Findlaw for Small Business has prepared the following introductory information on ......... credit to a business's customers.

Consumer credit laws regulate how you advertise interest rates, how much time you have to respond to claims of billing mistakes, and how ......... you can be when attempting to collect a debt.

Mechanics' and materialmen's ......... exist in most states to provide special collection rights to those who provide services or building materials used to improve real property.

If the debt is not paid, the property can be ......... and sold to pay the obligation.

The debtor has the benefit of an 'automatic .........' immediately upon filing a bankruptcy petition, which prevents the creditor from taking any further action to try to collect the debt unless or until the bankruptcy court decides to the contrary.

The Truth in Lending Act helps customers know what they're ........., requiring the creditor to disclose the exact credit terms to applicants.

Among the items you must ......... to a consumer who buys on credit are the monthly finance charge and the annual interest rate.

The Credit Practices Rule prohibits creditors from using certain contract ......... that the Federal Trade Commission has found to be unfair to consumers.

This Rule applies to all creditors subject ......... the jurisdiction of the Federal Trade Commission.

Interest charged on late payments may be limited by state ......... laws controlling the amount of interest that can be charged.