For the purpose of discovering violations of this Act or securing information lawfully required by it, the Director may at any time investigate the loans and business and examine the books, accounts, records, and files used therein, of every licensee and of every person, partnership, association, limited liability company, and corporation engaged in the business described in Section 1 of this Act, whether such person, partnership, association, limited liability company, or corporation shall act or claim to act as principal or agent or within or without the authority of this Act. For such purpose the Director shall have free access to the offices and places of business, books, accounts, papers, records, files, safes, and vaults of such persons, partnerships, associations, limited liability companies, and corporations. The Director may require the attendance of and examine under oath all persons whose testimony he or she may require relative to such loans or such business, and in such cases the Director shall have power to administer oaths to all persons called as witnesses; and the Director may conduct such examinations.
     The Director shall make an examination of the affairs, business, office and records of each licensee at least once each year. The Director shall by rule and regulation set the fee to be charged for each examination day, including travel expenses for out-of-state licensed locations. The fee shall reasonably reflect actual costs. The Director shall also have authority to examine the books and records of any business made by a former licensee which is being liquidated, as the Director deems necessary, and may charge the examination fees otherwise required for licensees.