Vacation Calls Violating the Do Not Call Law
There have been complaints about supposed free vacation schemes, which turn out to be requests for significant monies. The complaint discuss violation of the Do Not Call Law as well as deceptive marketing.
Better Business Bureau files indicate contain a pattern of complaints from consumers that allege they were contacted informing them they won a “free” vacation or cruise; however when they tried to redeem the free vacation they were informed of undisclosed fees and solicited for other monies. Some consumers allege receiving repeated phone calls about free vacations and requested to be removed from the company’s call list but they still continue to receive calls.
Call (973) 598-1980 for a free consultation if you were victimized by a free vacation scheme.
The Federal Trade Commission, with the assistance of the U.S. Department of Justice, has settled a complaint against a Massachusetts-based home security company that illegally called millions of consumers on the FTC’s National Do Not Call (DNC) Registry to pitch home security systems.
{It} called millions of consumers whose names and phone numbers VMS bought from lead generators. The lead generators claimed that those consumers had given VMS permission to contact them about the installation of a free home security system, but in reality, they had not. In its complaint, the FTC alleges that the defendants’ tactics violated the Commission’s Telemarketing Sales Rule.
The sales leads were obtained by illegal means through rampant use of robocalls from “Tom with Home Protection,” fake survey calls, and calls to phone numbers on the National Do Not Call Registry. According to the complaint, VMS subsequently called these consumers without first checking to see if they had registered their telephone numbers on the DNC Registry.
In addition, the complaint alleges that VMS ignored warning signs that the lead generators were engaged in illegal telemarketing practices. For example, many consumers contacted by VMS complained that they had not given the company permission to call, nor had they given permission to receive a robocall. Despite mounting complaints, VMS continued buying leads from the same lead generators, and calling consumers using those leads.
“Companies that use lead generators must exercise due diligence when they buy lists of phone numbers,” said Jessica Rich, Director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection, “or else they can be on the hook for illegal telemarketing. Relying on a say-so that the numbers were obtained legally, or that the consumers have agreed to be called, even if their numbers are on the Do Not Call Registry, isn’t enough.” FTC Home Security release