(a) Except as otherwise provided in this title, a seller shall deliver a copy of a consumer contract to the consumer at the time it is signed by the consumer if the consumer contract is signed at a place of business of the seller. If the consumer contract is not signed by the consumer at a place of business of the seller, and the seller has not provided a copy of the consumer contract for the consumer which the consumer is instructed to keep, the seller shall mail or deliver a copy of it to the consumer within 10 calendar days after the seller receives the signed consumer contract. In any case, the copy of the contract provided to the consumer shall not contain any blank spaces to be completed after the consumer signs the contract, shall contain the signature of the seller if it provides for that signature, and may also contain the signature of the consumer.

(b) A seller that is a financial institution need not deliver to the consumer, pursuant to subdivision (a), any writing which the consumer contract incorporates by reference if either of the following conditions apply:

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Terms Used In California Civil Code 1799.202

(1) The writing was previously delivered or mailed to the consumer.

(2) The writing was not prepared by the seller.

(c) If the consumer contract (1) is wholly or partly contained on a card or other writing which is used to identify the consumer in connection with a deposit account, safe deposit box, safekeeping agreement, or other service offered by a financial institution, and (2) contains information particular to the consumer’s account, box, or other arrangement that, if known by a third party, could be used by the third party to cause loss to the consumer or financial institution, the copy of the contract furnished to the consumer need not contain the consumer’s signature or any of the identifying information particular to the consumer’s account, box, or other arrangement.

For purposes of this subdivision, a document which includes the same terms as those contained in the consumer contract shall be deemed a copy.

(d) Within a reasonable time after receipt of a written request from a consumer, a seller or financial institution shall mail a copy of the consumer’s completed consumer credit application, which may, but need not, contain any information completed or added by the seller or financial institution, to the consumer at the address indicated on the request. By making a written request, the consumer shall conclusively be deemed to have waived any action against the seller or financial institution, as well as its employees or agents, on any theory, at law or in equity, arising directly or indirectly out of the mailing or other delivery of the copy, including any information added to the application by the seller or financial institution and included in the copy. The seller or financial institution may specify the address to which such a request may be sent, may charge the consumer a reasonable copying fee, and shall not be obligated to provide the copy until the fee is paid.

(Amended by Stats. 1992, Ch. 879, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 1993.)