The final aspect of last year’s Telemarketing Sales Rule took effect today. Telemarketers now must obtain written consent from consumers, in advance, to solicit them via so-called “robocalls.”
The Federal Trade Commission, or FTC, was instrumental in shaping the rule, which clamps down on those annoying, automated and pre-recorded messages hawking everything from air conditioning checkups to debt consolidation.
Fines for violating the order can run as high as $16,000 per call.
So we have to ask – who, really, is going to ask for robocalls to interrupt their dinner? Not us.
