HOUSE BILL No. 5734


     May 4, 2000, Introduced by Reps. Woronchak, Scranton, Julian and Bishop and referred to the Committee on Energy and
Technology.


        A bill to amend 1976 PA 331, entitled

   "Michigan consumer protection act,"

   (MCL 445.901 to 445.922) by adding section 3e.

               THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:

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           SEC. 3E.  (1) ALL PROVIDERS OF PREPAID CALLING SERVICES

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      SHALL DISPLAY IN A CONSPICUOUS MANNER ON PREPAID CALLING CARDS

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      AND ON ANY ACCOMPANYING PACKAGING ALL OF THE FOLLOWING

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      INFORMATION:

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           (A) THE NAME OF THE PROVIDER OF THE PREPAID CALLING SERVICES

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      AS REGISTERED WITH THE COMMISSION UNDER SECTION 3F.

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           (B) THE ACTUAL TOTAL CHARGE PER MINUTE FOR THE FIRST MINUTE

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      AND FOR EACH ADDITIONAL MINUTE FOR THE PREPAID CALLING SERVICE.

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      THE QUOTED CHARGE SHALL INCLUDE ALL CALLING CHARGES, SURCHARGES,

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      FEES, AND TAXES.  THE QUOTED CHARGE SHALL BE IN THE SAME SIZE




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      TYPE FACE AS ANY OTHER PER MINUTE RATE SHOWN ON THE CARD OR THE

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      PACKAGING OF THE CARD.

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           (C) A TOLL-FREE NETWORK ACCESS AND CUSTOMER SERVICE NUMBER

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      THAT THE END USER CAN CALL TO OBTAIN AN ACCOUNTING OF CARD USE AT

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      NO CHARGE TO THE END USER.

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           (D) INFORMATION ON HOW TO CONTACT THE COMMISSION.

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           (E) ANY EXPIRATION POLICY.

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           (2) ALL PROVIDERS OF PREPAID CALLING SERVICES SHALL REQUIRE

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      BY CONTRACT WITH RETAILERS AND DISTRIBUTORS THE REQUIREMENTS OF

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      THIS SECTION.

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           (3) ALL PROVIDERS OF PREPAID CALLING SERVICES SHALL, AT THE

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      BEGINNING OF EACH CALL MADE THROUGH THE ACCESS NUMBER, AND ON

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      REQUEST WHEN THE END USER PLACES A CALL TO THE PROVIDER'S CUS-

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      TOMER SERVICE NUMBER, ALL OF THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION:

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           (A) THAT A COMPLETE RATE QUOTE FOR THE CALL, INCLUDING ALL

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      SURCHARGES OR OTHER CHARGES, IS AVAILABLE AND HOW TO OBTAIN THE

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      COMPLETE RATE QUOTE WITHOUT HANGING UP THE TELEPHONE OR INCURRING

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      A CHARGE.

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           (B) A DISCLOSURE OF THE REMAINING BALANCE ON THE PREPAID

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      CALLING CARD.

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           (C) THE EXPIRATION DATE, IF ANY, OF THE PREPAID CALLING

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      CARD.

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           (D) THAT THERE WILL BE NO CHARGE FOR AN UNCOMPLETED CALL.

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           (4) AS USED IN THIS SECTION AND SECTION 3F:

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           (A) "COMMISSION" MEANS THE MICHIGAN PUBLIC SERVICE COMMIS-

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      SION IN THE DEPARTMENT OF CONSUMER AND INDUSTRY SERVICES.





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           (B) "PREPAID CALLING CARD" MEANS AN OBJECT CONTAINING AN

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      ACCESS NUMBER OR AUTHORIZATION CODE THAT ENABLES AN END USER TO

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      USE PREPAID CALLING SERVICES.

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           (C) "PREPAID CALLING SERVICES" MEANS A PREPAID TELECOMMUNI-

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      CATIONS SERVICE THAT ALLOWS END USERS TO ORIGINATE CALLS THROUGH

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      AN ACCESS NUMBER OR AUTHORIZATION CODE.

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           (D) "PROVIDER" MEANS A PERSON PROVIDING PREPAID CALLING

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      SERVICES TO THE PUBLIC USING ITS OWN OR RESOLD TELECOMMUNICATIONS

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      SERVICES.  A RETAIL STORE OR OTHER RETAIL DISTRIBUTOR IS A PRO-

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      VIDER OF PREPAID CALLING SERVICES IF ITS NAME IS LISTED ON THE

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      PREPAID CALLING CARD, OR IF IT OTHERWISE IS PROVIDING ITS OWN OR

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      RESOLD TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICES.
































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