DirecTV and Comcast to pay fines for "Do Not Call"

HTNut · 04-17-2009, 08:15 PM

Quote:

By Kathy Shwiff
Of DOW JONES NEWSWIRES

WASHINGTON (Dow Jones)--DirecTV Group Inc. (DTV) agreed to pay $2.3 million and Comcast Corp. (CMCSA) $900,000 to settle charges of violating the federal "do not call" law.

The satellite-television provider and Comcast, the nation's largest cable-TV concern, were accused of having employees or telemarketers call consumers who specifically told the companies not to call them again.

A DirecTV telemarketer also agreed to pay a $115,000 penalty for making prerecorded sales calls to consumers who asked not to be called.

The Federal Trade Commission said DirecTV violated a 2005 court order barring it from making such calls. The company paid $5.3 million under that order. "What makes DirecTV's actions especially troubling is that it is a two-time offender," said FTC Chairman Jon Leibowitz.

Article - WSJ.com

In this day and age, do telephone marketers actually make money by cold calling (or from a list) people? Man, shame on Direct.

dreamr802 · 05-12-2009, 08:48 AM

Wow if I asked to be removed from a list, I better be removed from that list. That is why my mom has an unlisted phone number. When I get a house I want my number unlisted as well.

STAN · 05-29-2009, 03:45 AM

Is this what "free enterprise" is all about? If you google complaints about Direct TV, Dish Network, and Comcast.net you will get a "book" of complaints about not only violating DNC rules but unfair billing practices. The $2,000,000 and $900,000 fine that Direct TV and comcast paid was as injurious to them as a parking ticket was to me (my opinion only).

Orrymain · 05-29-2009, 06:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dreamr802

Wow if I asked to be removed from a list, I better be removed from that list. That is why my mom has an unlisted phone number. When I get a house I want my number unlisted as well.

Unlisted numbers aren't even a guarantee. I have an unlisted phone number. A lot of companies use automated dialing. It's just a sequential program, so it means little to have an unlisted number.

Orrymain · 05-29-2009, 06:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by STAN

Is this what "free enterprise" is all about? If you google complaints about Direct TV, Dish Network, and Comcast.net you will get a "book" of complaints about not only violating DNC rules but unfair billing practices. The $2,000,000 and $900,000 fine that Direct TV and comcast paid was as injurious to them as a parking ticket was to me (my opinion only).

Comcast was on that list a year ago about the worst companies in terms of customer service. Their response was that it was bound to be because they have a higher volume of customers (right -- cough).

In my opinion, Comcast needs to lower their prices or add more punch to what they deliver because where I live, it's pretty pitiful.


Home \| DTV & HD News \| Today's Posts \| JakesDTVBlog.com Interview \| Join DTV USA Forum