Bill Text: NJ S1445 | 2014-2015 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Establishes 30-day grace period for consumer to cancel contract for telephone or cable service.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2014-02-27 - Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Commerce Committee [S1445 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2014-S1445-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Senator LINDA R. GREENSTEIN
District 14 (Mercer and Middlesex)
SYNOPSIS
Establishes 30-day grace period for consumer to cancel contract for telephone or cable service.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning certain cellular telephone and cable or wire service contracts and supplementing Title 56 of the Revised Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. Every provider of cellular telephone service, or provider of television, telephone or internet services via wire or cable, including fiber optics, shall extend to new service customers, a right of cancellation of not less than 30 days after the contract is entered into, for customers to cancel the service agreement and terminate service without cost or penalty, if the customer returns the equipment obtained from the service provider.
b. A violation of any provision of this act shall be an unlawful practice subject to the penalties applicable pursuant to section 1 of P.L.1966, c.39 (C.56:8-13) and section 2 of P.L.1999, c.129 (C.56:8-14.3).
2. This act shall take effect on the first day of the seventh month after enactment.
STATEMENT
This bill would require telephone, television, and internet service providers, including providers of cellular telephone service and telephone, television, of internet service by cable or wire, to provide new service users with a right to cancel service agreements within the first 30 days. The bill further provides that new customers may cancel service contracts within 30 days without cost or penalty, provided that the customer returns any equipment obtained from the service provider.
This bill would also make a violation of the provisions of the bill an unlawful practice subject to the penalties applicable pursuant to the consumer fraud act. An unlawful practice under the consumer fraud act is punishable by a monetary penalty of not more than $10,000 for a first offense and not more than $20,000 for any subsequent offense. Additionally, a violation can result in the assessment of punitive damages, and the awarding of treble damages and costs to the injured.
