Section 12204 Of Chapter 11. Consumer Recovery Fund From California Vehicle Code >> Division 5. >> Chapter 11.
12204
. (a) A consumer may file an application with the recovery
corporation for the payment of the consumer's eligible claim if a
dealer or lessor-retailer against whom the claim is asserted has
ceased selling and leasing motor vehicles to the general public or
has become subject to a petition in bankruptcy.
(b) (1) The application shall be verified and shall set forth all
of the following information:
(A) The consumer's name, address, and telephone number.
(B) The amount of the eligible claim.
(C) A description of the circumstances demonstrating an eligible
claim.
(D) A statement indicating the consumer's belief that the dealer
or lessor-retailer has ceased selling and leasing motor vehicles to
the general public or has become subject to a petition in bankruptcy
and the reasons for this belief.
(E) A statement indicating what action, if any, the applicant has
taken to recover the amount of the eligible claim.
(F) A statement indicating that the consumer's application for
payment does not include any amount for which the consumer has
obtained recovery under the dealer's bond required by Section 11710.
(2) Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to require a
consumer to bring a civil action to obtain recovery, file a
bankruptcy claim, or file a crime report with a law enforcement
agency in order to obtain payment of an eligible claim submitted to
the recovery corporation.
(c) The application shall be accompanied by a copy of the
agreement between the consumer and the dealer or lessor-retailer,
unless the agreement is unnecessary to the recovery corporation's
determination of the validity of the claim.
(d) If the eligible claim is based on the failure to remit license
or registration fees, the application shall be accompanied by
evidence demonstrating that the consumer paid money or other
consideration for the fees, or became obligated to pay the fees, and
that the fees had not been remitted. The eligible claim shall be
limited to the dollar amount of the license or registration fees not
remitted and a late charge or penalty.
(e) If the eligible claim is based on the failure to pay the
proceeds of a consignment sale, the application shall be accompanied
by the consignment agreement, evidence that the consigned vehicle was
sold, and by the consumer's verified statement that the consumer did
not receive the portion of the proceeds of the sale to which the
consumer was entitled. The eligible claim is limited to the dollar
amount specified in a written consignment agreement to be paid to the
consignor.
(f) If the eligible claim is based on the failure to pay the legal
owner of the consumer's trade-in vehicle, the application shall be
accompanied by a statement from the legal owner of the amount, if
any, that he or she received from the dealer or lessor-retailer. The
eligible claim is limited to the dollar amount necessary to discharge
the credit balance owing on the trade-in vehicle.
(g) If the eligible claim is based on the failure to pay the
lessor of the consumer's trade-in vehicle, the application shall be
accompanied by a statement from the lessor of the amount, if any,
that the lessor received from the dealer or lessor-retailer. The
eligible claim is limited to the dollar amount necessary to pay the
lessor the total amount that the dealer or lessor-retailer agreed
with the consumer to pay the lessor.
(h) If the eligible claim is based on the failure to provide good
title, the application shall be accompanied by a statement from the
legal owner or other claimant of the amount, if any, that he or she
received from the dealer or lessor-retailer. The eligible claim is
limited to the remaining dollar amount necessary to discharge the
valid security interest, lien, encumbrance, or other claim clouding
title to the vehicle.
(i) If the eligible claim is based on the failure to pay third
parties for insurance, service contracts, or goods or services, the
application shall be accompanied by a statement from the third party
of the amount, if any, that he or she received from the dealer or
lessor-retailer. The eligible claim is limited to the difference
between the dollar amount the consumer paid or was contractually
obligated to pay to the dealer or lessor-retailer for the insurance,
service contracts, or goods or services purchased through the dealer
or lessor-retailer and to be provided by the third party and the
dollar amount actually received by the third party from the dealer or
lessor-retailer for the insurance, service contracts, or goods or
services.
(j) The recovery corporation may require reasonable additional
information designed to facilitate payment of eligible claims.
(k) (1) For claims that have accrued on or after July 1, 2008, and
before January 1, 2009, the application shall be filed within 18
months of the date upon which the dealer or lessor-retailer ceased
selling or leasing motor vehicles to the general public or became
subject to a petition in bankruptcy.
(2) For claims that have accrued on or after January 1, 2009, the
application shall be filed within one year of the date upon which the
dealer or lessor-retailer ceased selling or leasing motor vehicles
to the general public or became subject to a petition in bankruptcy.