(a) No card issuer shall refuse to issue a credit card to any person solely because of any characteristic listed or defined in subdivision (b) or (e) of Section 51.
(b) Any card issuer who willfully violates this section is liable for each and every offense for the actual damages, and two hundred fifty dollars ($250) in addition thereto, suffered by any person denied a credit card solely for the reasons set forth in subdivision (a). In addition, that person may petition the court to order the card issuer to issue him or her a credit card upon the terms, conditions, and standards as the card issuer normally utilizes in granting credit to other individuals.