1Amending the act of December 17, 1968 (P.L.1224, No.387),
2entitled "An act prohibiting unfair methods of competition
3and unfair or deceptive acts or practices in the conduct of
4any trade or commerce, giving the Attorney General and
5District Attorneys certain powers and duties and providing
6penalties," further providing for private actions.

7The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
8hereby enacts as follows:

9Section 1. Section 9.2(a) of the act of December 17, 1968 
10(P.L.1224, No.387), known as the Unfair Trade Practices and 
11Consumer Protection Law, reenacted and amended November 24, 1976 
12(P.L.1166, No.260) and amended December 4, 1996 (P.L.906, 
13No.146), is amended to read:

14Section 9.2. Private Actions.--(a) Any person who purchases
15or leases goods or services primarily for personal, family or
16household purposes and thereby suffers any ascertainable loss of
17money or property, real or personal, as a result of the use or
18employment by any person of a method, act or practice declared
19unlawful by section 3 of this act, may bring a private action to

1recover actual damages or [one] five hundred dollars [($100)]
2($500), whichever is greater. The court may, in its discretion,
3award up to three times the actual damages sustained, but not
4less than [one] five hundred dollars [($100)] ($500), and may
5provide such additional relief as it deems necessary or proper.
6The court may award to the plaintiff, in addition to other
7relief provided in this section, costs and reasonable attorney
8fees.

9* * *

10Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.