Code of Maine Rules › 65 - DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION › 407 - PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION › Chapter 290 - STANDARDS FOR BILLING, CREDIT AND COLLECTION, AND CUSTOMER INFORMATION FOR ELIGIBLE TELECOMMUNICATIONS CARRIERS PROVIDING BASIC TELEPHONE SERVICE › Section 407-290-12 - BILLING AND PAYMENT STANDARDS

Current through 2024-29, July 17, 2024
A.
Late
				payment charges and returned check charges
. In addition to complying
				with the requirements listed below, ETCs must also comply with Chapter 870 of
				the Commission's rules relating to late payment charges and returned check
				charges.
B.
Bill
				frequency
. An ETC shall bill on a regular recurring basis and must offer
				at least one monthly billing option.
C.
Advance billing limited;
				discount
. An ETC may not require the payment of basic service fees more
				than 1 month in advance. An ETC may, however, offer customers the option of
				receiving a discount for early payment.
D.
Due date of bills
. The due
				date of a bill for basic service must be at least 25 days after the bill is
				mailed or otherwise delivered to the customer. If the ETC mails its bills from
				a location outside the State and requires customers to mail payment to a
				location outside the State, the due date must be extended 5 days (for a total
				of 30 days). A bill is considered to have been mailed on the date it is
				postmarked. If there is no postmark, the ETC shall date the bill and mail the
				bill on or before the date on the bill.
E.
Bill content
. Each bill
				issued by an ETC shall:
1.
Identification of ETC
. Include a clear and conspicuous
				identification of the certificated ETC providing the customer's basic service.
				If the ETC has more than one name, the name appearing on the bill must be the
				name used to market the service;
2.
Date
. Identify the date on which the bill was issued;
3.
Balance
. Identify the balance
				in each billed account at the beginning of the current billing cycle, using a
				term such as "previous balance;
4.
Charges debited for current billing cycle
. Identify the amount of
				the charges debited to each billed account during the current billing cycle,
				using a term such as "current service;"
5.
Payments made
. Identify the
				amount of payments made to each billed account from the previous billing cycle,
				using a term such as "payments;"
6.
Charges debited for past charges
. Identify the amount of the
				charges debited to each billed account during the current billing cycle for
				untimely payment of past charges, using a term such as "late charge;"
7.
Closing dates and balance
.
				Include a listing of the closing dates of the current billing cycle and the
				outstanding balance in each billed account on that date, specifying the
				"current amount due" and the "past due;"
8.
Class of service
. Identify
				the applicable class of service as stated in the ETC's rate schedule;
9.
Due date
. Include a
				statement, or payment, due date;
10.
Receipt deadline
. Include
				the date by which payment of the new balance must be received to avoid
				assessment of a late charge;
11.
Interest rate
. Identify the effective monthly interest rate that
				will be imposed if the bill is not paid by the due date;
12.
Basic service charges
.
				Include an itemization of current basic service charges and other fees related
				to basic service, including installation or reconnection fees, deposit amounts,
				late payment interest charges, taxes, and separate surcharges provided by the
				ETC;
13.
Contact
				information
. Clearly and conspicuously disclose any information that the
				subscriber may need to make inquiries about, or contest, charges on the bill;
				and
14.
Toll-free
				number
. Include the toll-free phone number(s) for customer service
				representatives of the ETC and any other service provider to which charges are
				due, and to which customer questions or disputes concerning bills or services
				should be directed.