Telephone & Cable Installation Fees For Connecticut Nursing Home Residents
Residents in nursing homes may often change rooms for a number of reasons including roommate disputes.
Now they’ll have a few less things to worry about.
On October 1, 2008, PA 08-115 went into effect which prohibits telephone and cable operators from charging an installation fee when a resident changes rooms within a facility.
The problem with this act is that the legislature took away some of its bite by providing that a violation does not constitute an unfair or deceptive trade practice under CUTPA.
It seems pretty unfair that a utility company could charge fees for installation of television and cable when a resident changes rooms in violation of an express public policy and it not be an unfair trade practice.
October 6th, 2008 at 2:35 pm
I’m a good liberal like you, but I have to respectfully disagree with your conclusion.
I see the legislation as a fee shifting scheme. The legislature knows that the utility is going to get paid for the time, just not by the resident of the nursing home. The cost will be spread among young, able-bodied folks like you and other people reading your insightful blog.
I wouldn’t say that such a policy conclusion amounts to the type of “firmly-rooted” public policy that should invoke the draconian wrath of CUTPA.
I think the suits got it right. Have I done too much work for “the man”?
[Reply]
October 6th, 2008 at 3:23 pm
Van,
The utility lobby prevailed against the old folks lobby here. I’ve seen clients moved from rooms in nursing homes for reasons beyond their control. For some of immobile patients their only access to the outside world comes from their TV and their phone.
I’m not sure what use a statute is without a penalty. If not CUTPA then what? It’s not like they specified some fine.
Somewhere, some legislator(s) are telling the folks back home that they stuck up for senior citizens against cable companies. However, this is a dog with not bite.
[Reply]
October 7th, 2008 at 12:03 am
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