Bill Text: MA H3105 | 2009-2010 | 186th General Court | Introduced
Bill Title: Further regulate the leasing of telephone equipment
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2010-08-04 - Accompanied a study order, see H04969 [H3105 Detail]
Download: Massachusetts-2009-H3105-Introduced.html
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_______________
PRESENTED BY:
Alice Hanlon Peisch
_______________
To the
Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of
Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:
The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the passage of the accompanying bill:
An Act regulating the leasing of telephone equipment. .
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PETITION OF:
|
Name: |
District/Address: |
|
Alice Hanlon Peisch |
14th Norfolk |
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS
SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 3355 OF 2007-2008.]
The Commonwealth of
Massachusetts
_______________
In the Year Two Thousand and Nine
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An Act regulating the leasing of telephone equipment. .
Be
it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court
assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
SECTION 1. Chapter 166 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2006 official edition, is hereby amended by adding after section 44 the following section: -
Section 45. Notwithstanding the provisions of any general or special law to the contrary, a company that leases telephonic equipment must distinguish on its statements to the customer the monthly amount due for leasing the equipment and the monthly amount due for servicing the equipment.
When a customer’s cumulative payments for the leased equipment equal or exceed the fair market value of the telephonic equipment, the leasing company must immediately offer to transfer ownership to the customer at no additional cost, except for a reasonable finance charge. Customers may choose to continue to lease, but must indicate their desire to do so in writing on a document provided by the leasing company. Upon the failure of the customer to affirmatively choose to continue leasing the equipment, the leasing company shall transfer ownership to the customer.
Companies must clearly present, on each monthly statement, the cumulative cost of the lease agreement over the entire lease period.
