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.

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

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