State Codes and Statutes

Statutes > Texas > Business-and-commerce-code > Title-12-rights-and-duties-of-consumers-and-merchants > Chapter-605-consumer-rebate-response-and-grace-period-for-corrections

BUSINESS AND COMMERCE CODE

TITLE 12. RIGHTS AND DUTIES OF CONSUMERS AND MERCHANTS

CHAPTER 605. CONSUMER REBATE RESPONSE AND GRACE PERIOD FOR

CORRECTIONS

Sec. 605.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:

(1) "Consumer" means a person who obtains a product or service

that is to be used primarily for personal, business, family, or

household purposes.

(2) "Consumer rebate" means an offer to a consumer of cash,

credit, or credit toward future purchases that is made in

connection with a sale of a good or service to the consumer, is

in an amount of $10 or more, and requires the consumer to mail or

electronically submit a rebate request after the sale is

completed. The term does not include:

(A) any promotion or incentive that is offered by a manufacturer

to another company or organization that is not the consumer to

help promote or place the product or service;

(B) a rebate that is redeemed at the time of purchase;

(C) any discount, cash, credit, or credit toward a future

purchase that is automatically provided to a consumer without the

need to submit a request for redemption;

(D) a rebate that is applied to a bill that the consumer becomes

obligated to pay after the date the purchase is made;

(E) any refund that may be given to a consumer in accordance

with a manufacturer or retailer's return, guarantee, adjustment,

or warranty policies; or

(F) any manufacturer or retailer's frequent shopper customer

reward program.

(3) "Properly completed" means that the consumer submitted the

required information and documentation in the manner and by the

deadline specified in the rebate offer and otherwise satisfied

the terms and conditions of the rebate offer.

Added by Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch.

87, Sec. 4.012(a), eff. September 1, 2009.

Sec. 605.002. REBATE RESPONSE PERIOD; GRACE PERIOD FOR

CORRECTIONS. (a) Except as provided by Subsection (b), a

person, including a manufacturer or retailer, who offers a rebate

shall mail the amount of the rebate to the consumer or

electronically pay the consumer the amount of the rebate within

the time period promised in the rebate information provided to

the consumer or, if silent, not later than the 30th day after the

date the person receives a properly completed rebate request.

(b) If a consumer rebate offer is contingent on the consumer

continuing to purchase a service for a minimum length of time,

the time period in Subsection (a) begins on the later of:

(1) the date the consumer submits the rebate request; or

(2) the expiration date of the service period.

(c) If the person offering the rebate receives a rebate request

that is timely submitted but not properly completed, the person

shall:

(1) process the rebate in the manner provided by Subsection (a)

as if the rebate request were properly completed; or

(2) notify the consumer, not later than the date specified by

Subsection (a), of the reasons that the rebate request is not

properly completed and the consumer's right to correct the

deficiency within 30 days after the date of the notification.

(d) The notification under Subsection (c)(2) must be by mail,

except that notification may be by e-mail if the consumer has

agreed to be notified by e-mail.

(e) If the consumer corrects the deficiency stated in the

notification under Subsection (c)(2) before the 31st day after

the postmark date of the person's mailed notification to the

consumer or the date the e-mail is received, if applicable, the

person shall process the rebate in the manner provided by

Subsection (a) for a properly completed request.

(f) This section does not impose any obligation on a person to

pay a rebate to any consumer who is not eligible under the terms

and conditions of the rebate offer or has not satisfied all of

the terms and conditions of the rebate offer, if the person

offering the rebate has complied with Subsections (c) and (d).

(g) A person offering a rebate has the right to reject a rebate

request from a consumer who the person determines:

(1) is attempting to commit fraud;

(2) has already received the offered rebate; or

(3) is submitting proof of purchase that is not legitimate.

(h) A person making a determination under Subsection (g) shall

notify the consumer within the time period provided by Subsection

(c) that the person is considering rejecting, or has rejected,

the rebate request and shall instruct the consumer of any actions

that the consumer may take to cure the deficiency.

(i) If the person offering a rebate erroneously rejects a

properly completed rebate request, the person shall pay the

consumer as soon as practicable, but not later than 30 days,

after the date the person learns of the error.

Added by Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch.

87, Sec. 4.012(a), eff. September 1, 2009.

Sec. 605.003. USE OF INDEPENDENT ENTITY TO PROCESS REBATE. For

the purposes of this chapter, if a person who offers a rebate

uses an independent entity to process the rebate, an act of the

entity is considered to be an act of the person and receipt of a

rebate request by the entity is considered receipt of the request

by the person.

Added by Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch.

87, Sec. 4.012(a), eff. September 1, 2009.

Sec. 605.004. DECEPTIVE TRADE PRACTICE. (a) A violation of

this chapter is a deceptive trade practice in addition to the

practices described by Subchapter E, Chapter 17, and is

actionable by a consumer under that subchapter. Claims related

to more than one consumer may not be joined in a single action

brought for an alleged violation of this chapter, unless all

parties agree.

(b) A violation of this chapter is subject to an action by the

office of the attorney general as provided by Section 17.46(a).

Added by Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch.

87, Sec. 4.012(a), eff. September 1, 2009.

Sec. 605.005. CERTIFICATION AS CLASS ACTION PROHIBITED. A court

may not certify an action brought under this chapter as a class

action.

Added by Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch.

87, Sec. 4.012(a), eff. September 1, 2009.

State Codes and Statutes

Statutes > Texas > Business-and-commerce-code > Title-12-rights-and-duties-of-consumers-and-merchants > Chapter-605-consumer-rebate-response-and-grace-period-for-corrections

BUSINESS AND COMMERCE CODE

TITLE 12. RIGHTS AND DUTIES OF CONSUMERS AND MERCHANTS

CHAPTER 605. CONSUMER REBATE RESPONSE AND GRACE PERIOD FOR

CORRECTIONS

Sec. 605.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:

(1) "Consumer" means a person who obtains a product or service

that is to be used primarily for personal, business, family, or

household purposes.

(2) "Consumer rebate" means an offer to a consumer of cash,

credit, or credit toward future purchases that is made in

connection with a sale of a good or service to the consumer, is

in an amount of $10 or more, and requires the consumer to mail or

electronically submit a rebate request after the sale is

completed. The term does not include:

(A) any promotion or incentive that is offered by a manufacturer

to another company or organization that is not the consumer to

help promote or place the product or service;

(B) a rebate that is redeemed at the time of purchase;

(C) any discount, cash, credit, or credit toward a future

purchase that is automatically provided to a consumer without the

need to submit a request for redemption;

(D) a rebate that is applied to a bill that the consumer becomes

obligated to pay after the date the purchase is made;

(E) any refund that may be given to a consumer in accordance

with a manufacturer or retailer's return, guarantee, adjustment,

or warranty policies; or

(F) any manufacturer or retailer's frequent shopper customer

reward program.

(3) "Properly completed" means that the consumer submitted the

required information and documentation in the manner and by the

deadline specified in the rebate offer and otherwise satisfied

the terms and conditions of the rebate offer.

Added by Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch.

87, Sec. 4.012(a), eff. September 1, 2009.

Sec. 605.002. REBATE RESPONSE PERIOD; GRACE PERIOD FOR

CORRECTIONS. (a) Except as provided by Subsection (b), a

person, including a manufacturer or retailer, who offers a rebate

shall mail the amount of the rebate to the consumer or

electronically pay the consumer the amount of the rebate within

the time period promised in the rebate information provided to

the consumer or, if silent, not later than the 30th day after the

date the person receives a properly completed rebate request.

(b) If a consumer rebate offer is contingent on the consumer

continuing to purchase a service for a minimum length of time,

the time period in Subsection (a) begins on the later of:

(1) the date the consumer submits the rebate request; or

(2) the expiration date of the service period.

(c) If the person offering the rebate receives a rebate request

that is timely submitted but not properly completed, the person

shall:

(1) process the rebate in the manner provided by Subsection (a)

as if the rebate request were properly completed; or

(2) notify the consumer, not later than the date specified by

Subsection (a), of the reasons that the rebate request is not

properly completed and the consumer's right to correct the

deficiency within 30 days after the date of the notification.

(d) The notification under Subsection (c)(2) must be by mail,

except that notification may be by e-mail if the consumer has

agreed to be notified by e-mail.

(e) If the consumer corrects the deficiency stated in the

notification under Subsection (c)(2) before the 31st day after

the postmark date of the person's mailed notification to the

consumer or the date the e-mail is received, if applicable, the

person shall process the rebate in the manner provided by

Subsection (a) for a properly completed request.

(f) This section does not impose any obligation on a person to

pay a rebate to any consumer who is not eligible under the terms

and conditions of the rebate offer or has not satisfied all of

the terms and conditions of the rebate offer, if the person

offering the rebate has complied with Subsections (c) and (d).

(g) A person offering a rebate has the right to reject a rebate

request from a consumer who the person determines:

(1) is attempting to commit fraud;

(2) has already received the offered rebate; or

(3) is submitting proof of purchase that is not legitimate.

(h) A person making a determination under Subsection (g) shall

notify the consumer within the time period provided by Subsection

(c) that the person is considering rejecting, or has rejected,

the rebate request and shall instruct the consumer of any actions

that the consumer may take to cure the deficiency.

(i) If the person offering a rebate erroneously rejects a

properly completed rebate request, the person shall pay the

consumer as soon as practicable, but not later than 30 days,

after the date the person learns of the error.

Added by Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch.

87, Sec. 4.012(a), eff. September 1, 2009.

Sec. 605.003. USE OF INDEPENDENT ENTITY TO PROCESS REBATE. For

the purposes of this chapter, if a person who offers a rebate

uses an independent entity to process the rebate, an act of the

entity is considered to be an act of the person and receipt of a

rebate request by the entity is considered receipt of the request

by the person.

Added by Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch.

87, Sec. 4.012(a), eff. September 1, 2009.

Sec. 605.004. DECEPTIVE TRADE PRACTICE. (a) A violation of

this chapter is a deceptive trade practice in addition to the

practices described by Subchapter E, Chapter 17, and is

actionable by a consumer under that subchapter. Claims related

to more than one consumer may not be joined in a single action

brought for an alleged violation of this chapter, unless all

parties agree.

(b) A violation of this chapter is subject to an action by the

office of the attorney general as provided by Section 17.46(a).

Added by Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch.

87, Sec. 4.012(a), eff. September 1, 2009.

Sec. 605.005. CERTIFICATION AS CLASS ACTION PROHIBITED. A court

may not certify an action brought under this chapter as a class

action.

Added by Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch.

87, Sec. 4.012(a), eff. September 1, 2009.


State Codes and Statutes

State Codes and Statutes

Statutes > Texas > Business-and-commerce-code > Title-12-rights-and-duties-of-consumers-and-merchants > Chapter-605-consumer-rebate-response-and-grace-period-for-corrections

BUSINESS AND COMMERCE CODE

TITLE 12. RIGHTS AND DUTIES OF CONSUMERS AND MERCHANTS

CHAPTER 605. CONSUMER REBATE RESPONSE AND GRACE PERIOD FOR

CORRECTIONS

Sec. 605.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:

(1) "Consumer" means a person who obtains a product or service

that is to be used primarily for personal, business, family, or

household purposes.

(2) "Consumer rebate" means an offer to a consumer of cash,

credit, or credit toward future purchases that is made in

connection with a sale of a good or service to the consumer, is

in an amount of $10 or more, and requires the consumer to mail or

electronically submit a rebate request after the sale is

completed. The term does not include:

(A) any promotion or incentive that is offered by a manufacturer

to another company or organization that is not the consumer to

help promote or place the product or service;

(B) a rebate that is redeemed at the time of purchase;

(C) any discount, cash, credit, or credit toward a future

purchase that is automatically provided to a consumer without the

need to submit a request for redemption;

(D) a rebate that is applied to a bill that the consumer becomes

obligated to pay after the date the purchase is made;

(E) any refund that may be given to a consumer in accordance

with a manufacturer or retailer's return, guarantee, adjustment,

or warranty policies; or

(F) any manufacturer or retailer's frequent shopper customer

reward program.

(3) "Properly completed" means that the consumer submitted the

required information and documentation in the manner and by the

deadline specified in the rebate offer and otherwise satisfied

the terms and conditions of the rebate offer.

Added by Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch.

87, Sec. 4.012(a), eff. September 1, 2009.

Sec. 605.002. REBATE RESPONSE PERIOD; GRACE PERIOD FOR

CORRECTIONS. (a) Except as provided by Subsection (b), a

person, including a manufacturer or retailer, who offers a rebate

shall mail the amount of the rebate to the consumer or

electronically pay the consumer the amount of the rebate within

the time period promised in the rebate information provided to

the consumer or, if silent, not later than the 30th day after the

date the person receives a properly completed rebate request.

(b) If a consumer rebate offer is contingent on the consumer

continuing to purchase a service for a minimum length of time,

the time period in Subsection (a) begins on the later of:

(1) the date the consumer submits the rebate request; or

(2) the expiration date of the service period.

(c) If the person offering the rebate receives a rebate request

that is timely submitted but not properly completed, the person

shall:

(1) process the rebate in the manner provided by Subsection (a)

as if the rebate request were properly completed; or

(2) notify the consumer, not later than the date specified by

Subsection (a), of the reasons that the rebate request is not

properly completed and the consumer's right to correct the

deficiency within 30 days after the date of the notification.

(d) The notification under Subsection (c)(2) must be by mail,

except that notification may be by e-mail if the consumer has

agreed to be notified by e-mail.

(e) If the consumer corrects the deficiency stated in the

notification under Subsection (c)(2) before the 31st day after

the postmark date of the person's mailed notification to the

consumer or the date the e-mail is received, if applicable, the

person shall process the rebate in the manner provided by

Subsection (a) for a properly completed request.

(f) This section does not impose any obligation on a person to

pay a rebate to any consumer who is not eligible under the terms

and conditions of the rebate offer or has not satisfied all of

the terms and conditions of the rebate offer, if the person

offering the rebate has complied with Subsections (c) and (d).

(g) A person offering a rebate has the right to reject a rebate

request from a consumer who the person determines:

(1) is attempting to commit fraud;

(2) has already received the offered rebate; or

(3) is submitting proof of purchase that is not legitimate.

(h) A person making a determination under Subsection (g) shall

notify the consumer within the time period provided by Subsection

(c) that the person is considering rejecting, or has rejected,

the rebate request and shall instruct the consumer of any actions

that the consumer may take to cure the deficiency.

(i) If the person offering a rebate erroneously rejects a

properly completed rebate request, the person shall pay the

consumer as soon as practicable, but not later than 30 days,

after the date the person learns of the error.

Added by Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch.

87, Sec. 4.012(a), eff. September 1, 2009.

Sec. 605.003. USE OF INDEPENDENT ENTITY TO PROCESS REBATE. For

the purposes of this chapter, if a person who offers a rebate

uses an independent entity to process the rebate, an act of the

entity is considered to be an act of the person and receipt of a

rebate request by the entity is considered receipt of the request

by the person.

Added by Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch.

87, Sec. 4.012(a), eff. September 1, 2009.

Sec. 605.004. DECEPTIVE TRADE PRACTICE. (a) A violation of

this chapter is a deceptive trade practice in addition to the

practices described by Subchapter E, Chapter 17, and is

actionable by a consumer under that subchapter. Claims related

to more than one consumer may not be joined in a single action

brought for an alleged violation of this chapter, unless all

parties agree.

(b) A violation of this chapter is subject to an action by the

office of the attorney general as provided by Section 17.46(a).

Added by Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch.

87, Sec. 4.012(a), eff. September 1, 2009.

Sec. 605.005. CERTIFICATION AS CLASS ACTION PROHIBITED. A court

may not certify an action brought under this chapter as a class

action.

Added by Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch.

87, Sec. 4.012(a), eff. September 1, 2009.