Sec. 15. (a) For the purpose of discovering violations of this chapter and securing information necessary for the enforcement of this chapter, the department may investigate:
(1) any licensee; or
(2) any person that it suspects to be operating without a license or in violation of this chapter.
The department has all investigatory and enforcement authority under IC 28-11 for financial institutions. If the department conducts an investigation under this section, the licensee or person investigated shall pay all reasonably incurred costs of the investigation in accordance with the fee schedule adopted under IC 28-11-3-5.
(b) If a person knowingly makes a pawn loan without the license required by section 3 of this chapter, the loan made in violation of this chapter is void and the debtor is not obligated to pay the principal amount of the loan, any finance charge on the loan, or any additional fee under section 28.5 of this chapter. The debtor, or the department on behalf of the debtor, may recover any amount paid to the person who knowingly violated section 3 of this chapter.