Unauthorized consideration = paying a commission to an unlicensed person. No way to justify this.
Finder's Fee = can be allowed under certain circumstances. Example: In AZ, a finder's fee may be paid to a tenant who brings in another tenant. HOWEVER, it must be in the form of RENT CREDIT and may only be paid so many times in a calendar year.
In no instance will you find it allowable to pay an unlicensed person cash money.

Don't give money to people you shouldn't give money to.

Christian Coppieters There is no difference. It is illegal to pay anyone a fee if they don't have an active real estate license. Finder's fees or bird dog fees are illegal and can result in the agent losing their real estate license.

Listen to Michael Setunsky ..truth!!

I haven't heard of unauthorized consideration. Michael Setunsky has your answer. Good luck wtih your studies

I'm not familiar with the term unauthorized consideraton, but what Michael Setunsky said.

What Candice A. Donofrio said holds true in North Carolina also but, I'm not sure about Utah.

I have never heard the term unauthorized consideration. I do know in TN you cannot pay a finder's fee to anyone who does not have a real estate license.

Finder fee is like a gift, you do not have any obligation to pay, but if the seller agrees to pay an unlicensed person, the agreement is between them, if you pay a finder fee more than an amount allowed in your state ~ well, you already know the answer, it is illegal, read RESPA.

Yet, i still do not understand why it is ok to pay thousands of $$$ for leads to companies that obviously do not have a RE license. 

In other words, if you pay for service of providing you a referral,it is ok seems...

p.s. just my personal opinion, no legal advice or suggestions in here. . 

Not a licensed real estate agent = No Fee.

We do like providing insight to those going through the process.

WE like it even more when the communication is two way. Acknowledge those who have raised their hand in response to your question.

Better still, tell us more about yourself. Are you currently a home owner?

Candice A. Donofrio nailed this one!

Christian Coppieters - unauthorized IS unauthorized.

Against the code of ethics to do that.

No license, no fees.

Both are illegal. 

Christian, You have great answers from every member here. A

I've gone back in time to answer old posts just because I want to see if anyone reads old questions... if I get no LIKES I will assume they don't and stop reading them lol

not much of a difference.

Follow the rules in your state.

Legality

Finder's fees are limited to X amount of dollars.  It varies by state.  Let's say for example you are limited to a $100 finder's fee.  Taking them to dinner would be fine (so long as their portion is under the $100 limit).  Concert tickets, movie passes a gym membership, cookies all fine if under the $100.  Give them a penny you found on the street with the $100 check, that's illegal and not authorized by the state.

Now for California (guess what, it's legal):

From an undated CRES E&O insurance (reputable source) article on the subject, written by a lawyer, at https://www.cresinsurance.com/allowable-referrals-commission-splits-california-real-estate-transactions/

In California, the Bureau of Real Estate and California law permit a licensed real estate brokerage to pay a referral fee for a real estate transaction to a person not licensed by the Bureau of Real Estate, only if the person who is to get such a fee was not soliciting on behalf of the brokerage. In short, this “finder’s fee” only applies if the unlicensed individual is solely limited to the introduction of a seller, buyer or both to a licensee. The caveat is that the “finder” is not involved in any negotiations as to the real estate transaction.

In California, a “finder’s exception,” allowing an unlicensed person to be compensated for introducing parties to a real estate transaction, has been judicially approved since 1923. As explained by California’s  Supreme Court in Tyrone v. Kelley (1973) 9 Cal.3d 1.

“Numerous cases have held that one who simply finds and introduces two parties to a real estate transaction need not be licensed as a real estate broker. Such an intermediary or middleman is protected by the finder’s exception to the real estate licensing laws, an exception first established in Shaffer v. Beinhorn (1923) 190 Cal. 569, 573-574. In that case, this court held that a person who contracted to introduce a seller to a prospective purchaser did not act as a broker but as a finder. Many subsequent cases have recognized the exception.

“The finder is a person whose employment is limited to bringing the parties together so that they may negotiate their own contract, and the distinction between the finder and the broker frequently turns upon whether the intermediary has been invested with authority or duties beyond merely bringing the parties together, usually the authority to participate in negotiations.” (Ibid. at 9).

In 1995, California’s Attorney General issued an opinion that a real estate broker can pay a referral fee to an unlicensed person with the Department of Real Estate (Now Bureau of Real Estate) only if the referring person did not make the introduction on behalf of the compensating broker. (78 Ops. Cal. Gen. 71).

Custom and practice in California real estate is that a referral fee to a non-licensee with California’s Bureau of Real Estate is no more than five hundred dollars ($500.00) per completed transaction.

As Candice A. Donofrio wrote

For which state? I can only speak for the state I am licensed in.

I have never heard the term "unauthorized consideration".  It does have a ring of unlawful.  Be very careful moving forward to know what you need to know being licensed in your state.  Doing the wrong this is not worth losing your license or going to jail.  Ignorance is not a defense.

ask the teacher

unlicensed people should not be paid fees....period....

If you aren't licensed, I can't give you a referral fee.  A coffee at Starbucks, but no referral fee!

Candice hit the nail. Check State law on certain finders fee which are allowed 

Here in NH it is easy, you can not pay anyone who is not licensed any more than$50 no matter what you call it

I hve no idea... I have never heard the term unauthorized consideration. Paying anyone who is not licensed is illegal, period, end of story. Who cares what you call it.

Others have answered 

One can't solicit to pay a referral fee, however, one may pay for a lead. 

 I don't know.