Iowa Code » Chapter 537 — CONSUMER CREDIT CODE
Iowa Code

Iowa Code § 537.1102 (2026)

Purposes — rules of construction

✓ current as of July 2026
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1. This chapter shall be liberally construed and applied to promote its underlying purposes and policies.

2. The underlying purposes and policies of this chapter are to:

a. Simplify, clarify and modernize the law governing retail installment sales and other consumer credit. \n Tue Dec 09 22:02:53 2025 Iowa Code 2026, Chapter 537 (58, 3) §537.1102, CONSUMER CREDIT CODE 4\n\n b. Provide rate ceilings for certain creditors in order to assure an adequate supply of credit to consumers.

c. Further consumer understanding of the terms of credit transactions and foster competition among suppliers of consumer credit so that consumers may obtain credit at reasonable cost.

d. Protect consumers against unfair practices by some suppliers, solicitors or collectors of consumer credit, having due regard for the interests of legitimate and scrupulous creditors.

e. Permit and encourage the development of fair and economically sound consumer credit practices.

f. Conform the regulation of disclosure in consumer credit transactions to the Truth in Lending Act.

g. Make the law, including administrative rules, more uniform among the various jurisdictions.

3. A reference to a requirement imposed by this chapter includes reference to a related rule of the administrator adopted pursuant to this chapter. [C75, 77, 79, 81, §537.1102] \n

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 10 cases (1 in the last 5 years), 1977–2025 · leading case: Chrysler Fin. Co. v. Bergstrom, 703 N.W.2d 415 (Iowa 2005).
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Chrysler Fin. Co. v. Bergstrom, 703 N.W.2d 415 (Iowa 2005). · cites it 8× “But see Iowa Code § 537.1102 (1) ("This chapter shall be liberally construed and applied to promote its underlying purposes and policies.”
Darla Legg & Jason T. Legg, on Behalf of Themselves & All Persons Similarly Situated v. West Bank, 873 N.W.2d 763 (Iowa 2016). · cites it 3× “” Iowa Code § 537.1102 (2)(a), (d) (2009). The ICCC notes that it “shall be liberally construed and applied to promote its underlying purposes and policies.”
Hogue v. Palisades Collection, LLC, 494 F. Supp. 2d 1043 (S.D. Iowa 2007). · cites it 2× “” Iowa Code § 537.1102 (1), (2)(d). Hogue alleges that Defendants’ actions were unconscionable, in violation of the ICCC § 537.”
First Nat'l Bank of Creston v. Creston Implement Co., 340 N.W.2d 777 (Iowa 1983). · cites it 2× “He asserts that adoption by the court of the bank’s position would be contrary to the underlying purposes and policies of the ICCC and the admonition contained in section 537.1102 that the act be liberally applied.”
First Nw. Nat'l Bank v. Crouch, 287 N.W.2d 151 (Iowa 1980). “See § 537.1102(2). Allowing a creditor by contract to extend greater protections to a debtor than are provided by statute is consistent with the ICCC and principles of freedom of contract.”
Norton v. Local Loan, 251 N.W.2d 520 (Iowa 1977). “Additional light on legislative purpose is shed by § 537.1102 which states the purposes and policies of the chapter.”
Aldens, Inc. v. Miller, 466 F. Supp. 379 (S.D. Iowa 1979). “The purposes and underlying policies of Chapter 537 are contained in § 537.1102(2): a. Simplify, clarify and modernize the law governing retail installment sales, and other consumer credit.”
Equilease Corp. v. Smith, 405 N.W.2d 803 (Iowa 1987). · cites it 2× “Its general purposes, broadly to protect consumers in relatively small credit transactions, are explained in Iowa Code section 537.1102. See Iowa Code § 537.1301 (13)(a)(2), (5) (debtor is person, not organization; debt does not exceed thirty-five thousand dollars); Union Trust…”
Lance Allen Degeneffe & Tracy Lynn Degeneffe v. Home Pride Contractors, Inc. (Iowa 2025). · cites it 7× “§ 537.1102(1). Although the ICCC should be liberally construed, that does not allow this court “to ignore the ordinary meaning of words in a statute and to expand or contract their meaning to favor one side in a dispute over another.”
Amended April 4, 2016 Darla Legg & Jason T. Legg, on Behalf of Themselves & All Persons Similarly Situated v. West Bank (Iowa 2016). · cites it 2× “” Iowa Code § 537.1102 (2)(a), (d) (2009). The ICCC notes that it “shall be liberally construed and applied to promote its underlying purposes and policies.”
Iowa Code § 537.1102(1): 3 cases
Darla Legg & Jason T. Legg, on Behalf of Themselves & All Persons Similarly Situated v. West Bank, 873 N.W.2d 763 (Iowa 2016). “” Iowa Code § 537.1102 (2)(a), (d) (2009). The ICCC notes that it “shall be liberally construed and applied to promote its underlying purposes and policies.”
Amended April 4, 2016 Darla Legg & Jason T. Legg, on Behalf of Themselves & All Persons Similarly Situated v. West Bank (Iowa 2016). “” Iowa Code § 537.1102 (2)(a), (d) (2009). The ICCC notes that it “shall be liberally construed and applied to promote its underlying purposes and policies.”
Lance Allen Degeneffe & Tracy Lynn Degeneffe v. Home Pride Contractors, Inc. (Iowa 2025). “§ 537.1102(1). Although the ICCC should be liberally construed, that does not allow this court “to ignore the ordinary meaning of words in a statute and to expand or contract their meaning to favor one side in a dispute over another.”
Iowa Code § 537.1102(2): 2 cases
First Nw. Nat'l Bank v. Crouch, 287 N.W.2d 151 (Iowa 1980). “See § 537.1102(2). Allowing a creditor by contract to extend greater protections to a debtor than are provided by statute is consistent with the ICCC and principles of freedom of contract.”
Aldens, Inc. v. Miller, 466 F. Supp. 379 (S.D. Iowa 1979). “The purposes and underlying policies of Chapter 537 are contained in § 537.1102(2): a. Simplify, clarify and modernize the law governing retail installment sales, and other consumer credit.”
Iowa Code § 537.1102(2)(a): 1 case
Lance Allen Degeneffe & Tracy Lynn Degeneffe v. Home Pride Contractors, Inc. (Iowa 2025). “§ 537.1102(1). Although the ICCC should be liberally construed, that does not allow this court “to ignore the ordinary meaning of words in a statute and to expand or contract their meaning to favor one side in a dispute over another.”
Iowa Code § 537.1102(2)(d): 1 case
Lance Allen Degeneffe & Tracy Lynn Degeneffe v. Home Pride Contractors, Inc. (Iowa 2025). “§ 537.1102(1). Although the ICCC should be liberally construed, that does not allow this court “to ignore the ordinary meaning of words in a statute and to expand or contract their meaning to favor one side in a dispute over another.”
Iowa Code § 537.1102(2)(f): 1 case
Lance Allen Degeneffe & Tracy Lynn Degeneffe v. Home Pride Contractors, Inc. (Iowa 2025). “§ 537.1102(1). Although the ICCC should be liberally construed, that does not allow this court “to ignore the ordinary meaning of words in a statute and to expand or contract their meaning to favor one side in a dispute over another.”
Iowa Code § 537.1102(2)(g): 1 case
Lance Allen Degeneffe & Tracy Lynn Degeneffe v. Home Pride Contractors, Inc. (Iowa 2025). “§ 537.1102(1). Although the ICCC should be liberally construed, that does not allow this court “to ignore the ordinary meaning of words in a statute and to expand or contract their meaning to favor one side in a dispute over another.”
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