04 LC 19 6074

House Bill 1149
By: Representatives Buckner of the 82^nd, Snow of the 1^st, Barnes of the 84^th, Post 2, Dodson of the 84^th, Post 1, Manning of the 32^nd, and others

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT

To amend Part 1 of Article 2 of Chapter 5 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions relative to telephone service, so as to require telecommunications companies to inform customers of the procedures for disputing charges billed by such companies; to provide that violation shall constitute an unfair trade practice; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:

SECTION 1.

Part 1 of Article 2 of Chapter 5 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions relative to telephone service, is amended by inserting at the end thereof a new Code Section 46-5-28 to read as follows:
"46-5-28.
(a) Each telecommunications company shall devise and implement a policy and procedure which provides that in each instance in which a customer calls the company to question a charge for telephone service billed by the company, such customer is given immediate disclosure of the process for disputing a charge as provided by company policy.
(b) Willful violation of subsection (a) of this Code section shall constitute an unfair trade practice in violation of Code Section 10-1-393."

SECTION 2.

All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.