HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2781        FILED ON: 1/21/2011

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2624

 

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 adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act regulating the leasing of telephone equipment.

_______________

PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

Date Added:

Alice Hanlon Peisch

14th Norfolk

1/21/2011


HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2781        FILED ON: 1/21/2011

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2624

By Ms. Peisch of Wellesley, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2624) of Alice Hanlon Peisch relative to regulating the leasing of telephone equipment.  Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy.

 

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 3105 OF 2009-2010.]

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

In the Year Two Thousand Eleven

_______________

 

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 2008 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.