Application for license; renewal; fee

(a) Application for a license as a buying service or club shall be made on forms prescribed by the Attorney General and shall contain such information and supporting documents as he may require. (b) Licenses shall be issued for a period of one year and shall be renewable within 90 days preceding the expiration thereof. (c) The fee for a license or for the renewal thereof shall be $50.00, payable to the Attorney General for deposit by the Office of the State Treasurer in the general fund of the state. History. Ga. L. 1975, p. 529, § 5; Ga. L. 1982, p. 1073, §§ 2, 4; Ga. L. 1993, p. 1402, § 18; Ga. L. 2010, p. 863, § 2/SB 296; Ga. L. 2015, p. 1088, § 6/SB 148. 10-1-595. Revocation, suspension, and nonrenewal of licenses; grounds; notice and hearing. (a) Licenses issued under this article may be revoked, suspended, or not renewed by the Attorney General for: (1) Any violation of the substantive provisions of this article; (2) A violation of any rule or regulation issued by the Attorney General pursuant to this article; or (3) A violation of any law of this state. (b) Licenses shall be revoked or suspended by the Attorney General only following notice and hearing pursuant to Chapter 13 of Title 50, the “Georgia Administrative Procedure Act.” History. Ga. L. 1975, p. 529, § 6; Ga. L. 1982, p. 1073, §§ 2, 4; Ga. L. 2015, p. 1088, § 6/SB 148. 10-1-596. Approval of Attorney General as to form of contract of membership required; effect of noncompliance. No contract of membership shall be used by any buying service or club unless such contract is first approved by the Attorney General as 414 10-1-596 SELLING/OTHER TRADE PRACTICES 10-1-598 to form. Any contract or agreement used in violation of this Code section shall be null, void, and of no effect. History. Ga. L. 1975, p. 529, § 7; Ga. L. 1982, p. 1073, §§ 2, 4; Ga. L. 2015, p. 1088, § 6/SB 148. 10-1-597. Right to cancel membership; how exercised; entitlement to refund; right not waivable. (a) Any person who has elected to become a member of a club may cancel such membership by giving written notice of cancellation any time before 12:00 Midnight of the third business day following the date on which membership was attained. (b) Notice of cancellation may be given personally or by mail. If given by mail, the notice is effective upon deposit in a mailbox, properly addressed and postage prepaid. Notice of cancellation need not take a particular form and is sufficient if it indicates, by any form of written expression, the intention of the member not to be bound by the contract. (c) Cancellation shall be without liability on the part of the member. The member will be entitled to a total refund, within ten days after notice of cancellation is given, of the entire consideration paid for the contract. (d) Rights of cancellation may not be waived or otherwise surrendered. History. Ga. L. 1975, p. 529, § 8; Ga. L. 2015, p. 1088, § 6/SB 148. 10-1-598. Requirements of contracts of membership; effect of noncompliance. (a) A copy of every contract shall be delivered to the member at the time the contract is signed. (b) Every contract must be in writing, must be signed by the member, must designate the date on which the member signed the contract, and must state, clearly and conspicuously in boldface type of a minimum size of 14 points, the following: 415 10-1-600 “MEMBER’S RIGHT TO CANCEL If you wish to cancel this contract, you may cancel by delivering or mailing a written notice to the club. To prove that you canceled, it is recommended that you send the notice by certified mail or statutory overnight delivery. The notice must say that you do not wish to be bound by the contract and must be delivered or mailed before 12:00 Midnight of the third business day after you sign this contract. The notice must be delivered or mailed to: (insert name and mailing address of club) . If you cancel, the club will return, within ten days of the date on which you give notice of cancellation, a total refund. It is recommended that you mail the notice of cancellation by certified mail or statutory overnight delivery, return receipt requested; check with your post office as to the time when you will be able to mail a certified letter. Be sure to keep a photocopy of the notice of cancellation which you mail.” (c) Every contract which does not contain the notice specified in subsection (b) of this Code section may be canceled by the member at any time, without liability, by giving notice of cancellation by any means. Nothing contained in this Code section shall be construed to require that a member’s cancellation notice be sent by certified mail or statutory overnight delivery in order to effect a cancellation. History. Ga. L. 1975, p. 529, § 9; Ga. L. 1983, p. 3, § 8; Ga. L. 1987, p. 1347, § 1; Ga. L. 2000, p. 1589, § 3; Ga. L. 2015, p. 1088, § 6/SB 148. 10-1-599. Authorized duration of contract of membership; disclosure requirement.