West Virginia Code 17A-6A-14a – Open account protection
If there is a dispute between the manufacturer, factory branch, distributor or distributor branch and the dealer with respect to any matter referred to this article, either party may notify, in writing, the other party of its request to challenge, through the manufacturer's appeal process or the circuit courts of the state of West Virginia. A manufacturer, factory branch, distributor, or distributor branch may not collect chargebacks, fully or in part, either through direct payment or by charge to the dealer's account, for warranty parts or service compensation, including service incentives, sales incentives, other sales compensation, surcharges, fees, penalties or any financial imposition of any type arising from an alleged failure of the dealer to comply with a policy of, directive from or agreement with the manufacturer, factory branch, distributor or distributor branch until thirty days following final notice of the amount charged to the dealer following all internal processes of the manufacturer, factory, factory branch, distributor or distributor branch. Within thirty days following receipt of final notice, the dealer may, in writing, request a hearing or seek civil relief from the manufacturer's appeal process or the circuit courts of the state of West Virginia. If a dealer requests a hearing or files a civil action, the manufacturer, factory branch, distributor or distributor branch may not collect the chargeback, fully or in part, either through direct payment or by charge to the dealer's account, until the completion of the hearing or civil action, and all appeal, civil or otherwise, have been exhausted concerning the validity of the chargeback.
Terms Used In West Virginia Code 17A-6A-14a
- Appeal: A request made after a trial, asking another court (usually the court of appeals) to decide whether the trial was conducted properly. To make such a request is "to appeal" or "to take an appeal." One who appeals is called the appellant.
- in writing: includes any representation of words, letters, or figures, whether by printing, engraving, writing, or otherwise. See West Virginia Code 2-2-10
- Manufacturer: means every person engaged in the business of constructing or assembling vehicles of a type required to be registered hereunder at a place of business in this state which is actually occupied either continuously or at regular periods by the manufacturer where his or her books and records are kept and a large share of his or her business is transacted. See West Virginia Code 17A-1-1
- State: when applied to a part of the United States and not restricted by the context, includes the District of Columbia and the several territories, and the words "United States" also include the said district and territories. See West Virginia Code 2-2-10