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S 2998 110th Congress Senate Science, Technology, Communications Civil actions and liability Commerce Consumer education Consumer protection Customer service Fees Government Operations and Politics Injunctions Law Parties to actions Restrictive trade practices State laws Telecommunication industry Telecommunication rates Telephone Wireless communication

Prepaid Calling Card Consumer Protection Act of 2008

Introduced: May 8, 2008 See on congress.gov
 Everywhere this bill has been 4 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Sep 10, 2008
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 110-1218.
May 8, 2008
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. (text of measure as introduced: CR S3977-3979)
May 8, 2008
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S3976-3977)
May 8, 2008
Introduced in Senate
 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Prepaid Calling Card Consumer Protection Act of 2008 - Requires the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to require every prepaid telephone calling service provider and prepaid telephone calling card distributor to disclose certain information, including: (1) the number of calling units or minutes of domestic interstate calls provided or the dollar value and the domestic interstate rate per minute; (2) the calling unit or per minute rates for all served international preferred destinations; (3) the applicable per minute rates for all served international destinations; (4) all terms and conditions, including regarding fees, policies on refunds, recharges, decrements, and expiration, and time imitations; and (5) a toll-free customer service number and hours.

Makes it unlawful to: (1) deduct anything but the per minute rate and disclosed fees; (2) provide fewer minutes or charge a higher per minute rate than promoted or advertised; (3) provide fewer minutes than the number of minutes announced, promoted, or advertised through any voice prompt; (4) have (unless clearly disclosed) an expiration date less than one year after first use (or after additional minutes are purchased); and (5) charge a fee for an unconnected call. Prohibits evading liability by using disclaimers or limitations.

Treats violations as a violation of a rule defining an unfair or deceptive act or practice under specified provisions of the Federal Trade Commission Act.

Allows state civil enforcement and state laws offering equal or greater protection to consumers.

What's happening now September 10, 2008

Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 110-1218.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1