(815 ILCS 605/3) (from Ch. 121 1/2, par. 2103)

Sec. 3. As used in this Act:

(a) "Buyer" means an individual who is solicited to purchase or who purchases the services of a credit services organization.

(b) "Consumer reporting agency" has the meaning assigned by Section 603(f), Fair Credit Reporting Act (15 U.S.C. Section 1681a(f)).

(c) "Extension of Credit" means the right to defer payment of a debt or to incur a debt and defer its payment offered or granted primarily for personal, family, or household purposes.

(d) "Credit Services Organization" means a person who, with respect to the extension of credit by others and in return for the payment of money or other valuable consideration, provides, or represents that the person can or will provide, any of the following services:

(i) improving a buyer's credit record, history, or rating;

(ii) obtaining an extension of credit for a buyer; or

(iii) providing advice or assistance to a buyer with regard to either subsection (i) or (ii).

"Credit Services Organization" does not include any of the following:

(i) a person authorized to make loans or extensions of credit under the laws of this State or the United States who is subject to regulation and supervision by this State or the United States, or a lender approved by the United States Secretary of Housing and Urban Development for participation in a mortgage insurance program under the National Housing Act (12 U.S.C. Section 1701 et seq.);

(ii) a bank or savings and loan association whose deposits or accounts are eligible for insurance by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or the Federal Savings and Loan Insurance Corporation, or a subsidiary of such a bank or savings and loan association;

(iii) a credit union doing business in this State;

(iv) a nonprofit organization exempt from taxation under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, provided that such organization does not charge or receive any money or other valuable consideration prior to or upon the execution of a contract or other agreement between the buyer and the nonprofit organization;

(v) a person licensed as a real estate broker by this state if the person is acting within the course and scope of that license;

(vi) a person licensed to practice law in this State acting within the course and scope of the person's practice as an attorney;

(vii) a broker-dealer registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission or the Commodity Futures Trading Commission acting within the course and scope of that regulation;

(viii) a consumer reporting agency; and

(ix) a residential mortgage loan broker or banker who is duly licensed under the Illinois Residential Mortgage License Act of 1987.

(e) "Person" means an individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture or any business entity.

(Source: P.A. 88-120.)