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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>55425</law_id><section_number>6.2-500</section_number><catch_line>Definitions</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>36-96.20</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="6.2">Financial Institutions and Services</unit><unit label="subtitle" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="I">General Provisions</unit><unit label="chapter" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="5">Equal Credit Opportunities</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>As used in this chapter, unless the context requires a different meaning:
		&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Adverse action</span>&#x201D; means a denial or <span class="dictionary">revocation</span> of <span class="dictionary">credit</span>, a change in the terms of an existing <span class="dictionary">credit</span> arrangement, or a refusal to grant <span class="dictionary">credit</span> in substantially the amount or on substantially the terms requested. The term does not include a refusal to extend additional <span class="dictionary">credit</span> under an existing <span class="dictionary">credit</span> arrangement where the <span class="dictionary">applicant</span> is delinquent or otherwise in <span class="dictionary">default</span>, or where such additional <span class="dictionary">credit</span> would exceed a previously established <span class="dictionary">credit</span> limit.
		&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Applicant</span>&#x201D; means any <span class="dictionary">person</span> who applies to a <span class="dictionary">creditor</span> directly for an extension, renewal, or continuation of <span class="dictionary">credit</span>, or applies to a <span class="dictionary">creditor</span> indirectly by use of an existing <span class="dictionary">credit</span> plan for an amount exceeding the previously established <span class="dictionary">credit</span> limit.
		&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Credit</span>&#x201D; means the right granted by a <span class="dictionary">creditor</span> to a debtor to defer payment of debt or to incur debt and defer its payment or to purchase property or services and defer payment therefor.
		&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Creditor</span>&#x201D; means any <span class="dictionary">person</span> who regularly extends, renews, or continues <span class="dictionary">credit</span>; any <span class="dictionary">person</span> who regularly arranges for the extension, renewal, or continuation of <span class="dictionary">credit</span>; or any assignee of an original <span class="dictionary">creditor</span> who participates in the decision to extend, renew, or continue <span class="dictionary">credit</span>.</p></section></text><history>1975, c. 627, &#xA7; 59.1-21.20; 1977, c. 589; 2010, c. 794.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
