AT&T Corp. will pay fines nearly $35,000 and investigation costs to resolve violations of Pennsylvania’s “Do-Not-Call” law.
According to state Attorney General Tom Corbett, AT&T violated Pennsylvania’s Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law and its Telemarketer Registration Act during its telemarketing campaign.
Under the terms of the agreement, AT&T, Bedminster, NJ, admitted no wrongdoing but agreed to:
*Pay $29,500 in civil penalties.
*Fully comply with the state’s Telemarketer Registration Act during future telemarketing campaigns.
*Not make false or misleading statements about the identity of the caller, purpose of the call and nature of the services offered.
*Comply with requests to end the telemarketing call.
*Pay $5,000 for investigation costs.
Between Nov. 2002 and June 2004 consumers in 24 counties claimed that AT&T representatives contacted them at home to sell long-distance telephone service plans even though the consumers’ names, addresses and telephone numbers were properly registered on the state’s “no-call” list, according to Corbett.
Under the law, businesses and telemarketers are required to purchase the “no-call” list and properly process the names and telephone numbers to ensure that those on the registry are not contacted.
Businesses conducting telemarketing campaigns are prohibited from contacting consumers until they obtain the list and properly adapt it to their internal calling systems.
According to the AG, dozens of consumers on the list claimed they received multiple calls from AT&T offering them discount the long- distance plans.
A total of 250 consumers filed complaints claiming that they received calls from AT&T but were unsure if the telemarketers were calling on behalf of AT&T Corp, AT&T Wireless, AT&T Broadband or Universal Card Services. Approximately 60 calls were traced to telemarketers with AT&T Corp.
AT&T declined to comment.
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