Kennedy, DeAngelo, Vainieri Huttle & Benson Bill to Prohibit Cable, Cell Phone Companies from Charging Deceased Customers Early Termination Fees Clears Assembly Committee

(TRENTON) – Legislation Assembly Democrats James Kennedy, Wayne DeAngelo, Valerie Vainieri Huttle and Daniel Benson sponsored to prohibit telephone, cable and utility companies from charging deceased customers early termination fees was advanced Monday by an Assembly committee.

“When a family is grieving over the loss of a loved one, the last thing they want to deal with is an early termination fee from a cable company or an Internet service provider,” said Kennedy (D-Middlesex/Somerset/Union). “Charging someone a fee because he or she died is a merciless business practice that must come to an end.”

The bill (A-4482) would require service providers to allow a deceased customer’s executor, upon submission of a written request, to opt out of the customer’s contract without paying an early termination fee. The executor also would be required to submit proof of the customer’s death within 180 days of making the request.

“Consumers are more than just a source of revenue for businesses. They’re human beings,” said DeAngelo (D-Mercer/Middlesex). “Putting their surviving family members through the heartache of dealing with an early termination fee is simply wrong.”

“If someone dies, they’re not electing to end the contract early, so it’s really an improper application of the early termination fee,” said Vainieri Huttle (D-Bergen). “Prohibiting this practice is about standing up for consumers in New Jersey.”

“It’s appalling that we have to pass a law to protect consumers from extra fees tacked on solely because a customer dies,” said Benson (D-Mercer/Middlesex). “State law needs to protect families when they are most vulnerable by outlawing this practice in New Jersey.”

The measure specifically pertains to providers of: cable service, cell phone service, satellite service, electric generation service, fuel oil service, gas supply service, Internet access service, propane service, telecommunications service and Voice over Internet Protocol service.

The measure was advanced by the Assembly Consumer Affairs Committee.