Attorney General's News Release

July 12, 2001

Nixon announces first lawsuit under state's new No Call law; other telemarketers to pay $15,000 total in penalties

Jefferson City, Mo. — Less than two weeks after enforcement of the state's new No Call law took effect, Attorney General Jay Nixon today announced four separate court actions against telemarketers who violated the law by calling Missourians whose home phone numbers are on the No Call list. More than 590,000 phone numbers currently are on the list, representing approximately 1.5 million Missourians, Nixon said.

"Missourians whose numbers are on the list have been a vital and enthusiastic part of the No Call team, reporting violations to us and providing us with detailed information about those calls," Nixon said. "We will uphold our end of the bargain by thoroughly investigating those complaints and doggedly pursuing those telemarketers who flout the law. Make no mistake about it — we are dead serious about playing hard ball on No Call."

Nixon today filed the first lawsuit under the No Call law against a Florida business that he said has made repeated telemarketing calls to consumers on the No Call list. Nixon said the business, Absolute Advantage Consulting, of Largo, Fla., has not cooperated with his office to comply with the law after being contacted by investigators.

"Telemarketers — no matter where they are located — will not be able to ignore our No Call law with impunity and do so at their own peril," Nixon said. "We anticipate that this is just the opening salvo of legal action to enforce what is obviously a very popular law."

Under the lawsuit filed in St. Louis City Circuit Court, Absolute Advantage Consulting faces civil penalties of up to $5,000 per violation if found liable for violating Missouri's No Call law.

Nixon also filed assurances of voluntary compliance containing civil penalties of $5,000 each against three other telemarketers in the circuit courts of St. Charles County and St. Louis City. The businesses covered by the agreements not only will pay the penalties but also will obtain the database containing the numbers on the No Call list and then refrain from calling them or they face additional $5,000 penalties, Nixon said. The businesses are:

• American Autoglass Association Inc., of Spokane, Wash.; the AVC was filed in St. Charles County.
• Craftmatic of 10,000 Lakes Inc., of Mendota Heights, Minn.; the AVC was filed in St. Louis.
• Integrated Credit Solutions Inc., of Largo, Fla.; the AVC was filed in St. Louis.

"These businesses now will join the ranks of the telemarketers who are complying with the law by not calling almost 600,000 residential phone numbers in Missouri," Nixon said.

Missourians who have not yet registered their home telephone numbers on the No Call list can do so at no cost, either online at www.moago.org or by calling toll-free 1-866 NO CALL 1 (1-866-662-2551). Those already on the No Call list may file complaints regarding telemarketing calls by downloading a complaint form off that Web site or by calling that same toll-free number.

Telemarketers who need a copy of the database containing the telephone numbers on the No Call list can obtain information on how to do so on the Attorney General's Web site. The cost of the database is $25 and is updated four times a year.

Inquiries from consumers should be directed to consumer@ago.mo.gov or 1-800-392-8222 (from within Missouri) or 573-751-3321 (outside Missouri).

All media inquiries should be directed to Press Secretary John Fougere.

E-mail      Phone: 573-751-8844         Fax: 573-751-5818