Customer telecommunications services; authorization and verification for products on telephone bill. (HB204)

Introduced By

Del. Kenneth Alexander (D-Norfolk)

Description

Unauthorized addition of telecommunications services; penalty.  Prohibits a telecommunications service provider from adding a telecommunications service, for which a separate charge is made, to a customer account or charging a customer for a telecommunications service resulting from such a change in service made without the telephone customer's authorization. A customer is not liable for an amount charged for any telecommunications service initiated without the customer's authorization. The service provider initiating a change shall obtain verification of customer's authorization before submitting the change, and shall keep a record of the authorization for two years. A service provider is required to notify the customer within three days of any change in service resulting from its receipt of an order from another provider for a change in service. A customer affected by an unauthorized change in service is entitled to collect damages, and a service provider violating this measure is subject to a civil penalty of not more than $1,000 per violation. The State Corporation Commission is directed to adopt regulations providing for the prompt reversal of charges assessed as a result of unauthorized changes in service.   View Full Text »

Outcome

No Richmond Sunlight visitors voted on this bill while voting was open.