West Virginia Resources

Summary

The exemption for service contracts was adopted in 2000 via HB 4499 thanks to Delegates Beane and Hutchins. It was partially in response to a court case suggesting that service contracts were insurance.

Statutes

For a direct link to the State law, CLICK HERE

Chapter 33 INSURANCE

§33-4-2.  Application of chapter to particular types of insurers.

(a) No provision of this chapter shall apply to:

(1) Hospital service corporations and medical service  corporations except as stated in article twenty-four of this  chapter;

(2) Fraternal benefit societies except as stated in article  twenty-three of this chapter;

(3) Farmers' mutual fire insurance companies except as stated  in article twenty-two of this chapter;

(4) Warranties;

(5) Service contracts;

(6) Maintenance agreements.

(b) For the purposes of this article:

(1) "Holder" means a resident of this state who either  purchases a service agreement or is legally in possession of a  service contract and is entitled to enforce the rights of the  original purchaser of the service contract.

(2) "Maintenance agreement" means a contract for a limited  period that provides only for scheduled maintenance.

(3) "Provider" means a person who is obligated to a holder  pursuant to the terms of a service contract to repair, replace or  perform maintenance on or to indemnify the holder for the costs of  repairing, replacing or performing maintenance on goods.

(4) "Service contract" means an agreement entered into for a  separately stated consideration and for a specified term under which a provider agrees to repair, replace or maintain a product or  provide indemnification for the repair, replacement or maintenance  of a product for operational or structural failure caused by a  defect in materials or workmanship or by normal wear.  A service  contract may additionally provide for incidental payment or  indemnity under limited circumstances including towing, rental and  emergency road service or for the repair or replacement of a  product for damage resulting from power surges or accidental damage  incurred in handling the product.

(5) "Warranty" means in relation to a product or service an  undertaking that guarantees indemnity for defective parts,  mechanical or electrical breakdown, labor costs or other remedial  measures, such as repair or replacement of the product or  repetition of services and that is made solely by the manufacturer,  importer or seller of the product or services made without payment  of additional consideration, not negotiated or separated from the  sale of the product or service and incidental to the sale of the  product or service.


REGULATIONS

None at this time

Compliance Chart

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