verification_status":"scoped_review_complete_with_retained_limits","coordinator_review":"[internal evidence reference]"}],"coverage":[{"topic":"Current Title 13 architecture","researcher_record":{"Topic within or adjacent to this pass":"Current Title 13 architecture","Status":"Answered","Claim IDs":"C001","Exact unresolved evidence or next investigation":"None for this component."},"coordinator_acceptance":"scoped_review_complete_with_retained_limits","coordinator_review":"[internal evidence reference]"},{"topic":"Principal-reduction classification","researcher_record":{"Topic within or adjacent to this pass":"Principal-reduction classification","Status":"Answered","Claim IDs":"C002","Exact unresolved evidence or next investigation":"Mixed secured/unsecured products remain later scope."},"coordinator_acceptance":"scoped_review_complete_with_retained_limits","coordinator_review":"[internal evidence reference]"},{"topic":"DMP/installment/concession classification","researcher_record":{"Topic within or adjacent to this pass":"DMP/installment/concession classification","Status":"Answered","Claim IDs":"C004","Exact unresolved evidence or next investigation":"Mixed principal-reduction plans need authoritative interpretation."},"coordinator_acceptance":"scoped_review_complete_with_retained_limits","coordinator_review":"[internal evidence reference]"},{"topic":"Custodial versus noncustodial Chapter 13-11","researcher_record":{"Topic within or adjacent to this pass":"Custodial versus noncustodial Chapter 13-11","Status":"Answered","Claim IDs":"C003","Exact unresolved evidence or next investigation":"Detailed third-party-account contracts remain later funds pass."},"coordinator_acceptance":"scoped_review_complete_with_retained_limits","coordinator_review":"[internal evidence reference]"},{"topic":"Noncustodial Chapter 13-07","researcher_record":{"Topic within or adjacent to this pass":"Noncustodial Chapter 13-07","Status":"Partial","Claim IDs":"C004, C027","Exact unresolved evidence or next investigation":"Need AG/court interpretation of fees where no funds are received for distribution."},"coordinator_acceptance":"scoped_review_complete_with_retained_limits","coordinator_review":"[internal evidence reference]"},{"topic":"Resident and remote-provider nexus","researcher_record":{"Topic within or adjacent to this pass":"Resident and remote-provider nexus","Status":"Answered","Claim IDs":"C006","Exact unresolved evidence or next investigation":"Entity “residence” remains unresolved."},"coordinator_acceptance":"scoped_review_complete_with_retained_limits","coordinator_review":"[internal evidence reference]"},{"topic":"Natural-person business-purpose debt","researcher_record":{"Topic within or adjacent to this pass":"Natural-person business-purpose debt","Status":"Partial","Claim IDs":"C007","Exact unresolved evidence or next investigation":"Search DFI orders, AG interpretations, and cases addressing commercial-purpose obligations."},"coordinator_acceptance":"scoped_review_complete_with_retained_limits","coordinator_review":"[internal evidence reference]"},{"topic":"Entity debtor coverage","researcher_record":{"Topic within or adjacent to this pass":"Entity debtor coverage","Status":"Unresolved","Claim IDs":"C007","Exact unresolved evidence or next investigation":"Reconcile “consumer/person” with “individual” and “resides”; seek controlling authority."},"coordinator_acceptance":"scoped_review_complete_with_retained_limits","coordinator_review":"[internal evidence reference]"},{"topic":"Chapter 13-11 license requirement","researcher_record":{"Topic within or adjacent to this pass":"Chapter 13-11 license requirement","Status":"Answered","Claim IDs":"C010","Exact unresolved evidence or next investigation":"Provider-specific approval still requires an actual entity/NMLS search."},"coordinator_acceptance":"scoped_review_complete_with_retained_limits","coordinator_review":"[internal evidence reference]"},{"topic":"Chapter 13-07 bond-filed pathway","researcher_record":{"Topic within or adjacent to this pass":"Chapter 13-07 bond-filed pathway","Status":"Answered in law; procedure partial","Claim IDs":"C014","Exact unresolved evidence or next investigation":"Recover current AG bond form, filing instructions, acceptance standards, and public roster if one exists."},"coordinator_acceptance":"scoped_review_complete_with_retained_limits","coordinator_review":"[internal evidence reference]"},{"topic":"Attorney/professional/institutional exclusions","researcher_record":{"Topic within or adjacent to this pass":"Attorney/professional/institutional exclusions","Status":"Answered for Chapter 13-11","Claim IDs":"C011–C012","Exact unresolved evidence or next investigation":"Chapter 13-07 other-law exclusions remain open."},"coordinator_acceptance":"scoped_review_complete_with_retained_limits","coordinator_review":"[internal evidence reference]"},{"topic":"Nonprofit requirement/exemption","researcher_record":{"Topic within or adjacent to this pass":"Nonprofit requirement/exemption","Status":"Answered","Claim IDs":"C013","Exact unresolved evidence or next investigation":"Original 2013 effective-date pinpoint remains historical follow-up only."},"coordinator_acceptance":"scoped_review_complete_with_retained_limits","coordinator_review":"[internal evidence reference]"},{"topic":"Self-creditor conduct","researcher_record":{"Topic within or adjacent to this pass":"Self-creditor conduct","Status":"Partial","Claim IDs":"C011","Exact unresolved evidence or next investigation":"Need controlling interpretation for a creditor or affiliate charging a separate consumer fee."},"coordinator_acceptance":"scoped_review_complete_with_retained_limits","coordinator_review":"[internal evidence reference]"},{"topic":"Chapter 13-11 consumer fee types and ceiling","researcher_record":{"Topic within or adjacent to this pass":"Chapter 13-11 consumer fee types and ceiling","Status":"Answered","Claim IDs":"C020–C021","Exact unresolved evidence or next investigation":"No adjustment mechanism found."},"coordinator_acceptance":"scoped_review_complete_with_retained_limits","coordinator_review":"[internal evidence reference]"},{"topic":"Chapter 13-11 state timing","researcher_record":{"Topic within or adjacent to this pass":"Chapter 13-11 state timing","Status":"Answered except installments","Claim IDs":"C022–C024","Exact unresolved evidence or next investigation":"Recover DFI order, interpretive letter, or case applying “those funds are provided” to payment plans."},"coordinator_acceptance":"scoped_review_complete_with_retained_limits","coordinator_review":"[internal evidence reference]"},{"topic":"Chapter 13-11 cancellation/refund","researcher_record":{"Topic within or adjacent to this pass":"Chapter 13-11 cancellation/refund","Status":"Answered with drafting ambiguity","Claim IDs":"C025","Exact unresolved evidence or next investigation":"Seek authority explaining “application fee” despite §13-11-21 prohibition."},"coordinator_acceptance":"scoped_review_complete_with_retained_limits","coordinator_review":"[internal evidence reference]"},{"topic":"Chapter 13-07 consumer fee limits","researcher_record":{"Topic within or adjacent to this pass":"Chapter 13-07 consumer fee limits","Status":"Partial","Claim IDs":"C027–C028","Exact unresolved evidence or next investigation":"Resolve initial gross/net base and any permissible non-deposit residual fee collection."},"coordinator_acceptance":"scoped_review_complete_with_retained_limits","coordinator_review":"[internal evidence reference]"},{"topic":"Chapter 13-07 cancellation/refunds","researcher_record":{"Topic within or adjacent to this pass":"Chapter 13-07 cancellation/refunds","Status":"Unresolved","Claim IDs":"C029","Exact unresolved evidence or next investigation":"Read contract, trust, restitution, AG enforcement, and case-law authorities in later pass."},"coordinator_acceptance":"scoped_review_complete_with_retained_limits","coordinator_review":"[internal evidence reference]"},{"topic":"Provider government charges","researcher_record":{"Topic within or adjacent to this pass":"Provider government charges","Status":"Answered/partial","Claim IDs":"C017–C018","Exact unresolved evidence or next investigation":"Exact NMLS charges, current examination hourly rate, and any applicant-specific higher bond held."},"coordinator_acceptance":"scoped_review_complete_with_retained_limits","coordinator_review":"[internal evidence reference]"},{"topic":"Current rule/indexing check","researcher_record":{"Topic within or adjacent to this pass":"Current rule/indexing check","Status":"Partial negative finding","Claim IDs":"C019, C030","Exact unresolved evidence or next investigation":"Search rulemaking notices, administrative orders, guidance memoranda, and historical supplements."},"coordinator_acceptance":"scoped_review_complete_with_retained_limits","coordinator_review":"[internal evidence reference]"},{"topic":"Federal TSR timing/allocation","researcher_record":{"Topic within or adjacent to this pass":"Federal TSR timing/allocation","Status":"Answered as conditional common context","Claim IDs":"C031–C033","Exact unresolved evidence or next investigation":"Full exemptions and entity-specific telemarketing facts remain outside this pass."},"coordinator_acceptance":"scoped_review_complete_with_retained_limits","coordinator_review":"[internal evidence reference]"},{"topic":"Federal dedicated-account interaction","researcher_record":{"Topic within or adjacent to this pass":"Federal dedicated-account interaction","Status":"Answered conditionally","Claim IDs":"C033","Exact unresolved evidence or next investigation":"Review actual account administrator, ownership, referral, and withdrawal contracts."},"coordinator_acceptance":"scoped_review_complete_with_retained_limits","coordinator_review":"[internal evidence reference]"},{"topic":"Credit repair/CROA overlap","researcher_record":{"Topic within or adjacent to this pass":"Credit repair/CROA overlap","Status":"Conditional/unresolved","Claim IDs":"C034","Exact unresolved evidence or next investigation":"Requires actual marketing claims, services, and transaction structure."},"coordinator_acceptance":"scoped_review_complete_with_retained_limits","coordinator_review":"[internal evidence reference]"},{"topic":"Public Chapter 13-11 lookup route","researcher_record":{"Topic within or adjacent to this pass":"Public Chapter 13-11 lookup route","Status":"Answered","Claim IDs":"C016, C037","Exact unresolved evidence or next investigation":"Dynamic portal body was inaccessible; perform named query only when legal name/NMLS ID is provided."},"coordinator_acceptance":"scoped_review_complete_with_retained_limits","coordinator_review":"[internal evidence reference]"},{"topic":"Named-provider authorization","researcher_record":{"Topic within or adjacent to this pass":"Named-provider authorization","Status":"Not established","Claim IDs":"C037","Exact unresolved evidence or next investigation":"No provider name or NMLS ID supplied; no status inference from marketing or domain."},"coordinator_acceptance":"scoped_review_complete_with_retained_limits","coordinator_review":"[internal evidence reference]"},{"topic":"Chapter 13-07 public lookup","researcher_record":{"Topic within or adjacent to this pass":"Chapter 13-07 public lookup","Status":"Partial","Claim IDs":"C014","Exact unresolved evidence or next investigation":"Current AG page supplies phone verification only; no contact permitted."},"coordinator_acceptance":"scoped_review_complete_with_retained_limits","coordinator_review":"[internal evidence reference]"},{"topic":"Controlling case law","researcher_record":{"Topic within or adjacent to this pass":"Controlling case law","Status":"Partial","Claim IDs":"C036","Exact unresolved evidence or next investigation":"Recover official Heitkamp copy and run complete Chapter 13-11/13-07 case and administrative-order search."},"coordinator_acceptance":"scoped_review_complete_with_retained_limits","coordinator_review":"[internal evidence reference]"},{"topic":"Enacted-law currentness","researcher_record":{"Topic within or adjacent to this pass":"Enacted-law currentness","Status":"Answered to reviewed enactments","Claim IDs":"C035","Exact unresolved evidence or next investigation":"Complete 2027 proposed/prefiled/future-effective sweep."},"coordinator_acceptance":"scoped_review_complete_with_retained_limits","coordinator_review":"[internal evidence reference]"},{"topic":"Agreement contents beyond needed fee points","researcher_record":{"Topic within or adjacent to this pass":"Agreement contents beyond needed fee points","Status":"Open later pass","Claim IDs":"—","Exact unresolved evidence or next investigation":"Full contract provisions, POA, disclosures, suitability, language, and termination review."},"coordinator_acceptance":"scoped_review_complete_with_retained_limits","coordinator_review":"[internal evidence reference]"},{"topic":"Funds, trust, account ownership, and reconciliation","researcher_record":{"Topic within or adjacent to this pass":"Funds, trust, account ownership, and reconciliation","Status":"Open later pass","Claim IDs":"—","Exact unresolved evidence or next investigation":"Full Chapter 13-07/13-11 trust architecture, banking, dedicated-account contracts, and refunds."},"coordinator_acceptance":"scoped_review_complete_with_retained_limits","coordinator_review":"[internal evidence reference]"},{"topic":"Bonds and claims against bonds","researcher_record":{"Topic within or adjacent to this pass":"Bonds and claims against bonds","Status":"Open later pass","Claim IDs":"—","Exact unresolved evidence or next investigation":"Form, surety qualification, claim procedure, cancellation, continuation, and applicant-specific amounts."},"coordinator_acceptance":"scoped_review_complete_with_retained_limits","coordinator_review":"[internal evidence reference]"},{"topic":"Remedies, private actions, penalties, and limitations","researcher_record":{"Topic within or adjacent to this pass":"Remedies, private actions, penalties, and limitations","Status":"Open later pass","Claim IDs":"—","Exact unresolved evidence or next investigation":"Full §§13-11-26–29, Chapter 51-15, Chapter 13-07 remedies, limitations, and defenses."},"coordinator_acceptance":"scoped_review_complete_with_retained_limits","coordinator_review":"[internal evidence reference]"},{"topic":"Collection/litigation and collector licensing","researcher_record":{"Topic within or adjacent to this pass":"Collection/litigation and collector licensing","Status":"Open later pass","Claim IDs":"—","Exact unresolved evidence or next investigation":"Chapter 13-05, FDCPA, litigation conduct, settlement communications, and creditor remedies."},"coordinator_acceptance":"scoped_review_complete_with_retained_limits","coordinator_review":"[internal evidence reference]"},{"topic":"Secured debt and sector-specific obligations","researcher_record":{"Topic within or adjacent to this pass":"Secured debt and sector-specific obligations","Status":"Open later pass","Claim IDs":"—","Exact unresolved evidence or next investigation":"Mortgages, auto, medical, tax, student, farm, utility, and other sectors."},"coordinator_acceptance":"scoped_review_complete_with_retained_limits","coordinator_review":"[internal evidence reference]"},{"topic":"Local, tribal, and jurisdictional overlays","researcher_record":{"Topic within or adjacent to this pass":"Local, tribal, and jurisdictional overlays","Status":"Open later pass","Claim IDs":"—","Exact unresolved evidence or next investigation":"Tribal law, reservation nexus, local rules, choice of law, and federal preemption."},"coordinator_acceptance":"scoped_review_complete_with_retained_limits","coordinator_review":"[internal evidence reference]"},{"topic":"Provider contracts, actual operations, and actual authorization","researcher_record":{"Topic within or adjacent to this pass":"Provider contracts, actual operations, and actual authorization","Status":"Open/provider-specific","Claim IDs":"—","Exact unresolved evidence or next investigation":"Requires provider identity and documents; none reviewed here."},"coordinator_acceptance":"scoped_review_complete_with_retained_limits","coordinator_review":"[internal evidence reference]"}],"annotations":{"at":"2026-10-27T18:56:25.883286+00:00","review":"[internal evidence reference]","disposition":"accepted_with_explicit_limits","raw_originals_unchanged":true,"material_correction_required":false,"remaining_four_interpretation_holds":true,"September2026_source_fresh_unverified":true,"January2026_session_unreviewed":true,"official_opinion_host_unrecovered":true,"no_coordinator_PDF_pixels":true,"no_component_acceptance":true},"corrections":[],"resolved_corrections":[],"review_history":[{"id":"S_ND-P01-four-interpretation-and-currentness-holds-20261027","status":"scoped_review_accepted_with_explicit_limits","at":"2026-10-27T18:56:25.883286+00:00"}]}