Phone Broadcasting and The Law
Sending pre-recorded messages by phone is regulated by state and federal law. We require our customers to follow strict legal guidelines. Here is a quick summary of the latest legal requirements from the United States Federal Trade Commission (FTC):
- Sending "informational messages" is permissible, as long as you are not a telemarketer selling goods or services. Informational messages are notifications such as appointment reminders, airline schedule changes, overdue rentals or payment reminders, school alerts, emergency notifications, organizational membership updates, etc.
- If you are telemarketer selling goods and services, you need to comply with the National Do Not Call list and any individual state laws where you are conducting business. 72% of Americans have registered their phones on the national Do Not Call list. You cannot call these phone numbers.
- As of September 1, 2009, the FTC requires telemarketers have expressed WRITTEN permission from consumers to receive calls from them, whether they are on the Do Not Call list or not, or regardless of an existing business relationship. In other words, if you are commercial business that sells products or services, you need to get written permission from your customers or prospects before you can send them a phone broadcast pre-recorded message.
- ALL calls, including political calls, which send a pre-recorded message, need to identify who is initiating the call and include a telephone number or address whereby the caller can be reached.
- Telemarketers need to provide, at the beginning of each pre-recorded message, an automated keypress or voice-activated opt-out mechanism so that consumers can get off the list.
- Certain non-profit and health care related organizations and political calls are exempt and not covered under these rules.
We are not lawyers, and do not offer legal advice. We are a phone broadcasting service bureau that does everything possible to conform to the law. For your convenience, here are some important links that you can review to get the latest legal updates:
Federal Trade Commission Rules Regarding Pre-Recorded Calls
