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S.B. 161 Enrolled

                 

MOTOR VEHICLE REPAIR - INSURANCE DEDUCTIBLE

                 
1998 GENERAL SESSION

                 
STATE OF UTAH

                 
Sponsor: Scott N. Howell

                  AN ACT RELATING TO COMMERCE AND TRADE; MAKING IT A DECEPTIVE TRADE
                  PRACTICE TO COMMENCE A MOTOR VEHICLE REPAIR WITHOUT DISCLOSING
                  THE ESTIMATED COST OF REPAIR AND THE AMOUNT OF INSURANCE
                  DEDUCTIBLE A CONSUMER IS REQUIRED TO PAY OR TO COLLECT AN AMOUNT
                  IN EXCESS OF THE INSURANCE DEDUCTIBLE CHARGED UNLESS AN EXCEPTION
                  APPLIES; REPEALING EXISTING LAW ON INSURANCE DEDUCTIBLES; AND
                  PROVIDING A COORDINATION CLAUSE.
                  This act affects sections of Utah Code Annotated 1953 as follows:
                  AMENDS:
                      13-11-4, as last amended by Chapter 237, Laws of Utah 1995
                  REPEALS:
                      41-6-149.5, as enacted by Chapter 246, Laws of Utah 1997
                  Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
                      Section 1. Section 13-11-4 is amended to read:
                       13-11-4. Deceptive act or practice by supplier.
                      (1) A deceptive act or practice by a supplier in connection with a consumer transaction
                  violates this chapter whether it occurs before, during, or after the transaction.
                      (2) Without limiting the scope of Subsection (1), a supplier commits a deceptive act or
                  practice if the supplier knowingly or intentionally:
                      (a) indicates that the subject of a consumer transaction has sponsorship, approval,
                  performance characteristics, accessories, uses, or benefits, if it has not;
                      (b) indicates that the subject of a consumer transaction is of a particular standard, quality,
                  grade, style, or model, if it is not;
                      (c) indicates that the subject of a consumer transaction is new, or unused, if it is not, or has
                  been used to an extent that is materially different from the fact;


                      (d) indicates that the subject of a consumer transaction is available to the consumer for a
                  reason that does not exist;
                      (e) indicates that the subject of a consumer transaction has been supplied in accordance with
                  a previous representation, if it has not;
                      (f) indicates that the subject of a consumer transaction will be supplied in greater quantity
                  than the supplier intends;
                      (g) indicates that replacement or repair is needed, if it is not;
                      (h) indicates that a specific price advantage exists, if it does not;
                      (i) indicates that the supplier has a sponsorship, approval, or affiliation the supplier does not
                  have;
                      (j) indicates that a consumer transaction involves or does not involve a warranty, a
                  disclaimer of warranties, particular warranty terms, or other rights, remedies, or obligations, if the
                  representation is false;
                      (k) indicates that the consumer will receive a rebate, discount, or other benefit as an
                  inducement for entering into a consumer transaction in return for giving the supplier the names of
                  prospective consumers or otherwise helping the supplier to enter into other consumer transactions,
                  if receipt of the benefit is contingent on an event occurring after the consumer enters into the
                  transaction;
                      (l) after receipt of payment for goods or services, fails to ship the goods or furnish the
                  services within the time advertised or otherwise represented or, if no specific time is advertised or
                  represented, fails to ship the goods or furnish the services within 30 days, unless within the
                  applicable time period the supplier provides the buyer with the option to either cancel the sales
                  agreement and receive a refund of all previous payments to the supplier or to extend the shipping
                  date to a specific date proposed by the supplier, but any refund shall be mailed or delivered to the
                  buyer within ten business days after the seller receives written notification from the buyer of the
                  buyer's right to cancel the sales agreement and receive the refund;
                      (m) fails to furnish a notice of the purchaser's right to cancel a direct solicitation sale within
                  three business days of the time of purchase if the sale is made other than at the supplier's established

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

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                  insurance policy requires the consumer to pay as a deductible or other copay arrangement, in which
                  case, the supplier may charge and collect from the consumer an amount that does not exceed the
                  amount the insurance policy requires the consumer to pay as a deductible or other copay
                  arrangement.
                      Section 2. Repealer.
                      This act repeals:
                      Section 41-6-149.5, Insurance deductible for motor vehicle repairs.
                      Section 3. Coordination clause.
                      If this bill and 4th Sub. S.B. 76, Insurance Law Changes, both pass, it is the intent of the
                  Legislature that in enrolling, the Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel shall remove
                  Section 31A-31-108 from 4th Sub. S.B.76.

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