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"Do Not Call" Violators Fined $1.2M

coondoggie writes "A federal court today spanked two telemarketers with some $1.2 million in civil penalties for violating the Federal Trade Commission's Do Not Call Rule. According to the FTC, the companies called consumers whose phone numbers were on the Do Not Call Registry without having obtained their express written agreement or having an 'established business relationship' with them. One group's telemarketers also allegedly abandoned many calls, by failing to connect the calls to a sales representative within two seconds after consumers answered, as required by law, the FTC stated. The cases were filed by the Department of Justice on behalf of the FTC."

7 of 185 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Thats good to hear. by Rogerborg · · Score: 4, Funny

    Many judges are not sympathetic towards people who report the "Do Not Call" violators. They see the people who do report them as whiny people who are abusing the judicial system for money.

    Many Slashdot posters are inclined to make vague, sweeping populist statements without a shred of evidence to back them up. [Citation needed]

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  2. Re:cost of doing business... by mpe · · Score: 5, Funny

    There should also be other remedies available, such as prohibiting the CEOs of these companies from holding any company office for five years.

    Or maybe have to publish their own phone number(s) for 5 years.

  3. Re:Why Telemarketers? by Canazza · · Score: 2, Funny

    If bugging people on the phone at dinner time is a crime then my gran owes me ALOT of money then :)

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  4. Re:cost of doing business... by gandhi_2 · · Score: 3, Funny

    So...a heard of wildebeest looses two members, that's not really much of a deterrent to the thousands.

    And the two wildebeest didn't even die...they just got injured.

    On the bright side...the $1.2 mil in fines will help the government pay for a telemarketer industry bailout.

  5. This is your second notice by Cracked+Pottery · · Score: 2, Funny

    This is your second notice that the warranty on your annoying telephone scam is about to expire.

  6. Re:cost of doing business... by DinDaddy · · Score: 2, Funny

    "I call strawman on that."

    We are going to have to ask you for proof of a pre-existing business relationship with strawman, as his number is on the DNC list.

  7. Re:cost of doing business... by BradHAWK · · Score: 2, Funny

    According to Westgate Resorts' website, their annual revenue is "more than $400 million". They were fined $900,000, so that's about .2%. So in just three posts we've gone from .00004% to .012% to .2% - if we keep this thread going we can run them right out of business.