Key Provisions of the FTC's Telemarketing Sales Rule

The Federal Trade Commission's (FTC) Telemarketing Sales Rule sets strict guidelines for telemarketers. These rules require telemarketers to make specific disclosures, limit when they can make calls,

and give consumers the power to stop unwanted calls. The rule is aimed mainly at consumer telemarketers, but it also applies to business-to-business marketers of non-durable office goods (paper, toner, and other consumables) and cleaning supplies.

No matter the size of your business, you're subject to the rule if you telemarket across state lines. If you outsource telemarketing, you could be held liable if the firm you hire violates the rule. Penalties can be stiff, with fines of up to $10,000 per violation. So before you begin dialing for dollars, consider some of the key provisions of the Telemarketing Sales Rule.

A telemarketer cannot:

• Call a consumer's residence before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m.
• Call consumers who have requested they not be called. Telemarketers must keep and abide by "Do not call" lists, the directory of people who have asked not to receive unsolicited sales calls.
• Withdraw money from a consumer's checking account without express, verifiable authorization.
• Misrepresent any information or lie to gain a consumer's business.