Notwithstanding Section 53088.2, a delinquency fee charged in a cable television transaction which is not in excess of four dollars and seventy-five cents ($4.75) and which is imposed in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 53088.6 shall be valid. The delinquency fee may not exceed four dollars and seventy-five cents ($4.75), unless the Federal Communications Commission expressly requires late fees to be fully included when setting benchmark rates applicable to a cable television operator. If this requirement is imposed by the Federal Communications Commission, then the maximum delinquency fee charged by the cable television provider shall be 1¹/₂ percent of the delinquent amount in the relevant franchise areas for as long as late fees are fully included in benchmark rates.

(b) A collection fee which is not in excess of ten dollars ($10) and is in addition to the delinquency fee shall also be valid in a cable television consumer service transaction if the service provider sends an employee or contractor to the customer’s residence in order to collect payment or disconnect service and the fee is imposed in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 53088.6.

(Added by Stats. 1996, Ch. 666, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 1997.)