New FCC rules require consumers to opt in before receiving telemarketing messages.
Selbyville, DE (PRWEB) February 17, 2012
The FCC issued Wednesday stricter rules on automated phone calls originating from telemarketers, or robocalls, that prohibit companies from robocalling consumers who have not opted in to receive them.
The amendments were made to regulations in the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA). Among the changes:
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Marketers using automated dialing systems or predictive dialers may issue no phone calls to consumers’ cell phones without written consent.
- Prerecorded telemarketing calls to residential numbers are prohibited without the recipient’s prior written consent.
- All prerecorded telemarketing messages must include an opt-out mechanism that terminates the call and adds the recipient’s number to an internal do-not-call list.
All VPA members have agreed to abide by the VPA Standards of Conduct, a uniform ethical code designed to protect consumers who purchase vehicle service contracts. Members are prohibited from engaging in robodialing and are required to adhere to all applicable state and federal laws and regulations regarding automatic telephone dialing systems.
“The Vehicle Protection Association stands behind the FCC’s regulations on robocalling, which reflect on the position our association has already established,” said Larry Hecker, executive director of the VPA. “Consumers should avoid purchasing an auto service contract from companies that intentionally attempt to skirt the law by using deceptive marketing practices.”
Consumers should visit DoNotCall.gov to add their names to the National Do Not Call Registry, which requires consumers to update their preference again after five years.
Consumers shopping for vehicle service contracts should choose to work with VPA Gold-Certified companies, which have passed a rigorous third-party compliance review. A full list of VPA-certified vendors is available on the organization’s website.
About the Vehicle Protection Association
The Vehicle Protection Association (VPA) is a not-for-profit trade association representing firms that are active in the automotive service contract industry. Members include service contract marketers, administrators, insurers, payment providers and software providers. VPA currently has more than 60 members. The organization is committed to ensuring regulatory compliance among members, educating consumers on their rights, and otherwise ensuring the integrity of the automotive service contract industry. For more information, visit http://www.vpanet.org.
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Larry Hecker
Vehicle Protection Association
302-524-1150
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