This chapter does not apply to:
(a)
A person employed exclusively and regularly by one employer in connection with the affairs of such employer only and where there exists an employer- employee relationship.
(b)
An officer or employee of the United States of America, or of this state or a political subdivision thereof, while such officer or employee is engaged in the performance of his or her official duties.
(c)
A person engaged exclusively in the business of obtaining and furnishing information as to the financial rating of persons.
(d)
A charitable philanthropic society or association duly incorporated under the laws of this state, which is organized and maintained for the public good and not for private profit.
(e)
An attorney at law in performing his or her duties as such attorney at law.
(f)
A licensed collection agency or an employee thereof while acting within the scope of his or her employment, while making an investigation incidental to the business of the agency, including an investigation of the location of a debtor or his or her property where the contract with an assignor creditor is for the collection of claims owed or due or asserted to be owed or due or the equivalent thereof.
(g)
Admitted insurers and agents and insurance brokers licensed by the state, performing duties in connection with insurance transacted by them.
(h)
The legal owner of personal property which has been sold under a conditional sales agreement or a mortgagee under the terms of a chattel mortgage.
(i)
Any bank subject to the jurisdiction of the Commissioner of Financial Institutions of the State of California under Division 1 (commencing with Section 99) of the Financial Code or the Comptroller of the Currency of the United States.
(j)
A person engaged solely in the business of securing information about persons or property from public records.
(k)
Any building contractor, engineer, technical expert, or other person who is engaged by an insurer or licensed adjuster to provide an expert or professional evaluation of the extent, cause, or origin of damage to the insured property, but who does not otherwise participate in the process of adjusting claims.