HR 4526 114th Congress House Commerce Civil actions and liability Consumer affairs Consumer credit Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Government information and archives Internet and video services Internet, web applications, social media Travel and tourism

Stop Online Booking Scams Act of 2016

Introduced: February 10, 2016 Introduced by: Frankel, Lois Democratic · Florida See on congress.gov

Everywhere this bill has been 3 steps

Introduced

In committee

Reported out

Passed House

Passed Senate

To President

Became law

Feb 12, 2016

Referred to the Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade.

Feb 10, 2016

Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

Feb 10, 2016

Introduced in House

Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Stop Online Booking Scams Act of 2016

This bill amends the Restore Online Shoppers' Confidence Act (ROSCA) to prohibit a third party online hotel reservation seller (an online seller that is not affiliated with the person who owns the hotel or provides the hotel services or accommodations) from charging a consumer's credit card, debit card, bank account, or other financial account for any good or service sold in an Internet transaction, unless the seller discloses all material terms of the transaction.

Before the conclusion of the transaction, the seller must describe, and disclose the cost of, the offered good or service.

The seller must also disclose, in a manner that is continuously visible to the consumer throughout the transaction process, the fact that it is not affiliated with the person who: (1) owns the hotel, or (2) provides the hotel services or accommodations.

States may bring actions in federal courts to obtain damages, restitution, compensation, or other relief for ROSCA violations. (Currently, states may bring such actions for only injunctive relief.)

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) must publish on its website an assessment of: (1) consumers' capacity to understand which company they are transacting with during online hotel reservation shopping, (2) consumer harm from such uncertainty, and (3) whether any practice by a third party online hotel reservation seller violates ROSCA.

The bill expresses the sense of Congress that the FTC should revise its website to make it easier for consumers and businesses to report complaints of deceptive practices with online booking of hotel reservations.

What's happening now February 12, 2016

Referred to the Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade.

Committees of jurisdiction 2