Ohio Rev. Code » Chapter 4712
Ohio Revised Code

Ohio Rev. Code § 4712.01 (2026)

Credit services organization act definitions

✓ current as of May 2026
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Effective:
March 23, 2018
Latest Legislation:
House Bill 199 - 132nd General Assembly
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As used in sections 4712.01 to 4712.14 of the Revised Code:

(A) "Buyer" means an individual who is solicited to purchase or who purchases the services of a credit services organization for purposes other than obtaining a business loan as described in division (B)(6) of section 1343.01 of the Revised Code.

(B) "Consumer reporting agency" has the same meaning as in the "Fair Credit Reporting Act," 84 Stat. 1128, 15 U.S.C.A. 1681a, as amended.

(C)(1) "Credit services organization" means any person that, in return for the payment of money or other valuable consideration readily convertible into money for the following services, sells, provides, or performs, or represents that the person can or will sell, provide, or perform, one or more of the following services:

(a) Improving a buyer's credit record, history, or rating;

(b) Obtaining an extension of credit by others for a buyer;

(c) Providing advice or assistance to a buyer in connection with division (C)(1)(a) or (b) of this section;

(d) Removing adverse credit information that is accurate and not obsolete from the buyer's credit record, history, or rating;

(e) Altering the buyer's identification to prevent the display of the buyer's credit record, history, or rating.

(2) "Credit services organization" does not include any of the following:

(a) A person that makes or collects loans, to the extent these activities are subject to licensure or registration by this state;

(b) A mortgage broker, as defined in section 1322.01 of the Revised Code, that holds a valid certificate of registration under Chapter 1322. of the Revised Code;

(c) A lender approved by the United States secretary of housing and urban development for participation in a mortgage insurance program under the "National Housing Act," 48 Stat. 1246 (1934), 12 U.S.C.A. 1701, as amended;

(d) A bank, savings bank, or savings and loan association, or a subsidiary or an affiliate of a bank, savings bank, or savings and loan association. For purposes of division (C)(2)(d) of this section, "affiliate" has the same meaning as in division (A) of section 1101.01 of the Revised Code and "bank," as used in division (A) of section 1101.01 of the Revised Code, is deemed to include a savings bank or savings and loan association.

(e) A credit union organized and qualified under Chapter 1733. of the Revised Code or the "Federal Credit Union Act," 84 Stat. 994 (1970), 12 U.S.C.A. 1751, as amended;

(f) A budget and debt counseling service, as defined in division (D) of section 2716.03 of the Revised Code, provided that the service is a nonprofit organization exempt from taxation under section 501(c)(3) of the "Internal Revenue Code of 1986," 100 Stat. 2085, 26 U.S.C.A. 501, as amended, and that the service is in compliance with Chapter 4710. of the Revised Code;

(g) A consumer reporting agency that is in substantial compliance with the "Fair Credit Reporting Act," 84 Stat. 1128, 15 U.S.C.A. 1681a, as amended.

(h) A mortgage banker;

(i) Any political subdivision, or any governmental or other public entity, corporation, or agency, in or of the United States or any state of the United States;

(j) A college or university, or controlled entity of a college or university, as defined in section 1713.05 of the Revised Code;

(k) A motor vehicle dealer licensed pursuant to Chapter 4517. of the Revised Code acting within the scope and authority of that license or a motor vehicle auction owner licensed pursuant to Chapters 4517. and 4707. of the Revised Code acting within the scope and authority of that license;

(l) An attorney at law admitted to the practice of law in this state who offers, provides, or performs a legal service that is privileged by reason of the attorney-client relationship, provided that the service is not a service described in division (C)(1)(b) or (e) of this section.

(D) "Extension of credit" means the right to defer payment of debt, or to incur debt and defer its payment, offered or granted primarily for personal, family, or household purposes. "Extension of credit" does not include a mortgage.

(E) "Mortgage" means any indebtedness secured by a deed of trust, security deed, or other lien on real property.

(F) "Mortgage banker" means any person that makes, services, or buys and sells mortgage loans and is approved by the United States department of housing and urban development, the United States department of veterans affairs, the federal national mortgage association, or the federal home loan mortgage corporation.

(G) "Superintendent of financial institutions" includes the deputy superintendent for consumer finance as provided in section 1181.21 of the Revised Code.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 7 cases, 2000–2013 · leading case: Snook v. Ford Motor Co., 755 N.E.2d 380 (Ohio Ct. App. 2001).
Sort: Relevance Newest Treatment
Snook v. Ford Motor Co., 755 N.E.2d 380 (Ohio Ct. App. 2001). · cites it 7× “” R.C. 4712.01(A). In order for a plaintiff to assert a successful claim against a defendant under the CSOA, the plaintiff must qualify as a buyer and the defendant qualify as a CSO.”
Thomas v. Jackson Hewitt, Inc., 950 N.E.2d 578 (Ohio Ct. App. 2011). · cites it 5× “The complaint alleged that Jackson Hewitt violated Ohio’s Credit Services Organization Act (“CSOA”), R.C. 4712.01 et seq., in its RAL practice.”
Hall v. Jack Walker Pontiac Toyota, Inc., 758 N.E.2d 1151 (Ohio Ct. App. 2000). · cites it 3× “lants would have to prove on the facts of the individual cases that the appellees met the definition of a credit services organization by (1) charging or receiving, directly from the buyer, money, or valuable consideration, and (2) selling, providing, or performing or…”
Gomez v. Jackson Hewitt, Inc., 16 A.3d 261 (Md. Ct. Spec. App. 2011). · cites it 2× “(quoting Ohio Rev. Code Ann. § 4712.01 (C)(1)). In 1999, the Ohio legislature amended the statute and Ohio Rev.”
Am. Fin. Servs. Ass'n v. City of Cleveland, 824 N.E.2d 553 (Ohio Ct. App. 2004). “), (6) statutes regulating insurance premium finance companies (R.”
Ohio Attorney Gen. v. Suwinski (In re Suwinski), 509 B.R. 568 (Bankr. S.D. Ohio 2013). · cites it 2× “, and the Debt Adjusters Act (“DAA”), Ohio Rev. Code § 4712.01, et seq. Plaintiff alleged that Defendant, directly and through his business, obtained payments from the Consumers for the purchase of NHAF’s services which NHAF failed to deliver.”
Bumpus v. Ward, 2012 Ohio 4674 (Ohio Ct. App. 2012). “{¶20} R.C. 4712.01(A) defines “buyer” as (A) “Buyer” means an individual who is solicited to purchase or who purchases the services of a credit services organization for purposes other than obtaining a business loan as described in division (B)(6) of section 1343.”
— Ohio Rev. Code § 4712.01(A) — 3 cases
Snook v. Ford Motor Co., 755 N.E.2d 380 (Ohio Ct. App. 2001). “” R.C. 4712.01(A). In order for a plaintiff to assert a successful claim against a defendant under the CSOA, the plaintiff must qualify as a buyer and the defendant qualify as a CSO.”
Thomas v. Jackson Hewitt, Inc., 950 N.E.2d 578 (Ohio Ct. App. 2011). “The complaint alleged that Jackson Hewitt violated Ohio’s Credit Services Organization Act (“CSOA”), R.C. 4712.01 et seq., in its RAL practice.”
Bumpus v. Ward, 2012 Ohio 4674 (Ohio Ct. App. 2012). “{¶20} R.C. 4712.01(A) defines “buyer” as (A) “Buyer” means an individual who is solicited to purchase or who purchases the services of a credit services organization for purposes other than obtaining a business loan as described in division (B)(6) of section 1343.”
— Ohio Rev. Code § 4712.01(C) — 1 case
Thomas v. Jackson Hewitt, Inc., 950 N.E.2d 578 (Ohio Ct. App. 2011). “The complaint alleged that Jackson Hewitt violated Ohio’s Credit Services Organization Act (“CSOA”), R.C. 4712.01 et seq., in its RAL practice.”
— Ohio Rev. Code § 4712.01(C)(1) — 2 cases
Snook v. Ford Motor Co., 755 N.E.2d 380 (Ohio Ct. App. 2001). “” R.C. 4712.01(A). In order for a plaintiff to assert a successful claim against a defendant under the CSOA, the plaintiff must qualify as a buyer and the defendant qualify as a CSO.”
Gomez v. Jackson Hewitt, Inc., 16 A.3d 261 (Md. Ct. Spec. App. 2011). “(quoting Ohio Rev. Code Ann. § 4712.01 (C)(1)). In 1999, the Ohio legislature amended the statute and Ohio Rev.”
— Ohio Rev. Code § 4712.01(C)(1)(a) — 1 case
Hall v. Jack Walker Pontiac Toyota, Inc., 758 N.E.2d 1151 (Ohio Ct. App. 2000). “lants would have to prove on the facts of the individual cases that the appellees met the definition of a credit services organization by (1) charging or receiving, directly from the buyer, money, or valuable consideration, and (2) selling, providing, or performing or…”
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