§ 407.1240 — Definitions.

Missouri § 407.1240

• Jurisdiction: Missouri
• Title XXVI: TRADE AND COMMERCE
• Ch. 407: Merchandising Practices

Text

As used in sections 407.1240 to 407.1252 , the following terms shall mean:

(1) "Business day" , every day except Sundays and holidays;

(2) "Holiday" , any day that the United States Post Office is closed;

(3) "Membership fee" , the initial or reoccurring fee that is unrelated to actual pass-through costs associated with the use and enjoyment of travel benefits;

(4) "Rescission statement" , a statement that shall be printed on all contracts pertaining to the purchase of travel club memberships from a travel club that shall provide in at least fourteen-point bold type the following statement:

"Assuming you have returned to the travel club all materials delivered to the purchaser at closing, you have the right to rescind this transaction for a period of three business days after the date of this agreement.  To exercise the right of rescission, you must deliver to the travel club, either in person or by first class mail postmarked within the three-business-day period, at the address referenced in this contract, a written statement of your desire to rescind this transaction, and all materials of value that were provided and given to you at the time of the purchase of your travel club membership.";

(5) "Surety bond" , any surety bond, corporate guaranty, letter of credit, certificate of deposit, or other bond or financial assurance in the sum of fifty thousand dollars that is required to be delivered by travel clubs which have been adjudged to have violated subsection 4 or 5 of section 407.1252 and in the event that such surety bond is accessed subsequent to posting as a result of the need to reimburse purchasers, the amount of the surety bond shall be increased by ten thousand dollars per reimbursement.  All surety bonds shall:

(a)  Serve as a source of funds to reimburse purchasers of travel club memberships who validly exercise their rights under the rescission statement in their contract but who are not, after judgment, provided a refund equal to the purchase price of their unused travel club memberships or, after settlement, equal to the terms of the settlement;

(b)  Serve as a source of funds to reimburse purchasers of travel club memberships who have been proven to be the subject of fraud;

(c)  Remain in full force and effect during the period of time the travel club conducts its business activities; and

(d)  Be deemed acceptable to the attorney general if:

a.  It is issued by an insurance company that possesses at least a "B+" rating, or its equivalent by A.M. Best or its successors or by any other nationally recognized entity that rates the creditworthiness of insurance companies;

b.  It is in the form of a letter of credit that is issued by a banking institution with assets of at least seventy-five million dollars;

c.  It is in the form of a certificate of deposit; or

d.  It is in a form that otherwise is acceptable to the attorney general;

(6) "Travel benefits" , benefits that are offered to travel club purchasers and customers that include all forms of overnight resort, condominium, time-share, hotel, motel, and other rental housing of every nature; all forms of air travel and rental car access; all forms of cruise line access; and all other forms of discounted travel benefits of every nature;

(7) "Travel club" , any business enterprise that either directly, indirectly, or through the use of a fulfillment company or other third party offers to sell to the public the reoccurring right to purchase travel benefits at prices that are represented as being discounted from prices otherwise not generally available to the public and charges members or customers a membership fee that collectively equals no less than seven hundred fifty dollars.

Legislative History

(L. 2005 S.B. 274, A.L. 2006 S.B. 1216, A.L. 2009 H.B. 83)