Tim violated Rhode Island mortgage law by:

The correct answer illustrates a violation of Rhode Island mortgage law because collecting fees without completing the work signifies unethical behavior and lack of professionalism, which undermines the trust between the mortgage professional and their clients. In the mortgage industry, practitioners are obligated to provide services as agreed in order to justify the collection of fees. Failure to deliver on promised services not only breaches contracts with clients but may also lead to legal repercussions and potential disciplinary action against the professional’s license.

While other options might present issues, they are not the primary focus of the violation in this case. Allowing another person to use a license can lead to unauthorized practice of mortgage brokering, and providing false information to clients indicates dishonesty, both damaging in their own ways. Failing to renew a license on time could result in a lapse in legal authority to operate, but does not involve the direct misconduct exhibited by collecting fees without performing the agreed-upon services. Each of these other actions is serious but does not directly convey the same level of breach in ethical standards inherent in collecting fees for work not done.