HARRISBURG — Attorney General Tom Corbett urged Pennsylvania consumers to understand their right to privacy under new national rules involving automated telemarketing sales calls and to take advantage of new protections against unwanted prerecorded “robocalls” that go into effect today.
“Starting today, new federal guidelines prohibit the use of prerecorded sales calls unless telemarketers have written permission from consumers,” Corbett said. “From now on, if you are disturbed by robocalls from businesses trying to sell you something that you have not requested, you should immediately report those calls to the Federal Trade Commission.”
Corbett noted that the new federal restrictions apply to prerecorded calls that are used to sell various goods or services, regardless of whether consumers have previously done business with the seller. Violators face federal penalties of up to $16,000 per call.
According to the amended national Telemarketing Sales Rule, some types of automated calls are still allowed, including “purely informational” messages – such as notices about medical appointments or school delays – along with calls from banks, telephone companies, debt collectors, charities, political groups and other situations where the caller is not attempting to sell a product or service.
“These new national rules should help consumers who are weary of dealing with countless numbers of unwanted prerecorded sales calls,” Corbett said. “When combined with our vigorous efforts to enforce existing state and federal ‘Do Not Call’ laws, we hope to restore much wanted peace and quiet to Pennsylvania homes.”
Corbett said that consumers can file complaints by using the “Report Annoying Robocalls” link on the front page of the Federal Trade Commission Web site or by calling 1-877-FTC-HELP.
Additionally, Corbett recommended that consumers register with the state and federal Do Not Call programs, if they have not done so already.
“These new national rules for automated robocalls will work hand-in-hand with our existing Do Not Call restrictions involving calls from live operators, helping to curb all types of unwanted sales calls,” Corbett said.
Corbett added that Do Not Call laws also help serve as a warning sign for potential scams and fraud.
“If you get an automated sales call, or you receive a call from a live operator even though you’re registered on the Do Not Call list, you immediately know that you are dealing with someone who is not interested in obeying the rules,” Corbett said. “If a business is going to start its relationship with you by violating one law, how can you trust anything else they might do or say?”
Corbett said that Pennsylvania residents can get more information in the “Do Not Call” section of the Attorney General’s Web site, including registration forms, frequently asked questions and an online system for filing Do Not Call complaints. (Highlight the “Consumers” button on the front page of the Web site and select “Do Not Call List” from the menu that appears)
Information about the national Do Not Call list is available on the Federal Trade Commission Web site.