A00485 Summary:

BILL NO    A00485 

SAME AS    No same as

SPONSOR    Cahill (MS)

COSPNSR    Millman, Cymbrowitz, Ortiz, DelMonte, Robinson

MLTSPNSR   Cook, Galef, Jacobs, Koon, McEneny, Pheffer, Weisenberg

Add S399-ccc, Gen Bus L

Prohibits the charging of additional fees for the payment of a wireless
communications service bill when such payment is made in person with the
assistance of in-store personnel to complete the transaction.

A00485 Actions:

BILL NO    A00485 

01/07/2009 referred to consumer affairs and protection
01/06/2010 referred to consumer affairs and protection

A00485 Votes:

A00485 Memo:

BILL NUMBER:A485

TITLE OF BILL:  An act to amend the general business law, in relation to
prohibiting  the charging of additional transaction fees for the payment
of a wireless communications service bill or  mobile  telephone  service
bill in person

PURPOSE  OR  GENERAL  IDEA  OF  BILL:   The act would close the loophole
allowing wireless communication and mobile telephone companies to charge
a customer service fee to individuals making a payment in person.

SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:  The act would amend the  General  Busi-
ness  Law by adding a new section 399-ccc to read as follows; Imposition
of surcharges for payment of wireless communication services prohibited.
A wireless communication service supplier engaged  in  the  business  of
providing wireless communications service or mobile telephone service to
a  customer  shall  not  impose any additional surcharge for the face to
face payment by a customer of a bill for  such  wireless  communications
services or mobile telephone services. A face to face payment shall mean
a  payment  made  in  a  store with the assistance of store personnel to
complete the transaction.

JUSTIFICATION:  The idea that personal transactions should be taxed by a
private company is outrageous  and  encourages  an  impersonal  business
environment. Such a surcharge is another outlet for companies to "nickel
and  dime"  customers  who  value human contact when conducting business
transactions in New York State.

PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

2007-2008 A4785 Referred to Consumer Affairs  and  Protection  2005-2006
A5000 Referred to Consumer Affairs and Protection
2003-2004 A8255 Referred to Consumer Affairs and Protection

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:  None

EFFECTIVE  DATE:   This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after
it shall have become law, and shall apply to contracts issued,  renewed,
modified or amended after the effective date of this act.