State Passes Cell Phone Telemarketing Law with Debt Collector Exemption

As the Federal Communications Commission debates (www.collectionindustry.com/item/19020) the merits of banning auto-dialers for use in calling cell phones ? with no exemption for creditors and debt collectors — the state of Pennsylvania passed a law Monday that protects cell phone users from telemarketers that also includes an exemption for debt collection agencies, according to a story in the Bucks County Courier Times.

The new law operates in much the same way as the state?s current Do Not Call registry, the major difference being that it places the onus on cell phone providers. New customers must give their written consent to service providers to sell their phone numbers for marketing purposes. In the absence of consent, selling customers? numbers is not an option for the companies.

The law will also penalize marketers who call cell numbers without consent.

Law enforcement agencies and debt collectors are exemption from the new provisions according to the wording of the law.

Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell signed the bill into law on Monday. It is expected to take effect in 60 days.