Md. Code, CL § 12-511 Billing Statement Inquiry

• Library: Maryland Statutes
• Edition: 2023
• Currency: Current through November 23, 2023
• Year: 2023
• Citation: Md. Code, CL § 12-511

(a) In this section, "billing error" means the initial occurrence of an error in a billing statement given to a buyer by the holder of an account, which error results from:

(1) An omission or commission by the holder in posting any debit or credit;

(2) The computation of any amount; or

(3) Any similar error of an accounting nature.

(b) The provisions of this section do not apply to a status inquiry made under § 12-510 of this subtitle if a billing error is not asserted by the buyer.

(c) If, on receipt of a billing statement from a holder, a buyer believes the billing is in error, he may inquire as to the computation of the statement. The inquiry by the buyer shall:

(1) Be made within 60 days of receipt of the billing statement which contains the claimed error;

(2) Be in writing and sent to the holder by mail at the address designated on the statement pursuant to § 12-503(i) of this subtitle; and

(3) Set forth sufficient information to enable the holder to identify:

(i) The buyer and the account;

(ii) The amount and transaction shown in the billing statement which the buyer in good faith believes to be a billing error; and

(iii) The facts providing the basis for the buyer's belief that the billing statement is in error.

(d) On receipt of an inquiry under this section, the holder shall:

(1) Within 30 days after its receipt, mail a written acknowledgement to the buyer; and

(2) Within 60 days after its receipt, before taking any action to collect the amount believed by the buyer to be a billing error:

(i) Make appropriate corrections in the account and mail to the buyer a written notice which states that the amount believed to be in error has been corrected and will be so shown on the next billing statement mailed to him; or

(ii) Send to the buyer a written notice which sets forth in a clear and definitive manner the reasons why the holder believes that the account was correctly shown in the statement.