PENNSYLVANIA — In a unanimous decision, the Pennsylvania House has passed State Representative Joe Ciresi’s bill that seeks to protect families or estates of deceased individuals from being charged early termination fees when canceling certain service contracts and vehicle leases.
Representative Ciresi voiced his support for the legislation, stating, “It’s hard enough to lose a family member, but it is just salt in the wound for a grieving relative to have to pay an early termination fee because the customer has died.” He added, “Death shouldn’t come with fees, and companies shouldn’t be making money off a customer’s death.”
Under the provisions of the proposed legislation, cable, phone, telecommunication, utility, and other companies would be prohibited from imposing early termination fees on the families of recently deceased customers for services that are no longer in use. To end such leases or contracts without financial penalties, the bill mandates that a written notice along with a death certificate must be provided.
Ciresi has been a strong advocate for this legislation in previous sessions. This session, the bill garnered robust bipartisan support, with 24 co-sponsors from both the Democratic and Republican parties.
With its passage in the House, the bill, formally known as House Bill 109, now moves to the Senate for consideration. If enacted, the law will prohibit fees for early termination of certain contracts upon death, provide for the waiver of applicable fees, and impose civil penalties.
The last action on the bill was its third consideration and final passage in the House on October 17, 2023, where it passed with a vote of 203-0.
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