HB 2191 -- Anticramming Protection Act

Sponsor:  Walsh

This bill establishes the Anticramming Protection Act which
requires any entity that offers a product or service to a
consumer that is charged to or collected from a consumer's
telephone bill to conform to several consumer protection
conditions including disclosure of all terms, conditions, and
charges of the product or service; obtaining explicit consent of
the customer; providing a toll-free number for questions and
cancellation purposes; verification of the customer's identity;
and other requirements specified in the bill.

Services and products by a telecommunication company and its
affiliates or an affiliated cable or video service provider and
certain commercial mobile radio service providers licensed by the
Federal Communications Commission will be exempt from the
provisions of the bill.  Message telecommunications service
charges, collect calls, or charges for video services if the
provider has the necessary records to establish the billing will
also be exempt.  The record-keeping requirements regarding every
disputed charge for a product or service placed on a consumer's
bill are specified in the bill.

Any service provider or billing agent who violates a provision of
the bill will be guilty of an unlawful practice.

Missouri House of Representatives
95th General Assembly, 2nd Regular Session
Last Updated September 14, 2010 at 3:13 pm