(1) Home heating fuel
service contracts marketed, sold, offered for sale, issued, made,
proposed to be made, or administered in this state or sold to
residents of this state must be written, printed, or typed in
clear, understandable language that is easy to read, and disclose
the requirements set forth in this section, as applicable.
(2) Home heating fuel service contracts insured under a
reimbursement insurance policy must not be issued, sold, or
offered for sale in this state or sold to residents of this state
unless the home heating fuel service contract conspicuously
contains a statement in substantially the following form:
"Obligations of the home heating fuel service contract provider
under this contract are insured under a contract reimbursement
insurance policy." The home heating fuel service contract must
also conspicuously state the name and address of the issuer of
the reimbursement insurance policy and state that the contract
holder is entitled to apply directly to the reimbursement
insurance company.
(3) Service contracts not insured under a reimbursement
insurance policy must contain a statement in substantially the
following form: "Obligations of the home heating fuel service
contract provider under this contract are backed by the full
faith and credit of the home heating fuel service contract
provider."
(4) Home heating fuel service contracts must state the name
and address of the contract provider and must identify any
administrator if different from the contract provider, the
contract seller, and the contract holder to the extent that the
name of the contract holder has been furnished by the contract
holder. The identities of the parties are not required to be
preprinted on the home heating fuel service contract and may be
added to the home heating fuel service contract at the time of
sale.
(5) Home heating fuel service contracts must state the
purchase price of the contract and the terms under which the home
heating fuel service contract is sold. The purchase price is not
required to be preprinted on the home heating fuel service
contract and may be negotiated at the time of sale.
(6) Home heating fuel service contracts must state the
procedure to obtain service or to file a claim, including but not
limited to the procedures for obtaining prior approval for repair
work, the toll-free telephone number if prior approval is
necessary for service, and the procedure for obtaining emergency
repairs performed outside of normal business hours or provide for
twenty-four hour telephone assistance.
(7) Home heating fuel service contracts must state the
existence of any deductible amount, if applicable.
(8) Home heating fuel service contracts must specify the
merchandise and services to be provided and any limitations,
exceptions, or exclusions.
(9) Home heating fuel service contracts must state any
restrictions governing the transferability of the service
contract, if applicable.
(10) Home heating fuel service contracts must state the
terms, restrictions, or conditions governing cancellation of the
home heating fuel service contract prior to the termination or
expiration date of the home heating fuel service contract by
either the contract provider or by the contract holder, which
rights can be no more restrictive than provided in RCW 48.111.040. The contract provider of the home heating fuel
service contract shall mail a written notice to the contract
holder at the last known address of the contract holder contained
in the records of the contract provider at least twenty-one days
prior to cancellation by the contract provider. The notice must
state the effective date of the cancellation and the true and
actual reason for the cancellation.
(11) Home heating fuel service contracts must set forth the
obligations and duties of the contract holder, including but not
limited to the duty to protect against any further damage and any
requirement to follow owner's manual instructions.
(12) Home heating fuel service contracts must state whether
or not the home heating fuel service contract provides for or
excludes consequential damages or preexisting conditions.
(13) Home heating fuel service contracts must not contain a
provision that requires that any civil action brought in
connection with the home heating fuel service contract must be
brought in the courts of a jurisdiction other than this state.
Home heating service contracts that authorize binding arbitration
to resolve claims or disputes may allow for arbitration
proceedings to be held at a location in closest proximity to the
contract holder's permanent residence.
[2006 c 36 § 7.]