N.J. lawmaker offers his two cents on coin-counting transparency

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New Jersey lawmakers want to make sure consumers know they may have to pay a price for using a coin-counting machine.

The Assembly’s Consumer Affairs Committee has advanced a bill to require the prominent display of any fee for counting the coins. Signage also would have to indicate whether a user can avoid the charge by getting the coins back after depositing them in the machine,

Assemblyman Patrick Diegnan said he was in a store and saw for himself why the measure is needed.

“A young family in front of me, all the kids pouring in their coins. They go over to the register, 10 percent off to the store to count the coins,” he said. “The kids cry, and mom and dad are wondering what’s going on. I could see no sign.”

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Failure to post such a sign would be punishable by a $1,000 fine. Repeat violations would trigger the Consumer Fraud Act with fines of $10,000 and possible punitive damages.

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