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Iowa Code (Last Updated: December 05, 2016) |
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Title XIII. COMMERCE |
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Chapter 523C. RESIDENTIAL SERVICE CONTRACTS |
Section 523C.5. Required bond, cash deposit, or custodial account.
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1. a. To assure the faithful performance of obligations under residential service contracts issued and outstanding in this state, a service company shall, prior to the issuance or renewal of a license, file with the commissioner a surety bond in the amount of one hundred thousand dollars, which has been issued by an authorized surety company and approved by the commissioner as to issuer, form, and contents or establish a custodial account in the amount of one hundred thousand dollars at an authorized depository. The bond or custodial account shall not be canceled or be subject to cancellation unless thirty days’ advance notice in writing is filed with the commissioner. Notwithstanding chapter 17A, if a bond or custodial account is canceled for any reason and a new bond or notice that a new custodial account has been established in the required amount is not received by the commissioner on or before the effective date of cancellation, the license of the service company is automatically revoked as of the date the bond or custodial account ceases to be in effect. A service company whose license is revoked under this section may file an application for a new license pursuant to section 523C.3.
b. The bond or custodial account posted by a service company pursuant to this section shall be for the benefit of, and subject to recovery thereon by any residential service contract holder sustaining actionable injury due to the failure of the service company to faithfully perform its obligations under a residential service contract because of insolvency of the service company.
c. If a service company ceases to do business in this state and furnishes to the commissioner satisfactory proof that it has discharged all obligations to contract holders, the surety bond or custodial account shall be released.
d. The commissioner may by rule designate institutions authorized to act as a depository under this section and establish requirements for custodians, custodial agreements, custodial accounts, or the method of valuing noncash assets held in a custodial account which the commissioner believes necessary to protect the holders of residential service contracts issued and outstanding in this state.
2. In lieu of the bond or custodial account required by this section, the service company may deposit with the treasurer of state a cash deposit in the same amount. The treasurer of state shall not refund a deposit until sixty days after the service company has ceased doing business in this state, a bond has been filed with the commissioner which complies with this section, or a custodial account is established which complies with this section.