2018 Missouri Revised Statutes
Title XXVI - Trade and Commerce
Chapter 407 - Merchandising Practices
Section 407.1252 Complaint procedure — violations, remedy.

Effective 01 Jan 2017, see footnote

Title XXVI TRADE AND COMMERCE

407.1252. Complaint procedure — violations, remedy. — 1. Any individual who purchases a travel club membership from a travel club and has a complaint resulting from that purchase transaction has the option, in addition to filing a civil suit, to file a written complaint with the office of the state attorney general, or the county prosecuting attorney. The office which receives the complaint shall deliver to the travel club that is the subject of the complaint, by registered mail within ten working days, all written complaints received under this section in their entirety. Should the office receiving the complaint, including the attorney general, fail to deliver the complaint as stated herein, any action subsequently filed on the complaint shall be stayed for a period of thirty business days from the date the club is first notified and provided the written complaint, thereby allowing the travel club that is the subject of the complaint an opportunity to cure the complaint as provided in subsection 2 of this section.

2. Prior to being subject to any remedies available under sections 407.1240 to 407.1252, a travel club shall have thirty business days following the date that a filed complaint is provided to the travel club to cure any grievances stated in the complaint. The parties shall not seek other forms of redress during this period. Upon satisfaction or settlement of any complaint, the parties shall execute a written mutual release which shall contain the terms of the settlement and operate to remove the matters contained in the release as a basis for further action by any entity or person under this chapter. Any payments to be made under a settlement shall be made within fifteen business days of the signing date of the settlement.

3. (1) The attorney general, prosecuting attorney, or complainant may bring an action in a court of competent jurisdiction to enjoin a violation of sections 407.1240 to 407.1252 if the conditions for a violation of sections 407.1240 to 407.1252 have been met.

(2) A person who violates any provision of sections 407.1240 to 407.1252 is guilty of a class E felony and shall be subject to a penalty of ten thousand dollars. Any fines collected under this subsection shall be transferred to the state school moneys fund as established in section 166.051 and distributed to the public schools of this state in the manner provided in section 163.031.

4. Any travel club registered to operate in this state which has been adjudged to have failed to provide a refund equal to the purchase price of the unused travel benefits of a person who has validly exercised his or her rights of rescission under sections 407.1240 to 407.1252 within fifteen business days of such valid exercise or has been adjudged to have failed to honor a settlement agreement entered into under the provisions of sections 407.1240 to 407.1252 shall post a surety bond upon the earlier of a judgment entered on said violations or its next annual registration.

5. Any travel club registered to operate in this state which has been adjudged to have engaged in fraud in the procurement or sale of contracts shall be required to post a security bond upon the earlier of the judgment finding such or its next annual registration.

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(L. 2005 S.B. 274, A.L. 2014 S.B. 491)

Effective 1-01-17