Ciresi bill to outlaw early termination fees for deceased persons signed into law

Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus    July 2, 2024 | 2:53 PM

HARRISBURG, July 2 – State Rep. Joe Ciresi’s bill that protects a deceased person’s family or estate from being charged early termination fees when canceling certain service contracts and vehicle leases was signed into law last Friday as Act 29 of 2024.

“Death comes with many burdens for the survivors, but one of them shouldn’t be termination fees,” Ciresi said. “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. And it is simply gross that companies profit off a person’s death through these fees.  My legislation prohibits cable, phone, telecommunications, utility, and other companies from imposing early termination fees on a recently deceased person’s family for services that would no longer be used.”

Act 29 requires that written notice along with a copy of a death certificate be provided to end such leases or contracts without financial penalty.

Ciresi has championed the legislation in previous sessions.

This session, the bill had 24 co-sponsors, including both Democrats and Republicans. Ciresi said he was grateful to his colleagues for their support of this bill to provide additional protections for consumers.

“Act 29 is going to help many, many Pennsylvania families during their time of grief by removing one less hassle as they settle their loved one’s estate,” Ciresi said.