Cal. Financial Code - FIN § 12000. Section 12000.
This division is known and may be cited as the Check Sellers, Bill Payers and Proraters Law.
CHAPTER 1. Definitions [12000. - 12005.]
Cal. Financial Code - FIN 1.
in effectCal. Financial Code - FIN § 12001. Section 12001.
Unless the context otherwise requires, the definitions set forth in this chapter govern the construction of this division.
Cal. Financial Code - FIN § 12002. Section 12002.
A check seller is a person: (a) who, for compensation, engages, in whole or in part, in the business of selling checks, drafts, money orders, or other commercial paper serving the same purpose, or receiving money as agent of an obligor for the purpose of paying to a person other than the check seller bills, invoices, or accounts of such obligor, or (b) who, without direct compensation and not as an authorized agent for a utility company, accepts money for the purpose of forwarding it to others in payment of utility bills.
Cal. Financial Code - FIN § 12002.1. Section 12002.1.
A prorater is a person who, for compensation, engages in whole or in part in the business of receiving money or evidences thereof for the purpose of distributing the money or evidences thereof among creditors in payment or partial payment of the obligations of the debtor.
Cal. Financial Code - FIN § 12002.2. Section 12002.2.
A business agent, for the purpose of this division is a person who engages in business as a prorater as defined in Section 12002.1 as an incident to the business of advising, counseling, or directing persons in their investments, and in the organization and management of their affairs under an exclusive contract, the primary purpose of which is not the liquidation of existing indebtedness.
Cal. Financial Code - FIN § 12003. Section 12003.
“Commissioner” means the Commissioner of Financial Protection and Innovation, or any deputy, investigator, auditor, or any other person employed by the commissioner.
Cal. Financial Code - FIN § 12004. Section 12004.
“Licensee” means any individual or corporation licensed by the commissioner to engage in the business of a business agent, and any corporation licensed by the commissioner to engage in the business of selling checks, drafts or money orders, or of receiving money as agent of an obligor for the purpose of paying bills, invoices or accounts of such obligor or to accept money in payment of utility bills except as an authorized agent for a utility company pursuant to the provisions of this division.
Cal. Financial Code - FIN § 12005. Section 12005.
“Mobile unit” means a vehicle or other movable means from which the business of selling checks, drafts, or money orders is conducted.
Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026