(a) It is unlawful for any person to take a security interest in any household goods, as defined in subdivision (g), in connection with a consumer credit contract or other credit obligation incurred primarily for personal, family, or household purposes unless (1) the person takes possession of the household goods or (2) the purchase price of the household goods was financed through the consumer credit contract or credit obligation.

(b) An agreement or other document creating a nonpossessory security interest in personal property as defined in subdivision (d) in connection with a consumer credit contract or other credit obligation incurred primarily for personal, family, or household purposes shall contain a statement of description reviewed and signed by the consumer indicating each specific item of the personal property in which the security interest is taken. A consumer credit contract or other credit obligation subject to the Unruh Act (Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 1801) of Title 2) that complies with the provisions of subdivision (a) of Section 1803.3, or of subdivision (f) of Section 1810.1, shall be deemed to comply with this subdivision.

(c) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a person who has a nonpossessory security interest in personal property, described in subdivision (d), taken in connection with a consumer credit contract or other credit obligation incurred primarily for personal, family, or household purposes shall only enforce the security interest by judicial action unless the property is abandoned or freely and voluntarily surrendered by the consumer.

(d) The provisions of subdivisions (b) and (c) apply only to the following types of personal property:

(1) Any goods, as defined in paragraph (44) of subdivision (a) of Section 9102 of the Commercial Code, except for vessels, vehicles, and aircraft, that are used or bought for use primarily for personal, family, or household purposes and that has a fair market value of less than one thousand dollars ($1,000) per individual item at the time the security interest is created.

(2) The property described in Section 704.050 and subdivision (a) of Section 704.060 of the Code of Civil Procedure, except for vessels, vehicles, and aircraft.

(e) Any security interest taken in violation of either subdivision (a) or (b) is void and unenforceable.

(f) Any person injured by a violation of this section may bring a civil action for the recovery of damages, equitable relief, and attorney’s fees and costs.

(g) For the purpose of this section:

(1) “Household goods” means and includes clothing, furniture, appliances, one radio, one television, linens, china, crockery, kitchenware, personal effects, and wedding rings. “Household goods” does not include works of art, electronic entertainment equipment (except one radio and one television), items acquired as antiques, and jewelry (except wedding rings).

(2) “Antique” means any item over one hundred years of age, including such items that have been repaired or renovated without changing their original form or character.

(Amended by Stats. 1999, Ch. 991, Sec. 3.5. Effective January 1, 2000. Operative July 1, 2001, by Sec. 75 of Ch. 991.)