After millions of consumers told DISH Network's telemarketers to stop doing it, DISH kept right on calling them in violation of the federal Telemarketing Sales Rule, according to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).
In a lawsuit filed on August 23, the FEC claims satellite TV provider DISH Network illegally called millions of consumers who had previously asked telemarketers from the company or its affiliates not to call them again.
FTC claims DISH's calls violated provisions of the federal Telemarketing Sales Rule that state even if a consumer is not on the National Do Not Call Registry, a telemarketer may not call them again if the consumer specifically asks to be placed on the company's own do-not-call list.
"We have vigorously enforced the Do Not Call rules and will continue to do so to protect consumers' right to be left alone in the privacy of their own homes," said FTC Chairman Jon Leibowitz in a press release. "It is particularly disappointing when a well-established, nationally known company -- which ought to know better -- appears to have flagrantly and illegally made millions of invasive calls to Americans who specifically told DISH Network to leave them alone."
Should the court find the company to be in violation of the Telemarketing Sales Rule, DISH Network could be fined up to $16,000 for each improperly placed telemarketing call.
A separate lawsuit filed by the Department of Justice in 2009, accuses DISH Network of illegally placing millions of telemarketing "robocalls" to consumers who had registered their phone numbers of the National Do Not Call Registry.
Want to Complain? If your telephone number (including cell phones) has been on the National Do Not Call Registry for at least 31 days and you receive a call from a telemarketer that you believe is covered by the National Do Not Call Registry, you can file a complaint online or by calling the registry's toll-free number at 1-888-382-1222 (for TTY, call 1-866-290-4236). To file a complaint, you must know either the name or telephone number of the company that called you, and the date the company called you.
Also See:
Do Not Call List is Free: FTC Warns of Scam
Truth About Cell Phones and the Do Not Call Registry
Comments