Legal risk of banks' participation in utility bills in terms of transition to the digital economy
Subject. This article analyzes the current state of legal regulation of banks' participation in payments of people for utilities and the prospects for improving its efficiency. Objectives. The article aims to investigate proposals for amendments to Article 155 of the Housing Code of the Russian Federation and assess the risk of violation of the sector specific legislation and rights of utilities consumers in terms of fulfilling the obligation to pay them under the collective payment document. Methods. For the study, we used the methods of rather-legal analysis, systematization, induction and deduction, and the legal forecasting and legal modeling methods. Results. The article identifies the main gaps and contradictions of the system of regulation of the collection and distribution of utility payments involving the bank, and it presents certain proposals to eliminate them. As a solution to the problem, the article proposes to automate the process of collecting utility payments while assessing the quality of services by introducing digital technologies into banking activities. It is proposed to introduce a Digital Multi-Receipt service, in particular. Conclusions and Relevance. The Digital Multi-Receipt service will help avoid the risk of violation of the running legislation, increase the collection of utility payments, and improve the quality of services provided. The analysis of the statutory regulation of housing and utilities relations and established methods of charging with banks, as well as the proposals formulated can be useful to the legislator in improving the existing housing and banking legislation and employees of legal services in creating regulation of the introduction of new technologies into banking activities.