SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois House on Friday unanimously passed House Bill 3148, introduced by State Representative Brad Fritts (R-Dixon), to protect consumers from being charged extra fees for requesting physical copies of invoices or statements. The bill, which amends the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act, makes it unlawful for businesses to charge additional fees for not enrolling in automatic payment programs or for requesting business documents be mailed rather than delivered electronically.
Fritts said that these penalties are unfair to those without the internet.
“This is a newer issue that unfairly discriminates against those who live in rural areas with limited access to technology and our senior populations who aren’t always the most technologically sound,” he said.
The bill also clarifies that businesses may still offer discounts for automatic payment enrollment. The measure now moves to the Senate for further review.
