March 04, 2022
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Maine law requiring cable companies to prorate bills now in effect, being enforced - WGME

Cable companies, like Spectrum, will now have to prorate customer's bills in Maine (WGME).
Cable companies, like Spectrum, will now have to prorate customer's bills in Maine (WGME).

STATEWIDE (WGME) -- After nearly two years of legal challenges, Maine's law requiring cable companies to prorate bills is now in effect and being enforced.

The Maine Attorney General's Office says all Mainers who have canceled service since the law took effect in June of 2020 are entitled to a prorated refund.

Back in 2019, Spectrum customers contacted the CBS13 I-Team when they were forced to keep paying for cable service, even after they canceled.

Our investigation helped spark the new law , requiring companies to give a credit or rebate for unused days of service.

Spectrum and its parent company, Charter Communications, won an initial court challenge, arguing it violates federal law because it’s a form of rate regulation.

In January, the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals disagreed and ruled Maine’s law could stand.

Last month, Charter filed a motion to stay, asking that the law be delayed until early May so they could ask the U.S. Supreme Court to review the case.

The company wrote it would suffer “irreparable harm” without a stay because it would have to make payments to terminating customers over the coming months with no way to recoup that money, should the Supreme Court rule in its favor.

However, Charter withdrew that motion in late February and the court issued a mandate allowing the law to take effect.

The Maine AG's Office says Spectrum has until April 1 to set up an internal system that will automatically provide a prorated refund to any Mainer who canceled their cable service during 2022.

Customers who canceled between June of 2020 and the end of 2021 should contact their cable provider directly for a refund.

The CBS13 I-Team asked Charter if it will comply with the new law, but a spokesperson said the company had no comment.

If consumers have difficulty obtaining a refund, they should contact the Consumer Protection Division of the AG's Office.

Maine's pro rata law only applies to cable bills, and does not include internet service.



source: https://wgme.com/news/i-team/maine-law-requiring-cable-companies-to-prorate-bills-now-in-effect-being-enforced

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