(a) An insurance premium finance company shall not charge, contract for, receive, or collect an interest charge or any fee, other than as permitted by this chapter.

(b) The interest is to be computed on the balance of the premiums due (after subtracting the down payment made by the insured in accordance with the insurance premium finance agreement) from the effective date of the insurance contract, for which the premiums are being advanced, to and including the date when the final installment of the insurance premium finance agreement is payable.

(c) The interest rate shall not exceed the rates permitted by 9 V.S.A. § 41a(b)(5), or a nonrefundable charge of $15.00 per insurance premium finance agreement, whichever is greater, except as provided herein. If the insurance policy which is the subject of the insurance premium finance agreement is for other than personal, family, or household purposes then the parties to the contract may agree upon any rate of interest which shall be stated in the insurance premium finance agreement. The interest permitted by this subsection anticipates timely repayment in consecutive monthly installments equal in amount for a period of one year. For repayment in greater or lesser periods or in unequal, irregular, or other than monthly installments, the interest may be computed at an equivalent effective rate having due regard for the timely payments of installments.

(d) Notwithstanding the provisions of any insurance premium finance agreement, an insured may prepay the obligation in full at any time. In such event he or she shall receive a refund credit, which refund credit shall be computed according to the actuarial method on the assumption that all payments were made as originally scheduled. Where the amount of the refund credit is less than $1.00, no refund need be made, unless specifically requested by the insured. (Added 1983, No. 77, § 1.)