(1) A discount plan organization may charge a periodic charge as well as a reasonable one-time processing fee of no more than thirty dollars for a discount plan, or such other amount as established by rule, but may not require payment of these or any other charges or fees by direct debit from a banking, credit, or debit card account unless that method of payment is clearly and conspicuously disclosed to the prospective member. All charges and fees must be provided in writing to the member when the member first joins the plan.

     (2) When a marketer or discount plan organization solicits a discount plan in conjunction with any other product, all charges that a member or prospective member must pay for each discount plan must be provided in writing as a separate item to the member or prospective member, unless the entire amount of the periodic charge which includes the periodic discount plan charge will be refunded if the member cancels his or her membership in the discount plan organization within the first thirty days after the date of receipt of the written documents for the discount plan as provided in subsection (3) of this section.

     (3)(a)(i) If a member cancels his or her membership in the discount plan organization within the first thirty days after the date of receipt of the written documents for the discount plan described in RCW 48.155.090(4), the member must receive a reimbursement of all periodic charges upon return of the discount plan card to the discount plan organization.

     (ii)(A) Cancellation occurs when notice of cancellation is given to the discount plan organization.

     (B) Notice of cancellation is given when delivered by hand or deposited in a mailbox, properly addressed and postage prepaid to the mailing address of the discount plan organization, or e-mailed to the e-mail address of the discount plan organization.

     (iii) A discount plan organization shall return in full any periodic charge charged or collected after the member has given the discount plan organization notice of cancellation.

     (b) If the discount plan organization cancels a membership for any reason other than nonpayment of charges by the member, the discount plan organization shall make a pro rata reimbursement of all periodic charges to the member.

[2009 c 175 § 9.]