Telemarketing Regulations
Texas Implementation of HB 472 and "Do Not Call" List
The Public Utility Commission has rules in place to protect consumers from unscrupulous telephone sales solicitors.
A Telephone solicitor must:
- Identify the name of the business calling
- Identify a return phone number at which the company can be reached
- Only call between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and between noon and 9 p.m. on Sunday
- If the solicitor uses an automatic dial announcing device (ADAD), the computerized message must provide their company’s name and a telephone number that can receive an incoming call. This rule does not include calls from non-profit organizations, media subscription services, or a business soliciting a former or current customer.
Protect Yourself:
- Get the name of the solicitor and purpose of the call before giving any information.
- If you return a call from a solicitor, be cautious when leaving your name and phone number on their voice mail. Unauthorized charges may appear on your phone bill.
- Caller ID units may assist in obtaining information for telephone solicitors. Telemarketers are prohibited from blocking their name and phone number from Caller ID.
How do you stop telemarketing calls?
- To stop violators, get as much information as you can from the solicitor, such as name of the caller, name of the company, phone number, and address.
- Tell the solicitor to place your name and number on their own "do not call" list.
It is against the law for them to call you again.
- The Telephone Preference Service (TPS) is a free consumer service sponsored by the Direct Marketing Association. Write to TPS to be placed on a national "do not call" list, effective for 5 years. This will not stop all calls, but will help reduce the number of solicitation calls you receive.
Write to: Telephone Preference Service
Direct Marketing Association
P.O. Box 9014
Farmingdale, NY 11735-9014
For more information about this service, go directly to the TPA website: http://www.dmaconsumers.org/cgi/offmailing
What You Need To Know About Telephone Solicitation (pdf *)
Last Updated: 03/23/07
* PDF files require the use of the Adobe Acrobat Reader.
Down load a free copy here.
|
|