Have you ever been offered unthinkable sums of money from a Nigerian prince? This online scam famously made its way through millions of email inboxes and requested bank account information in exchange for a princely reward. The email turned out to be a royal hoax, as scammers would use the information to steal money from gullible readers. While you may not intend for your company's next marketing campaign to resemble Read More
Subpoenaed by the Government? Take These 5 Steps Immediately!
A government subpoena (or a “civil investigative demand”) can be a scary prospect—even if you've done nothing wrong. Whether it involves a criminal or (what appears to be) a purely civil investigation, it's important that you comply without incriminating yourself. To minimize your legal issues, follow these five steps right away. Don't Communicate with the Government People often make the big mistake of Read More
4 Key Rules for Utilizing Voice Recorded Telemarketing Messages
Voice recorded telemarketing messages can be a simple and convenient way to communicate with your audience—provided you know when and how to use them. You know how important it is to comply with the Telemarketing Sales Rule (TSR) and similar laws, both on a federal and state level. When you're working with prerecorded messages in particular, you should take care to observe the following key rules. Express, Read More
What You Need to Know About the CFPB
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) was created by the Obama administration in 2011. It was first formed as a response to the financial crisis and recession, and since then it has served to protect consumers of financial products. The Bureau enforces federal laws that apply to banks, credit unions, payday lenders, debt collectors, and other financial companies. Telemarketing companies should also be aware Read More
5 Examples of Unfair Trade Practices and How to Avoid Them
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is the primary federal agency responsible for enforcing consumer protection laws against unfair and deceptive trade practices. In essence, these laws require that consumers be given a fair chance to make informed, rational decisions about the goods and services they purchase. With that in mind, how can you improve the way your company interacts with your customers? Generally Read More
5 Ways to Prevent a Class Action TCPA Claim on Your Business
As consumers continue to switch from landlines to mobile phones as their primary contact numbers, the landscape for telemarketing companies keeps shifting. The Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) was amended a few years ago to address these changes. The act now protects consumers with landlines, as well as those with mobile phones, from receiving automated telemarketing calls without prior written consent, and Read More
A Brief Overview of the Federal Telemarketing Sales Rule
What sets a good telemarketer apart from the rest? While a telemarketing company's recipe for success is often debated, many would agree that honesty, integrity, and ethical practices are key ingredients. That's where the federal Telemarketing Sales Rule (TSR) comes in. The law imposes a set of rules and regulations on telemarketing companies nationwide, benefiting honest telemarketers and consumers alike. The TSR Read More
The Difference Between State and Federal “Do Not Call” Registries
Every telemarketing company should know about the federal Do Not Call registry (DNC). Designed to protect United States residents from invasive telemarketing practices, the list allows residents to sign up and opt out of commercial telephone calls. US telemarketers are legally prohibited from placing calls to the telephone numbers on this list. Following an authorization from Congress, the registry was created and Read More
Potential Exemptions for the State Telemarketing License
Many states require you to have a telemarketing license before you make telephone calls to or from those states. While it's possible that you may need a license for each of your target states, there are usually many exemptions and you should look into them beforehand to see if any apply to your business. You may save yourself significant time and money. You want to call established customers If you primarily Read More
What You Need to Know About Telemarketing Bonds
The telemarketing industry is heavily regulated by both state and federal laws. While many of these laws are designed to protect consumers from telemarketing abuse, fraud, and other violations, they can also level the playing field for telemarketers who use ethical practices. Telemarketing bonds have a similar purpose. They essentially act as a guarantee that you, the phone solicitor or telemarketer, will act Read More