For More Information Contact:
Rep. Sue Jeskewitz (608) 266-3796
(Madison)… Last night, after almost six years of hard work, legislation authored by Representative Sue Jeskewitz (R-Menomonee Falls) that will give consumers protection from direct marketers passed the Assembly.
“It has been a long road to travel to protect consumers from unfair business practices,” remarked Jeskewitz. “I have worked relentlessly over the past four legislative sessions to pass a bill that maintains the protection to the consumer while being mindful of undue hardships to the business community.”
Many people, especially the elderly, have been charged for a good that was received in the mail that was not authorized. Oftentimes a business will call and offer a free trial of something, only to continue to send the product and charge for it without approval. There is nothing wrong with the company that legitimately contracts with a person after the free offer; the problem lies when the “free offer” is no longer free and a consumer is charged for a product that they did not agree to continue purchasin.
“This bill involves some very simple concepts, which are to require honesty, full disclosure of any obligation and a reasonable right-to-cancel any trial or continuing sales plan,” said Jeskewitz. “By doing so, we not only protect consumers, we protect honest business people trying to compete with deceptive competitors.” For those businesses operating legitimately, this bill will have no effect on the way they do business.
Senate approval is the next step in the process to become law. Jeskewitz looks forward to a public hearing in the Senate to be scheduled for AB 574 early next year.
