HARRISBURG – Attorney General Linda Kelly has announced that an Oklahoma-based company must pay civil penalties as well as investigation costs to resolve a lawsuit, which was filed following complaints from consumers who received solicitation calls while enrolled on the Pennsylvania Do Not Call list.
Kelly said the lawsuit was filed against United American Technology Inc. (UAT), 1401 South Fretz Avenue, Edmond, Okla.
According to the lawsuit, UAT hired the National Campaign for Moral Values Fund (NCMVF) to solicit business from consumers who were enrolled in Pennsylvania’s Do Not Call registry.
Kelly said UAT allegedly attempted to circumvent the restrictions of the Telemarketer Registration Act by having NCMVF, a non-profit company, call consumers to warn them about the dangers of Internet pornography and child predators, while using the call to market the services of UAT, a for-profit telecommunications corporation.
The companies allegedly failed to promptly disclose the purpose of their calls and what was being sold and failed to end telephone solicitation calls when consumers indicated they were not interested.
Kelly said UAT paid a commission to NCMVF for every consumer it referred to UAT.
Under the agreement, UAT must pay civil penalties and investigation costs. A percentage of the civil penalties will go to consumers who filed complaints that led to the legal action.
The settlement was negotiated by Senior Deputy Attorney General Michael Gerdes of the Attorney General’s Bureau of Consumer Protection.
Do Not Call
Consumers may register their telephone number online atwww.attorneygeneral.gov, by calling the toll-free hotline at 1-888-777-3406, or by mailing their name, mailing address, telephone number and signature to the Attorney General’s Office.
Kelly said there is an added registration feature that is only available on the website, which allows consumers to verify their enrollment to find out when they first registered for the list. Online registrants will also be able to read Frequently Asked Questions, which explain the Do Not Call list and its functions.
Telemarketers who violate the provisions of the law could face a civil penalty of $1,000 per violation. The penalty could be increased to $3,000 for calls placed to a person age 60 or older and registered on the Do Not Call.
Consumers who are registered on the Do Not Call list and feel that they have received a telemarketing call that is not exempt can file a complaint with the Attorney General’s Bureau of Consumer Protection online atwww.attorneygeneral.gov or by calling 1-888-777-3406.
