To repeal section 408.300, RSMo 1994, relating to time charges on retail time contracts, and to enact one new section relating to the same subject.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF MISSOURI,

AS FOLLOWS:

Section A. Section 408.300, RSMo 1994, is repealed and one new section enacted in lieu thereof, to be known as section 408.300, to read as follows:

408.300. 1. Notwithstanding the provisions of any other law, the seller or other holder under a retail time contract may charge, receive and collect a time charge, which shall be in lieu of any interest charges, except such as may arise under the terms of sections 408.250 to 408.370 after maturity of the time contract and which charge shall not exceed the [following:

(1) On so much of the principal balance as does not exceed seven hundred fifty dollars, fifteen dollars per one hundred dollars per year;

(2) On so much of the principal balance as exceeds seven hundred fifty dollars but is less than one thousand dollars, twelve dollars per one hundred dollars per year on that portion over seven hundred fifty dollars;

(3) If the principal balance exceeds one thousand dollars, but is less than seven thousand five hundred dollars, ten dollars per one hundred dollars per year on that portion over one thousand dollars;

(4) If the principal balance is seven thousand five hundred dollars or more, the charge on that portion which exceeds seven thousand five hundred dollars shall be an] amount agreed to by the parties to the retail time contract. The time charge under this subsection shall be computed on the principal balance of each transaction, as determined under subsection 5 of section 408.260, on contracts payable in successive monthly payments substantially equal in amount from the date of the contract to the maturity of the final payment, notwithstanding that the total time balance thereof is required to be paid in one or more deferred payments, or if goods are delivered or services performed more than ten days after that date, with the date of commencement of delivery of goods or performance of services to the maturity of the final payment. When a retail time contract provides for payment other than in substantially equal successive monthly payments, the time charge shall not exceed the amount which will provide the same return as is permitted on substantially equal monthly payment contracts. Each day may be counted as one-thirtieth of a month. In lieu of any other charge, a minimum time charge of twelve dollars may be charged, received, and collected on each such contract.

2. Notwithstanding the provisions of any other law, the seller and assignee under a retail charge agreement may charge, receive and collect a time charge which shall not exceed [sixteen and seven-tenths cents per ten dollars per month on the unpaid balance] the amount agreed to by the parties to the retail charge agreement. The time charge under this subsection shall be computed on an amount not exceeding the greater of either:

(1) The average daily balance of the account in the billing cycle for which the charge is made, which is the sum of the amount unpaid each day during that cycle divided by the number of days in that cycle; amount unpaid on a day is determined by adding to any balance unpaid as of the beginning of that day all purchases and other debits and deducting all payments and other credits made or received as of that day; or

(2) The unpaid balance of the account on the last day of the billing cycle after first deducting all payments, credits and refunds during the billing cycle; or for all unpaid balances within a range of not in excess of ten dollars on the basis of the median amount within such range, if as so computed such time charge is applied to all unpaid balances within such range. A minimum time charge not in excess of seventy cents per month may be charged, received and collected.

3. The time charge shall include all charges incident to investigating and making any retail time transaction. No fee, expense, delinquency charge, collection charge, or other charge whatsoever, shall be charged, received, or collected except as provided in sections 408.250 to 408.370.