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S.B. 161

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MOTOR VEHICLE REPAIR - INSURANCE

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DEDUCTIBLE

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1998 GENERAL SESSION

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STATE OF UTAH

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Sponsor: Scott N. Howell

6    AN ACT RELATING TO COMMERCE AND TRADE; MAKING IT A DECEPTIVE TRADE
7    PRACTICE TO COMMENCE A MOTOR VEHICLE REPAIR WITHOUT DISCLOSING
8    THE ESTIMATED COST OF REPAIR AND THE AMOUNT OF INSURANCE
9    DEDUCTIBLE A CONSUMER IS REQUIRED TO PAY AND TO COLLECT AN AMOUNT
10    IN EXCESS OF THE INSURANCE DEDUCTIBLE CHARGED UNLESS AN EXCEPTION
11    APPLIES; S [AND] s REPEALING EXISTING LAW ON INSURANCE DEDUCTIBLES
11a     S ; AND PROVIDING A COORDINATION CLAUSE s .
12    This act affects sections of Utah Code Annotated 1953 as follows:
13    AMENDS:
14         13-11-4, as last amended by Chapter 237, Laws of Utah 1995
15    REPEALS:
16         41-6-149.5, as enacted by Chapter 246, Laws of Utah 1997
17    Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
18        Section 1. Section 13-11-4 is amended to read:
19         13-11-4. Deceptive act or practice by supplier.
20        (1) A deceptive act or practice by a supplier in connection with a consumer transaction
21    violates this chapter whether it occurs before, during, or after the transaction.
22        (2) Without limiting the scope of Subsection (1), a supplier commits a deceptive act or
23    practice if the supplier knowingly or intentionally:
24        (a) indicates that the subject of a consumer transaction has sponsorship, approval,
25    performance characteristics, accessories, uses, or benefits, if it has not;
26        (b) indicates that the subject of a consumer transaction is of a particular standard, quality,

Text Box

Amend on 3_goldenrod February 26, 1998
27    grade, style, or model, if it is not;


1        (c) indicates that the subject of a consumer transaction is new, or unused, if it is not, or has
2    been used to an extent that is materially different from the fact;
3        (d) indicates that the subject of a consumer transaction is available to the consumer for a
4    reason that does not exist;
5        (e) indicates that the subject of a consumer transaction has been supplied in accordance
6    with a previous representation, if it has not;
7        (f) indicates that the subject of a consumer transaction will be supplied in greater quantity
8    than the supplier intends;
9        (g) indicates that replacement or repair is needed, if it is not;
10        (h) indicates that a specific price advantage exists, if it does not;
11        (i) indicates that the supplier has a sponsorship, approval, or affiliation the supplier does
12    not have;
13        (j) indicates that a consumer transaction involves or does not involve a warranty, a
14    disclaimer of warranties, particular warranty terms, or other rights, remedies, or obligations, if the
15    representation is false;
16        (k) indicates that the consumer will receive a rebate, discount, or other benefit as an
17    inducement for entering into a consumer transaction in return for giving the supplier the names of
18    prospective consumers or otherwise helping the supplier to enter into other consumer transactions,
19    if receipt of the benefit is contingent on an event occurring after the consumer enters into the
20    transaction;
21        (l) after receipt of payment for goods or services, fails to ship the goods or furnish the
22    services within the time advertised or otherwise represented or, if no specific time is advertised
23    or represented, fails to ship the goods or furnish the services within 30 days, unless within the
24    applicable time period the supplier provides the buyer with the option to either cancel the sales
25    agreement and receive a refund of all previous payments to the supplier or to extend the shipping
26    date to a specific date proposed by the supplier, but any refund shall be mailed or delivered to the
27    buyer within ten business days after the seller receives written notification from the buyer of the
28    buyer's right to cancel the sales agreement and receive the refund;
29        (m) fails to furnish a notice of the purchaser's right to cancel a direct solicitation sale
30    within three business days of the time of purchase if the sale is made other than at the supplier's
31    established place of business pursuant to the supplier's mail, telephone, or personal contact and if

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1    the sale price exceeds $25, unless the supplier's cancellation policy is communicated to the buyer
2    and the policy offers greater rights to the buyer than Subsection (2)(m), which notice shall be a
3    conspicuous statement written in dark bold at least 12 point type, on the first page of the purchase
4    documentation, and shall read as follows: "YOU, THE BUYER, MAY CANCEL THIS
5    CONTRACT AT ANY TIME PRIOR TO MIDNIGHT OF THE THIRD BUSINESS DAY (or
6    time period reflecting the supplier's cancellation policy but not less than three business days)
7    AFTER THE DATE OF THE TRANSACTION OR RECEIPT OF THE PRODUCT,
8    WHICHEVER IS LATER.";
9        (n) promotes, offers, or grants participation in a pyramid scheme as defined under Title
10    76, Chapter 6a, Pyramid Scheme Act; [or]
11        (o) represents that the funds or property conveyed in response to a charitable solicitation
12    will be donated or used for a particular purpose or will be donated to or used by a particular
13    organization, if the representation is false[.]; or
14        (p) if a consumer indicates his intention of making a claim for a motor vehicle repair
15    against his motor vehicle insurance policy:
16        (i) commences the repair without first giving the consumer oral and written notice of:
17        (A) the total estimated cost of the repair; and
18        (B) the total dollar amount the consumer is responsible to pay for the repair, which dollar
19    amount may not exceed the applicable deductible or other copay arrangement in the consumer's
20    insurance policy; or
21        (ii) requests or collects from a consumer an amount that exceeds the dollar amount a
22    consumer was initially told he was responsible to pay as an insurance deductible or other copay
23    arrangement for a motor vehicle repair under Subsection (2)(p)(i), even if that amount is less than
24    the full amount the motor vehicle insurance policy requires the insured to pay as a deductible or
25    other copay arrangement, unless:
26        (A) the consumer's insurance company denies that coverage exists for the repair, in which
27    case the full amount of the repair may be charged and collected from the consumer; or
28        (B) the consumer misstates, before the repair is commenced, the amount of money the
29    insurance policy requires the consumer to pay as a deductible or other copay arrangement, in
30    which case, the supplier may charge and collect from the consumer an amount that does not exceed
31    the amount the insurance policy requires the consumer to pay as a deductible or other copay

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1    arrangement.
2        Section 2. Repealer.
3        This act repeals:
4        Section 41-6-149.5, Insurance deductible for motor vehicle repairs.
4a     S Section 3. Coordination clause.
4b         IF THIS BILL AND 4th SUB. S.B. 76, INSURANCE LAW CHANGES, BOTH PASS, IT IS THE INTENT
4c     OF THE LEGISLATURE THAT IN ENROLLING, THE OFFICE OF LEGISLATIVE RESEARCH AND
4d     GENERAL COUNSEL SHALL REMOVE SECTION 31A-31-108 FROM 4th SUB. S.B. 76. s



Legislative Review Note
    as of 2-6-98 10:24 AM


A limited legal review of this bill raises no obvious constitutional or statutory concerns.

Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel


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Text Box

Amend on 3_goldenrod February 26, 1998


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