Wis. Stat. § 616.50 — WI Code / Chapter 616 / Section 616.50
Definitions.
Status: in_force

In this subchapter:

(1) “Administration” includes any of the following activities performed on behalf of a provider:

(a) Approving or disapproving claims, paying claims, or controlling the claims adjustment process.

(b) Arranging for or controlling the purchase of insurance associated with the offering of service contracts.

(c) Maintaining records or submitting filings required under this subchapter on behalf of a provider.

(d) Collecting provider fees from service contract sellers and remitting the provider fees to the provider.

(2) “Administrator” means a person appointed by a provider under s. 616.54 (1) to be responsible for any or all of the administration of service contracts and compliance with this subchapter.

(3) “Commissioner” means the commissioner of insurance.

(4) “Consumer” means an individual who buys other than for purposes of resale any tangible personal property that is distributed in commerce and that is normally used for personal, family, or household purposes and not for business or research purposes.

(5) “Maintenance agreement” means a contract of a specified duration that provides for scheduled maintenance only and does not include repair or replacement.

(6) “Motor vehicle manufacturer” means a person that does or satisfies any of the following:

(a) Manufactures or produces motor vehicles and sells motor vehicles under its own name or label.

(b) Is a subsidiary of the person that manufactures or produces motor vehicles.

(c) Is a corporation that owns 100 percent of the person that manufactures or produces motor vehicles.

(d) Manufactures or produces motor vehicles and sells motor vehicles under the trade name or label of another person that manufactures or produces motor vehicles.

(e) Does not manufacture or produce motor vehicles but, pursuant to a written contract, licenses the use of its trade name or label to another person that manufactures or produces motor vehicles and that sells motor vehicles under the licensor’s trade name or label.

(7) “Nonoriginal manufacturer’s parts” means replacement parts for property that are not made for or by the original manufacturer of the property.

(8) “Provider” means a person that is contractually obligated to a service contract holder under the terms of a service contract.

(9) “Provider fee” means the consideration paid for a service contract.

(10) “Reimbursement insurance policy” means any of the following:

(a) A policy of insurance issued to a provider under the terms of the insured service contracts issued or sold by the provider that, in the event of the provider’s or administrator’s nonperformance, will pay or perform on behalf of the provider or administrator all covered contractual obligations or services under the terms of the insured service contracts issued or sold by the provider.

(b) A policy of insurance issued to a provider that provides the coverage specified in par. (a) and additional coverage that does not conflict with par. (a) .

(11) “Service contract” means a contract or agreement for a separately stated consideration for a specific duration to perform the repair, replacement, or maintenance of property, or to provide indemnification for the repair, replacement, or maintenance of property, for the operational or structural failure of property, due to a defect in materials or workmanship, accidental damage from handling, or normal wear and tear, with or without additional provisions for incidental payment of indemnity under limited circumstances, including towing, rental, and emergency road service and road hazard protection. “Service contract” includes a contract or agreement that provides for any of the following:

(a) The repair, replacement, or maintenance of property or indemnification for the repair, replacement, or maintenance of property for damage resulting from a power surge or interruption.

(b) The repair or replacement or indemnification for the repair or replacement of a motor vehicle for the operational or structural failure of one or more parts or systems of the motor vehicle brought about by the failure of an additive product to perform as represented.

(c) The repair or replacement of tires or wheels on a motor vehicle damaged as a result of coming into contact with road hazards including potholes, rocks, wood debris, metal parts, glass, plastic, curbs, or composite scraps.

(d) The removal of dents, dings, or creases on a motor vehicle that can be repaired using the process of paintless dent removal without affecting the existing paint finish and without replacing vehicle body panels, sanding, bonding, or painting.

(e) The repair or replacement of motor vehicle windshield chips or cracks.

(f) The repair of damage to the interior components of a motor vehicle caused by wear and tear, but does not include the replacement of any part or component of a motor vehicle’s interior.

(g) The repair or replacement of a motor vehicle key or key fob in the event that the key or key fob becomes inoperable or is lost or stolen.

(h) The repair, replacement, or maintenance of a motor vehicle, or indemnification for the repair, replacement, or maintenance, for excess wear to the motor vehicle that results in excess wear and use charges at the end of a lease that are assessed by a lessor under a motor vehicle lease agreement, if the value of any benefits under the contract or agreement does not exceed the purchase price of the motor vehicle.

(12) “Service contract holder” means a person who is the purchaser or holder of a service contract.

(13) “Service contract seller” means a person, including a real estate agent, who is engaged only in the selling or soliciting of a service contract, but who is not acting as a provider or involved in the administration of service contracts.

(14) “Warranty” means a warranty made solely by the manufacturer, importer, or seller of property or services without consideration, that is not negotiated or separated from the sale of the product or services, that is incidental to the sale of the product or services, and that guarantees indemnity for defective parts, mechanical or electrical breakdown, labor, or other remedial measures, such as repair or replacement of the property or repetition of services.

History: 2011 a. 226 ; 2021 a. 129 .