(815 ILCS 655/2) (from Ch. 121 1/2, par. 1802)

Sec. 2. Form.

(a) A rental-purchase agreement must be written in plain English and clearly and simply in any other language used by the merchant in any oral or written advertisement related to the rental-purchase agreement. Numerical amounts must be stated in figures.

(b) Disclosures required by this Act must be printed or typed in each rental-purchase agreement in a size equal to at least 10 point bold-faced type.

(c) A rental-purchase agreement may not contain a provision:

(1) requiring a confession of judgment;

(2) authorizing a merchant or an agent of the merchant to commit a breach of the peace in the repossession of merchandise;

(3) waiving a defense, counterclaim or right the consumer may have against the merchant or an agent of the merchant;

(4) requiring the purchase of insurance from the merchant to cover the merchandise;

(5) requiring the payment of a late charge or reinstatement fee unless a periodic payment is delinquent for 3 days and the charge or fee is in an amount not more than $5; or

(6) requiring a payment at the end of the scheduled rental-purchase term in excess of or in addition to a regular periodic payment in order to acquire ownership of the merchandise. In no event shall the consumer be required to pay a sum greater than the total amount to be paid to acquire ownership, as disclosed in item (3) of subsection (g) of this Section.

(d) Only one late charge or reinstatement fee may be collected on a payment regardless of the period during which it remains in default.

(e) A rental-purchase agreement must provide that:

(1) a charge in addition to periodic payments, if any, must be reasonably related to the service performed; and

(2) a consumer who fails to make a timely payment may reinstate an agreement, without losing rights or options previously acquired, by taking the required action before the later of one week or half of the number of days in a regular payment period after the due date of the payment.

(f) Notice of the right to reinstate an agreement must be disclosed in the agreement. This Act does not prevent a merchant from attempting repossession of merchandise during the reinstatement period, in accordance with the agreement, and the consumer's right to reinstate an agreement does not expire because of such a repossession. If the merchandise is returned to the merchant during the applicable reinstatement period, other than through judicial process, the right to reinstate the agreement shall be extended for a period of not less than 30 days if the consumer has paid less than 60% of the total amount to be paid to acquire ownership of the merchandise and shall be extended for a period of not less than 60 days if the consumer has paid 60% or more of the total amount to be paid to acquire ownership of the merchandise. On reinstatement, the merchant shall provide the consumer with the same merchandise or substitute merchandise of comparable quality and condition. If substitute merchandise is provided, the merchant shall also provide the consumer with the disclosures required in subsection (g) of this Section.

(g) A rental-purchase agreement must disclose:

(1) whether the merchandise is new or used;

(2) the amount and timing of payments;

(3) the total number of payments necessary and the total amount to be paid to acquire ownership of the merchandise;

(4) the amount and purpose of any payment, charge or fee in addition to the regular periodic payments;

(5) whether the consumer is liable for loss or damage to the merchandise, and, if so, the maximum amount for which the consumer may be liable;

(6) that the consumer does not acquire ownership rights unless the consumer has complied with the ownership terms of the agreement; and

(7) the cash price of the merchandise, whether the merchandise is new or used.

(Source: P.A. 87-256; 88-644, eff. 9-9-94.)