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The Vermont Statutes Online



Title

09

:
Commerce and Trade






Chapter

063

:
CONSUMER PROTECTION






Subchapter

001
:
GENERAL PROVISIONS










 

§

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.)