Illinois § 2HHH

§ 2HHH.

Sec. 2HHH. Product and service charges billed on a telephone bill prohibited. (a) Definitions. For purposes of this Section: "Billing agent" means a person that submits charges for services or goods to a telecommunications carrier on behalf of a third-party vendor. "Third-party vendor" means an entity not affiliated with a telecommunications carrier that sells services or goods to a consumer. "Telecommunications carrier" has the same meaning as defined in Section 13-202 of the Public Utilities Act. (b) A third-party vendor shall not bill, directly or through an intermediary, a consumer for goods or services that will appear as a charge on a consumer's telephone bill. (c) A billing agent, on behalf of a third-party vendor, shall not submit, directly or through an intermediary, a charge to a telecommunications carrier for goods or services that will appear as a charge on a consumer's telephone bill. (d) Any person who violates this Section commits an unlawful practice within the meaning of this Act. (e) This Section does not apply to: (1) services or goods provided by a telecommunications carrier subject to the provisions of Section 13-903 of the Public Utilities Act; (2) services or goods sold by any affiliate of the telecommunications carrier issuing the bill to the consumer; (3) services or goods sold by any third-party vendor that has a direct contractual arrangement for the joint or cooperative sale of such services or goods with the telecommunications carrier issuing the bill to the consumer; provided however, that the telecommunications carrier issuing the bill to the consumer shall be responsible for assuring that such services or goods are not sold without the informed authorization of the consumer; (4) wireless services, as described in Section 13-804 of the Public Utilities Act and any other services or goods billed by or through a provider of wireless services; (5) message telecommunications services that are initiated by dialing 1+, 0+, 0-, or 1010XXX and calls that are subject to the Pay-Per-Call Services Consumer Protection Act; or (6) contributions to any charitable organization subject to Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. (Source: P.A. 96-827, eff. 11-30-09; 97-822, eff. 1-1-13.)