What is one of the potential penalties imposed after a hearing finds an act unfair or deceptive?

A cease and desist order is a legal order issued by a government agency or authority to stop an individual or business from continuing an action that violates regulations or laws—in this case, those pertaining to unfair or deceptive practices. When a hearing finds that an act is indeed unfair or deceptive, one potential penalty that can be imposed is a directive to immediately cease the offending behavior. This serves to protect the public from further harm or misleading actions and ensures that the party rectifies the situation in compliance with the law.

Other options, while they may reflect potential disciplinary actions in various contexts, do not directly relate to the specific outcomes associated with findings of unfair or deceptive acts in this scenario. For example, expulsion from the profession, increased license fees, and mandatory retraining might be applicable in different disciplinary or regulatory environments but are not typically the direct outcome following a hearing focused on deceptive practices. Thus, ceasing and desisting from the unfair actions is a clear, enforceable response aimed at compliance and consumer protection.