69-3-1308. Prohibitions on charges on bill -- exceptions. - Montana Statutes

     69-3-1308. Prohibitions on charges on bill -- exceptions. (1) A telecommunications carrier, service provider, or other entity may not initiate charges to be placed on a customer's telecommunications bill unless the service or product has been requested by and provided to the customer. A customer request must be made in the following manner:
     (a) by written authorization, in which the telecommunications carrier, service provider, or other entity has obtained a document signed by the customer containing a clear and conspicuous disclosure of the customer's authorization or order of the product or service; or
     (b) by verbal authorization, in which the telecommunications carrier, service provider, or other entity has obtained the customer's verbal authorization as verified by an independent third party or by electronic means in accordance with commission rules.
     (2) (a) The documentation provided for in subsection (1)(a) must be signed by the customer responsible for paying the charges on the telecommunications bill.
     (b) The documentation provided for in subsection (1) may not be a part of a sweepstakes, contest, or similar promotional program.
     (3) A customer is not liable for any charges submitted for billing on the local exchange company's telephone bill by another carrier, service provider, or entity for products or services that the customer did not authorize or that were not provided to the customer.
     (4) The provisions of subsections (1) through (3) do not apply to a transaction between a customer and that customer's selected providers of local exchange or interexchange service, except upon a finding by the commission that services billed were neither requested nor received.

     History: En. Sec. 5, Ch. 249, L. 2003.