Final answer:
RESPA violations for kickbacks or fee-splitting can lead to civil penalties, including hefty fines and lawsuits, with the ability for consumers to recover treble damages and attorney fees.
Step-by-step explanation:
Violations under the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA) for kickbacks or fee-splitting are subject to civil penalties, including fines and potential lawsuits.
RESPA, a consumer protection statute, prohibits certain practices that can increase the cost of real estate settlement services. Kickbacks or referral fees in exchange for the referral of settlement service business are banned. Similarly, fee-splitting for services that are not actually rendered is also illegal under RESPA.
Should an entity or individual breach these prohibitions, they could face enforcement actions by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), include fines up to $10,000 for each violation and imprisonment for up to one year. Additionally, individual consumers harmed by these practices have the right to file civil lawsuits, where they can recover treble damages (three times the amount of any charge paid for the service) and attorney's fees.