§
2466. Goods and services appearing on telephone bill
(a) Except as
provided in subsection (f) of this section, a seller shall not bill a consumer
for goods or services that will appear as a charge on the person's bill for
telephone service provided by any local exchange carrier.
(b) No person
shall arrange on behalf of a seller of goods or services, directly or through
an intermediary, with a local exchange carrier, to bill a consumer for goods or
services other than as permitted by this section. This prohibition applies, but
is not limited, to persons who aggregate consumer billings for a seller and to
persons who serve as a clearinghouse for aggregated billings.
(c) Failure to
comply with this section is an unfair and deceptive act and practice in commerce
under this chapter.
(d) The
Attorney General may make rules and regulations to carry out the purposes of
this section.
(e) Nothing in
this section limits the liability of any person under existing statutory or
common law.
(f)(1) This
section shall apply to billing aggregators described in 30 V.S.A. § 231a, but
shall not apply to:
(A) billing
for goods or services marketed or sold by persons subject to the jurisdiction
of the Vermont Public Service Board under 30 V.S.A. § 203;
(B) billing
for direct dial or dial around services initiated from the consumer's
telephone; or
(C)
operator-assisted telephone calls, collect calls, or telephone services
provided to facilitate communication to or from correctional center inmates.
(2) Nothing in
this section affects any rule issued by the Vermont Public Service Board.
(Added 1999, No. 67 (Adj. Sess.), § 5; amended 2011, No. 52, § 78, eff. May 27,
2011.)