§ 138-26. Billing practices.*

A. 

At least annually, an MCS provider shall inform all subscribers of at least the following billing practices, which must be in accordance with this chapter:

(1) 

Billing procedures (including payments necessary to avoid discontinuance of service);

(2) 

Payment due and delinquent dates;

(3) 

Amount or percentage of any administrative fees and/or late charges, if any;

(4) 

Disconnection/reconnection policy;

(5) 

Advance billing options;

(6) 

Resolution procedures for billing disputes, complaints, and inquiries;

(7) 

Refund/credit policy for service interruptions, or unsolicited service;

(8) 

Current service rates in a detailed and understandable format;

(9) 

Amount of charges for installation or relocation of an MCS provider's facilities and/or equipment; and

(10) 

Current schedule and explanation for any billed charges or other nonregularly occurring fees invoiced to subscribers (including service call charges or trip charges).

B. 

Whenever there is a change in an MCS provider's billing practices or payment requirements, all subscribers must be notified in writing at least 30 days prior to such billing practices or payment requirements becoming effective.

C. 

In any case where a subscriber requests a cancellation or reduction of service within 30 days after the notification of a scheduled rate or charge adjustment, then the subscriber's liability for service received after the effective date of such changes, until the cancellation or reduction of service, shall be determined in accordance with the rates or charges, if any, in effect prior to such change.

D. 

The annual notification required in this section may be delivered to a subscriber by any means that reasonably assures that the subscriber actually receives the notification and wherein the notice is plainly discernible, of at least ten-point type and clearly indicates that it is a notice of importance that affects rates.