Case 0:12-cv-61872-RNS Document 187 Entered on FLSD Docket 05/23/2013 Page 1 of 41
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Case 0:12-cv-61872-RNS Document 187 Entered on FLSD Docket 05/23/2013 Page 1 of 41
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF FLORIDA
Case No.12-CV-61872-SCOLA/SNOW
FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION,
Plaintiff,
v.
PRIME LEGAL PLANS LLC, et aL,
Defendants,
and
THE 2007 SAN LAZARO IRREVOCABLE
LIFE INSURANCE TRUST, et al.,
Relief Defendants.
STIPULATED FINAL JUDGMENT AND ORDER FOR PERMANENT
INJUNCTION AND MONETARY RELIEF AS TO DEFENDANT KIM E. LANDOLFI
Plaintiff Federal Trade Commission ("FTC") commenced this civil action on September
24, 2012, pursuant to Sections l3(b) and 19 of the Federal Trade Commission Act ("FTC Act"),
15 U .S.C. §§ 53(b) and 57b, the Telemarketing and Consumer Fraud and Abuse Prevention Act
("Telemarketing Act"), 15 U.S.C. § 6101 et seq., and the 2009 Omnibus Appropriations Act,
Public Law 111 -8, Section 626, 123 Stat. 524, 678 (Mar. I 1, 2009) (" Omnibus Act"), as clarified
by the Credit Card Accountability Responsibility and Disclosure Act of2009, Public Law 11124, Section 511 , 123 Stat. 1734, 1763-64 (May 22, 2009) (" Credit Card Act"), and amended by
the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, Public Law 111-203, Section
1097, 124 Stat. 1376, 2102-03 (July 21, 2010) ("Dodd-Frank Act"), 12 U.S.C. § 5538, to obtain
preliminary and permanent injunctive and other equitable relief for Defendants' violations of
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Section 5(a) ofthe FTC Act, 15 U.S.C. § 45(a), the FTC' s Telemarketing Sales Rule ("TSR"), 16
C.F.R. Part 310, and the Mortgage Assistance Relief Services Rule ("MARS Rule"), 16 C.F.R.
Part 322, recodified as Mortgage Assistance ReliefServices (Regulation 0), 12 C.F.R. Part 1015
("Regulation 0 "), in connection with the marketing and sale of mortgage assistance relief
services. The FTC and defendant Kim E. Landolfi hereby stipulate to entry of this Final
Judgment and Order for Permanent Injunction and Monetary Relief as to Defendant Kim E.
Landolfi.
FINDINGS
By stipulation of the parties and being advised of the premises, the Court finds:
l.
This is an action by the FTC instituted under Sections 5, 13(b), and 19 of the FTC Act, 15
U.S.C. §§ 45, 53(b) and 57b, the Telemarketing Act, 15 U.S.C. § 6101 et seq., and the
Omnibus Act as clari tied by Section 5 I 1 of the Credit Card Act. The Complaint seeks
both permanent injunctive relief and equitable monetary relief for Defendants' alleged
deceptive acts or practices as alleged therein.
2.
The FTC has the authority under Sections I 3(b) and 19 of the FTC Act to seek the relief
it has requested, and the Complaint states a claim upon which relief can be granted
against Settling Defendant.
3.
This Court has jurisdiction over the subject matter of this case and has jurisdiction over
Settling Defendant. Venue in the Southern District of Florida is proper.
4.
The activities of Settling Defendant, as alleged in the Complaint, are in or affecting
commerce, as defined in Section 4 of the FTC Act, 15 U.S.C. § 44.
5.
The FTC and Settling Defendant stipulate and agree to entry of this Order, without trial
or final adjudication of any issue of fact or law, to settle and resolve all matters in dispute
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arising from the conduct alleged in the Complaint to the date of entry of this Order. This
settlement does not settle and resolve any matters not alleged in the Complaint. Settling
Defendant neither admits nor denies any of the allegations in the Complaint, except as
specifically stated in this Order. Only for purposes of this action, Settling Defendant
admits the facts necessary to establish jurisdiction.
6.
Settling Defendant waives all rights to seek judicial review or otherwise challenge or
contest the validity of this Order. Settling Defendant also waives any claim that she may
have held under the Equal Access to Justice Act, 28 U.S.C. § 2412, concerning the
prosecution of this action to the date of this Order. Each settling party shall bear its own
costs and attorneys' fees.
7.
This action and the relief awarded herein are in addition to, and not in lieu of, other
remedies as may be provided by law, including both civil and criminal remedies.
8.
Entry of this Order is in the public interest.
DEFINITIONS
For the purposes of this Order, the following definitions shall apply:
I.
"Assisting others" includes, but is not limited to:
A.
performing customer service functions, including, but not limited to, receiving or
responding to consumer complaints;
B.
formulating or providing, or arranging for the formulation or provision of, any
advertising or marketing material, including, but not limited to, any telephone
sales script, direct mail solicitation, or the design, text, or use of images of any
Internet website, email, or other electronic communication;
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C.
formulating or providing, or arranging for the formulation or provision of, any
marketing support material or service, including but not limited to, web or
Internet Protocol addresses or domain name registration for any Internet websites,
affiliate marketing services, or media placement services;
D.
providing names of, or assisting in the generation of, potential customers;
E.
performing marketing, billing, or payment services of any kind; and
F.
acting or serving as an owner, officer, director, manager, or principal of any
entity.
2.
"Competent and reliable evidence" means tests, analyses, research, studies, or other
evidence based on the expertise of professionals in the relevant area, that has been
conducted and evaluated in an objective manner by persons qualified to do so, using
procedures generally accepted in the profession to yield accurate and reliable results.
3.
"Corporate Defendants" means Prime Legal Plans LLC; Consumer Legal Plans LLC
(Nevada); Consumer Legal Plans, LLC (Wyoming), also d/b/a CLP Associates; Freedom
Legal Plans LLC; Frontier Legal Plans LLC; Reaching U Network, Inc., also d/b/a Legal
Billing Services, Legal Servicing Partners, Forensic Auditor Services, 123 Save Our
Home, Save Our Home Plan, Home Savers, Legal Network Association, and
Homeowners Rescue Mission; 123 Save a Home, Inc.; American Hardship LLC; Back
Office Support Systems LLC; and Consumer Acquisition Network, LLC, also d/b/a
Consumer Legal Network, Legal Servicing & Billing Partners, Forensic Auditor
Services, Telefunding Services, Mortgagesavers.org, First Capital Land Trust, and
Florida Land Trust Consultants; Legal Servicing and Billing Partners LLC and their
successors and assigns.
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4.
"Customer" means any person who has paid, or may be required to pay, for products,
services, plans, or programs offered for sale or sold by any other person.
5.
" Debt relief product or service" means any product, service, plan, or program
represented, expressly or by implication, to renegotiate, settle, or in any way alter the
terms of payment or other terms of the debt or obligation, including but not limited to a
tax debt or obl igation, between a person and one or more unsecured creditors or debt
collectors, including but not limited to, a reduction in the balance, interest rate, or fees
owed by a person to an unsecured creditor or debt collector.
6.
" Defendants" means all of the [ndividual Defendants and the Corporate Defendants,
individually, collectively, or in any combination.
7.
"Established business relationship" means a relationship between the seller and a
person based on: (a) the person ' s purchase, rental, or lease of the seller's goods or
services or a financial transaction between the person and seller, within the eighteen ( 18)
months immediately preceding the date of the telemarketing call; or (b) the person's
inquiry or application regarding a product or service offered by the seller, within the three
(3) months immediately preceding the date of a telemarketing call.
8.
"Federal homeowner relief or financial stability program" means any program
(including its sponsoring agencies, telephone numbers, and internet websites) operated or
endorsed by the United States government to provide relief to homeowners or stabilize
the economy, including but not limited to:
A.
the Making Home Affordable Program;
B.
the Financial Stability Plan;
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C.
the Troubled Asset Relief Program and any other program sponsored or operated
by the United States Department of the Treasury;
D.
the HOPE for Homeowners program, any program operated or created pursuant to
the Helping Families Save Their Homes Act, and any other program sponsored or
operated by the Federal Housing Administration; or
E.
any program sponsored or operated by the United States Department of Housing
and Urban Development ("HUD"), the HOPE NOW Alliance, the
Homeownership Preservation Foundation, or any other HUD-approved housing
counseling agency.
9.
"Financial-related product or service" means any product, service, plan, or program
represented, expressly or by implication, to:
A.
provide any consumer, arrange for any consumer to receive, or assist any
consumer in receiving, credit, debit, or stored value cards;
B.
improve, or arrange to improve, any consumer's credit record, credit history, or
credit rating;
C.
provide advice or assistance to any consumer with regard to any activity or
service the purpose of which is to improve a consumer's credit record, credit
history, or credit rating;
D.
provide any consumer, arrange for any consumer to receive, or assist any
consumer in receiving a loan or other extension of credit; or
E.
provide any consumer, arrange for any consumer to receive, or assist any
consumer in receiving any service represented, expressly or by implication, to
renegotiate, settle, or in any way alter the terms of payment or other terms of any
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debt or obligation (other than a debt or obligation secured by a mortgage on a
consumer's dwelling), including but not limited to a tax debt or obligation,
between a consumer and one or more secured creditors, servicers, or debt
collectors.
10.
"Individual Defendants" means Lazaro Dinh, a/k/a Mario Lazaro Sopena a!kla Lazaro
Sopena; Kim E. Landolfi; Derek B. Radzikowski; Andrew Primavera; Christopher N.
Edwards; and Jason C. Desmond.
11.
"Material fact" means any fact likely to affect a person's choice of, or conduct
regarding, goods or services.
12.
"Mortgage assistance relief product or service" means any product, service, plan, or
program, offered or provided to a consumer in exchange for consideration, that is
represented, expressly or by implication, to assist or attempt to assist the consumer with
any of the following:
A.
stopping, preventing, or postponing any mortgage or deed of trust foreclosure sale
for the consumer's dwelling, any repossession of the consumer's dwelling, or
otherwise saving the consumer's dwelling from foreclosure or repossession;
B.
negotiating, obtaining, or arranging a modification of any term of a dwelling loan,
including a reduction in the amount of interest, principal balance, monthly
payments, or fees;
C.
obtaining any forbearance or modification in the timing of payments from any
dwelling loan holder or servicer on any dwelling loan;
D.
negotiating, obtaining, or arranging any extension of the period of time within
which the consumer may (i) cure his or her default on a dwelling loan, (ii)
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reinstate his or her dwelling Joan, (iii) redeem a dwelling, or (iv) exercise any
right to reinstate a dwelling loan or redeem a dwelling;
E.
obtaining any waiver of an acceleration clause or balloon payment contained in
any promissory note or contract secured by any dwelling; or
F.
negotiating, obtaining, or arranging (i) a short sale of a dwelling, (ii) a deed-inlieu of foreclosure, (iii) or any other disposition of a dwelling other than a sale to
a third party that is not the dwelling loan holder.
The foregoing shall include any manner of claimed assistance, including, but not limited
to, auditing or examining a consumer's mortgage or home loan application and offering
to provide or providing legal services, or offering to sell a consumer a plan or
subscription to a service that provides such assistance.
13.
"Na tiona I Do Not Call Registry" means the National Do Not Call Registry, which is the
"do-not-call" registry maintained by the Commission pursuant to 16 C.F .R. §
31 0.4(b)( 1)(i ii)(B).
14.
"Outbound telephone call" means a telephone call initiated by a telemarketer to induce
the purchase of goods or services or to solicit a charitable contribution.
15.
"Person" means any natural person, organization, or other legal entity, including a
corporation, partnership, proprietorship, association, cooperative, or any other group or
combination acting as an entity.
16.
"Seller" means any person who, in connection with a telemarketing transaction,
provides, offers to provide, or arranges for others to provide goods or services to the
customer in exchange for consideration whether or not such person is under the
jurisdiction of the Commission.
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17.
"Settling Defendant" shall mean Kim E. Landolfi.
18.
"Telemarketer" means any person who, in connection with telemarketing, initiates or
receives telephone calls to or from a customer or donor.
19.
"Telemarketing" means a plan, program, or campaign which is conducted to induce the
purchase of goods or services or a charitable contribution, by use of one or more
telephones and which involves more than one interstate telephone call. The term does
not include the solicitation of sales through the mailing of a catalog which: contains a
written description or illustration of the goods or services offered for sale; includes the
business address ofthe seller; includes multiple pages of written material or illustrations;
and has been issued not less frequently than once a year, when the person making the
solicitation does not solicit customers by telephone but only receives calls initiated by
customers in response to the catalog and during those calls takes orders only without
further solicitation. For purposes of the previous sentence, the term "further solicitation"
does not include providing the customer with information about, or attempting to sell,
any other item included in the same catalog which prompted the customer's call or in a
substantially similar catalog.
20.
"Telemarketing Sales Rule" means the FTC Rule entitled "Telemarketing Sales Rule,"
16 C.F .R. Part 310, attached hereto as Appendix A or as may be hereafter amended.
ORDER
BAN ON MORTGAGE ASSISTANCE RELIEF PRODUCTS OR SERVICES
I.
IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that Settling Defendant, whether acting directly or
through any other person, is permanently restrained and enjoined from:
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A.
Advertising, marketing, promoting, offering for sale, or selling any mortgage
assistance relief product or service; and
B.
Assisting others engaged in advertising, marketing, promotion, offering for sale,
or selling any mortgage assistance relief product or service.
BAN ON DEBT RELIEF PRODUCTS AND SERVICES
II.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Settling Defendant, whether acting directly or
through any other person, is permanently restrained and enjoined from:
A.
Advertising, marketing, promoting, offering for sale, or selling any debt relief
product or service; and
B.
Assisting others engaged in advertising, marketing, promoting, offering for sale,
or selling any debt relief product or service.
PROHIBITED MISREPRESENTATIONS RELATING TO FINANCIAL RELATED
PRODUCTS OR SERVICES
III.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Settling Defendant and her officers, agents, servants,
employees, and attorneys, and those persons or entities in active concert or participation with any
of them who receive actual notice of this Order by personal service, facsimile transmission,
email, or otherwise, whether acting directly or through any corporation, subsidiary, division, or
other device, in connection with the advertising, marketing, promotion, offering for sale, or sale
of any financial related product or service, are hereby permanently restrained and enjoined from:
A.
Misrepresenting or assisting others in misrepresenting, expressly or by
implication, any material fact, including but not limited to:
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1.
The terms or rates that are available for any loan or other extension of
credit, including but not limited to:
a.
closing costs or other fees;
b.
the payment schedule, the monthly payment amount(s), or other
payment terms, or whether there is a balloon payment; interest
rate(s), annual percentage rate(s), or finance charge; the loan
amount, the amount of credit, the draw amount, or outstanding
balance; the loan term, the draw period, or maturity; or any other
term of credit;
c.
the savings associated with the credit;
d.
the amount of cash to be disbursed to the borrower out of the
proceeds, or the amount of cash to be disbursed on behalf of the
borrower to any third parties;
e.
whether the payment of the minimum amount specified each
month covers both interest and principal, and whether the credit
has or can result in negative amortization;
f.
that the credit does not have a prepayment penalty or that no
prepayment penalty and/or other fees or costs will be incurred if
the consumer subsequently refinances; and
g.
that the interest rate(s) or annual percentage rate(s) are fixed rather
than adjustable or adjustable rather than fixed;
2.
Any person's ability to improve or otherwise affect a consumer's credit
record, credit history, credit rating, or ability to obtain credit;
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3.
That any person can improve any consumer's credit record, credit history,
or credit rating by permanently removing negative information from the
consumer' s credit record, credit history, or credit rating, even where such
information is accurate and not obsolete;
4.
That any person can obtain a reduction of any secured tax debt by
renegotiating, settling, or in any other way altering the terms of a debt
owed to any taxing entity; or
5.
B.
That a consumer will receive legal representation.
Advertising or assisting others in advertising credit terms other than those terms
that actually are or will be arranged or offered by a creditor or lender.
PROHIBITED MISREPRESENTATIONS
RELATING TO ANY PRODUCTS OR SERVICES
IV.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Settling Defendant and her officers, agents, servants,
employees, and attorneys, and those persons or entities in active concert or participation with any
of them who receive actual notice ofthis Order by personal service, facsimile transmission,
email, or otherwise, whether acting directly or through any corporation, subsidiary, division, or
other device, in connection with the advertising, marketing, promotion, offering for sale, or sale
of any product, service, plan, or program are hereby permanently restrained and enjoined from
misrepresenting or assisting others in misrepresenting, expressly or by implication, any material
fact, including but not limited to:
A.
Any material aspect of the nature or terms of any refund, cancellation, exchange,
or repurchase policy, including, but not limited to, the likelihood of a consumer
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obtaining a full or partial refund, or the circumstances in which a fu ll or partial
refund will be granted to the consumer;
B.
That any person is affiliated with, endorsed or approved by, or otherwise
connected to any other person; government entity; any federa l homeowner relief
or financial stability program; public, non-profit, or other non-commercial
program; or any other program;
C.
That they themselves provide the product, service, plan, or program;
D.
That any person providing a testimonial has purchased, received, or used the
product, service, plan, or program;
E.
That the experience represented in a testimonial of the product, service, plan, or
program represents the person's actual experience resulting from the use of the
product, service, plan, or program under the circumstances depicted in the
advertisement;
F.
The total costs to purchase, receive, or use, or the quantity of, the product, service,
plan, or program;
G.
Any material restriction, limitation, or condition on purchasing, receiving, or
using the product, service, plan, or program; or
H.
Any material aspect of the performance, efficacy, nature, or characteristics of the
product, service, plan, or program.
SUBSTANTIATION FOR BENEFIT,
PERFORMANCE, AND EFFICACY CLAIMS
V.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Settling Defendant and her officers, agents, servants,
employees, and attorneys, and those persons or entities in active concert or participation with any
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of them who receive actual notice of this Order by personal service, facsimile transmission,
email, or otherwise, whether acting directly or through any corporation, subsidiary, division, or
other device, in connection with the advertising, marketing, promotion, offering for sale, or sale
of any financial related product or service are hereby permanently restrained and enjoined from
making any representation or assisting others in making any representation, expressly or by
implication, about the benefits, performance, or efficacy of any financial related product or
service, unless at the time such representation is made, Settling Defendant possesses and relies
upon competent and reliable evidence that substantiates that the representation is true.
PROHIBITION AGAINST ABUSIVE TELEMARKETING PRACTICES
VI.
IT IS ORDERED that, in connection with telemarketing, Settling Defendant and her
officers, agents, servants, employees, and attorneys, and those persons or entities in active
concert or participation with any of them who receive actual notice of this Order by personal
service, facsimile transmission, email, or otherwise, whether acting directly or through any
corporation, subsidiary, division, or other device, are hereby permanently restrained and enjoined
from engaging in, causing other persons to engage in, and assisting other persons to engage in,
violations of the Telemarketing Sales Rule, including, but not limited to:
A.
Initiating any outbound telephone call to any person at a telephone number on the
National Do Not Call Registry unless the seller proves that:
I.
the seller has obtained the express agreement, in writing, of such person to
place calls to that person. Such written agreement shall clearly evidence
such person's authorization that calls made by or on behalf of a specific
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party may be placed to that person, and shall include the telephone number
to which the calls may be placed and the signature of that person; or
2.
the seller has an established business relationship with such person and
that person has not previously stated that he or she does not wish to
receive outbound telephone calls made by or on behalf of the seller;
B
Initiating any outbound telephone call to a telephone number within a given area
code when the annual fee for access to the telephone numbers within that area
code that are on the National Do Not Call Registry has not been paid by or on
behalf of the seller on whose behalf the telephone call is made, unless the
telephone call is:
1.
a solicitation to induce charitable contributions;
2.
to a business; or
3.
on behalf of a seller who initiates, or causes others to initiate, telephone
calls solely to (i) persons who have given the seller their express
agreement, in writing and signed, to receive calls from that seller, or (ii)
persons who have an established business relationship with that seller
pursuant to 16 C.F.R. § 31 0.2(o);
Provided, however, that if the Commission promulgates rules that modify or supersede the
Telemarketing Sales Rule, in whole or part, Defendants shall comply fully and completely with
all applicable requirements thereof, on and after the effective date of any such rules.
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PROIDBITION AGAINST DISCLOSING CONSUMER INFORMATION
VII.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Settling Defendant and her officers, agents, servants,
employees, and attorneys, and those persons or entities in active concert or participation with her
who receive actual notice of this Order by personal service or otherwise, whether acting directly
or through any corporation, subsidiary, division, or other device, are hereby permanently
restrained and enjoined from:
A.
Disclosing, using, or benefitting from consumer information, including the name,
address, telephone number, email address, social security number, other
identifying information, or any data that enables access to a consumer' s account
(including a credit card, bank account, or other fmancial account) of any person
that Settling Defendant obtained prior to entry of this Order in connection with
the advertising, marketing, promotion, offering for sale, sale, or provision of any
financial-related product or service, and
B.
Failing to dispose of such consumer information in all forms in Settling
Defendant' s possession, custody, or control within thirty (30) days after the Court
has entered a final order as to all Defendants, or within fifteen (15) days after a
written request made to Settling Defendant by the FTC, whichever is sooner.
Disposal shall be by means that protect against unauthorized access to the
consumer information, such as by burning, pulverizing, or shredding any papers,
and by erasing or destroying any electronic media, to ensure that the consumer
information cannot practicably be read or reconstructed.
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Provided, however, that consumer information need not be disposed of, and may be disclosed, to
the extent requested by a government agency or required by a law, regulation, or court order.
MONETARY RELIEF
VIII.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that:
A. Judgment is hereby entered in favor of the Commission and against Settling
Defendant Kim E. Landolfi in the amount of ONE HUNDRED TWO THOUSAND
FOUR HUNDRED SEVENTEEN DOLLARS ($1 02,417) as equitable monetary
relief, provided, however, that, subject to the provisions of Section IX ("Right to
Reopen") of this Order, this judgment shall be suspended, upon completion of the
following:
I. Bank of America shall transfer to the FTC or its designated agent within
ten ( l 0) business days of the date of receipt of this Order all funds held in
account number ending in 3604 in the name of Kim Landolfi.
2. Bank of America shall transfer to the FTC or its designated agent within
ten ( 10) business days of the date of receipt of this Order all funds held in
account number ending in 6243 in the name of Kimmycorp, LLC.
3. Bank of America shall transfer to the FTC or its designated agent within
ten (1 0) business days of the date of receipt of this Order all funds held in
account number ending in 6744 in the name of Kimmycorp, LLC.
4. Bank of America shall transfer to the FTC or its designated agent within
ten ( 10) business days of the date of receipt of this Order all funds held in
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account number ending in 60 ll in the name of Strong Investment Group,
LLC.
5. Suntrust Bank shall transfer to the FTC or its designated agent within ten
(1 0) business days of the date of receipt of this Order all funds held in
account number ending in 5273 in the name of Kim Landolfi.
6. Laidlaw & Company shall liquidate the assets held in account number
2315 in the name of Kim Landolfi and transfer to the FTC or its
designated agent within ten (1 0) business days of the date of receipt of this
Order the net proceeds of that account, which shall mean all funds after
payment of the margin loan on the account.
B.
Any funds received by the FTC pursuant to this Section shall be deposited into a
fund administered by the FTC or its agent to be used for equitable relief,
including but not limited to consumer redress and any attendant expenses for the
administration of any redress funds. In the event that direct redress to consumers
is wholly or partially impracticable or funds remain after redress is completed, the
FTC may apply any remaining funds for such other equitable relief, including but
not limited to consumer information remedies, as the FTC determines to be
reasonably related to the practices alleged in the Complaint. Any funds not used
for such equitable relief shall be deposited to the U.S. Treasury as equitable
disgorgement. Settling Defendant shall have no right to challenge the FTC ' s
choice of remedies or the manner of distribution.
C.
Settling Defendant relinquishes all dominion, control, and title to the funds paid to
the fullest extent permitted by law. Settling Defendant shall make no claim to or
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demand for return of the funds, directly or indirectly, through counsel or
otherwise.
D.
Settling Defendant agrees that the facts as alleged in the Complaint filed in this
action shall be taken as true without further proof in any bankruptcy case or
subsequent civil litigation pursued by the FTC to enforce its rights to any payment
or money judgment pursuant to this Order, including but not limited to a
nondischargeability complaint in any bankruptcy case. Settling Defendant further
stipulates and agrees that the facts alleged in the Complaint establish all elements
necessary to sustain an action by the FTC pursuant to Section 523(a)(2)(A) of the
Bankruptcy Code, 11 U.S.C. § 523(a)(2)(A), and that this Order shall have
collateral estoppel effect for such purposes.
E.
The judgment entered pursuant to this Section is equitable monetary relief, solely
remedial in nature, and not a fine, penalty, punitive assessment or forfeiture.
F.
Upon request, Settling Defendant is hereby required, in accordance with 31
U.S.C. § 7701, to furnish to the FTC her tax identification numbers, which shall
be used for purposes of collecting and reporting on any delinquent amount arising
out of this Order.
G.
Pursuant to Section 604(1) of the Fair Credit Reporting Act, 15 U.S.C. §
1681 b( 1), any consumer reporting agency may furnish a consumer report
concerning Settling Defendant to the FTC, which shall be used for purposes of
collecting and reporting on any delinquent amount arising out of this Order.
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Case 0:12-cv-61872-RNS Document 187 Entered on FLSD Docket 05/23/2013 Page 20 of 41
RIGHT TO REOPEN
IX.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the FTC' s agreement to, and the Court' s approval of,
this Order is expressly premised on the truthfulness, accuracy and completeness of Settling
Defendant's financial statements previously submitted to the FTC. If, upon motion by the FTC,
the Court finds that the financial statement of Settling Defendant contains any material
misrepresentation or omission, the judgment entered in Section VIII of this Order shall be
reinstated and become immediately due and payable as to such Settling Defendant; provided,
however, that in all other respects this Order shall remain in full force and effect unless otherwise
ordered by the Court; and, provided further, that proceedings instituted under this provision
would be in addition to, and not in lieu of, any other civil or criminal remedies as may be
provided by law, including any other proceedings that the FTC may initiate to enforce this Order.
For purposes of this Section, Settling Defendant waives any right to contest any of the
allegations in the Complaint.
ASSET FREEZE
X.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that, upon entry of this Order and the satisfaction of all
payments identified in Section VIII above, the freeze of the Settling Defendant's personal assets
shall be dissolved.
COOPERATION WITH FTC
XI.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Settling Defendant shall, in connection with this
action or any subsequent investigation or litigation related to or associated with the transactions
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Case 0:12-cv-61872-RNS Document 187 Entered on FLSD Docket 05/23/2013 Page 21 of 41
or the occurrences that are the subject of the FTC ' s Complaint as it may be amended, cooperate
in good faith with the FTC and appear at such places and times as the FTC shall reasonably
request, after written notice, for interviews, conferences, pretrial discovery, review of
documents, and for such other matters as may be reasonably requested by the FTC. If requested
in writing by the FTC, Settling Defendant shall appear and provide truthful testimony in any
trial , deposition, or other proceeding related to or associated with the transactions or the
occurrences that are the subject of the Complaint as it may be amended, without the service of a
subpoena, provided, however, that Settling Defendant sha ll be entitled to receive any witness
fees and expenses allowable pursuant to Federal Rule of Civi l Procedure 45.
ORDER ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
XII.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Settling Defendant obtain acknowledgments of
receipt of this Order:
A.
Settling Defendant, within 7 days of entry of this Order, must submit to the FTC an
acknowledgment of receipt ofthjs Order sworn under penalty of perjury.
B.
For 5 years after entry of this Order, Settling Defendant for any business that
Settling Defendant, indiv idually or collectively with any other Defendant, is the majority
owner or directly or indirectly controls, must deliver a copy of this O rder to: (1) all
principals, officers, directors, and managers; (2) all employees, agents, and
representatives who participate in conduct related to the subject matter of the Order; and
(3) any business entity resulting from any change in structure as set forth in the Section
titled Compliance Reporting. Delivery must occur within 7 days of entry of this Order
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Case 0:12-cv-61872-RNS Document 187 Entered on FLSD Docket 05/23/2013 Page 22 of 41
for current personnel. To all others, delivery must occur before they assume their
responsibilities.
C.
From each individual or entity to which Settling Defendant delivered a copy of this
Order, Settling Defendant must obtain, within 30 days, a signed and dated
acknowledgment of receipt of this Order.
COMPLIANCE REPORTING
XIII.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Settling Defendant make timely submissions to the
FTC:
A.
One year after entry of this Order, Settling Defendant must submit a compliance report,
sworn under penalty of perjury.
I.
The Settling Defendant must: (a) designate at least one telephone number and an
email, physical, and postal address as points of contact, which representatives of
the FTC may use to communicate with the Settling Defendant; (b) identify all of
the Settling Defendant's businesses by all of their names, telephone numbers, and
physical, postal, email, and Internet addresses; (c) describe the activities of each
business, including the products and services offered, the means of advertising,
marketing, and sales, and the involvement of any other Defendant (which the
Settling Defendant must describe if he knows or should know due to his own
involvement); (d) describe in detail whether and how the Settling Defendant is in
compliance with each Section of this Order; and (e) provide a copy of each Order
Acknowledgment obtained pursuant to this Order, unless previously submitted to
the FTC;
Page 22 of27
Case 0:12-cv-61872-RNS Document 187 Entered on FLSD Docket 05/23/2013 Page 23 of 41
2.
Additionally, the Settling Defendant must: (a) identify all telephone numbers and
all email, Internet, physical, and postal addresses, including all residences; (b)
identify all titles and roles in all business activities, including any business for
which the Settling Defendant performs services whether as an employee or
otherwise and any entity in which the Settling Defendant has any ownership
interest; and (c) describe in detail the Settling Defendant's involvement in each
such business, including title, role, responsibilities, participation, authority,
control, and any ownership.
B.
For 10 years following entry of this Order, the Settling Defendant must submit a
compliance notice, sworn under penalty of perjury, within 14 days of any change in the
following:
1.
The Settling Defendant must report any change in: (a) any designated point of
contact; or (b) the structure of any entity that the Settling Defendant has any
ownership interest in or directly or indirectly controls that may affect compliance
obligations arising under this Order, including: creation, merger, sale, or
dissolution of the entity or any subsidiary, parent, or affiliate that engages in any
acts or practices subject to this Order.
2.
Additionally, the Settling Defendant must report any change in: (a) name,
including aliases or fictitious name, or residence address; or (b) title or role in any
business activity, including any business for which the Settling Defendant
performs services whether as an employee or otherwise and any entity in which
the Settling Defendant has any ownership interest, and identify its name, physical
address, and Internet address, if any.
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Case 0:12-cv-61872-RNS Document 187 Entered on FLSD Docket 05/23/2013 Page 24 of 41
C.
The Settling Defendant must submit to the FTC notice of the filing of any bankruptcy
petition, insolvency proceeding, or any similar proceeding by or against the Settling
Defendant within 14 days of its filing.
D.
Any submission to the FTC required by this Order to be sworn under penalty of perjury
must be true and accurate and comply with 28 U.S.C. § 1746, such as by concluding: "I
declare under penalty of perjury under the laws of the United States of America that the
foregoing is true and correct. Executed on: _ _ " and supplying the date, signatory's
full name, title (if applicable), and signature.
E.
Unless otherwise directed by a FTC representative in writing, all submissions to the FTC
pursuant to this Order must be emailed to Debrief@ftc.gov or sent by overnight courier
(not the U.S. Postal Service) to: Associate Director for Enforcement, Bureau of
Consumer Protection, Federal Trade Commission, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW,
Washington, DC 20580. The subject line must begin: FTC v. Prime Legal Plans, LLC,
et al., X120056.
RECORD KEEPING
XIV.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Settling Defendant must create certain records for 10
years after entry of the Order, and retain each such record for 5 years. Specifically, for any
business in which the Settling Defendant, individually or collectively with any other Defendants,
is a majority owner or directly or indirectly controls, must maintain the following records:
A.
Accounting records showing the revenues from all goods or services sold, all costs
incurred in generating those revenues, and the resulting net profit or loss;
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Case 0:12-cv-61872-RNS Document 187 Entered on FLSD Docket 05/23/2013 Page 25 of 41
B.
Personnel records showing, for each person providing services, whether as an employee
or otherwise, that person's: name, addresses, and telephone numbers; job title or
position; dates of service; and, if applicable, the reason for termination;
C.
Complaints and refund requests, whether received directly or indirectly, such as through a
third party, and any response; and
D.
All records necessary to demonstrate full compliance with each provision of this Order,
including all submissions to the FTC.
COMPLIANCE MONITORING
XV.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that, for the purpose of monitoring Settling Defendant's
compliance with this Order, including the financial representations upon which part of the
judgment was suspended and any failure to transfer any assets as required by this Order:
A.
Within 14 days of receipt of a written request from a representative of the FTC, Settling
Defendant must: submit additional compliance reports or other requested information,
which must be sworn under penalty of perjury; appear for depositions; and produce
documents, for inspection and copying. The FTC is also authorized to obtain discovery,
without further leave of court, using any of the procedures prescribed by Federal Rules of
Civil Procedure 29, 30 (including telephonic depositions), 31, 33, 34, 36, 45, and 69.
B.
For matters concerning this Order, the FTC is authorized to communicate directly with
Settling Defendant. Settling Defendant must permit representatives of the FTC to
interview any employee or other person affiliated with any Settling Defendant who has
agreed to such an interview. The person interviewed may have counsel present.
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Case 0:12-cv-61872-RNS Document 187 Entered on FLSD Docket 05/23/2013 Page 26 of 41
C.
The FTC may use all other lawful means. including posing. through its representatives. as
consumers. suppliers. or other individuals or entities. to Settling Defendantor any
individual or entit~ :-tftiliated v.· ith Settling Defendant. without the necessity of
identification or prior notice. Nothing in this Order limits the FTC's lawful use of
compulsory process. pursuant to Sections 9 and 20 ofthe FTC Act.
15 u.s.c. §§ 49. 57b-l.
RETENTION OF JURISDICTION
XVI.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that this Court retains jurisdiction of this matter for
purposes ofconstmction. modification. and enforcement ofthis Order.
Date:
Le h Frazier
Federal Trade Commission
600 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W .. Room 1\J 3158
Washington, D.C. 20580
_5-lf-~---' 20 13
(202) 326 2187
Date:~·
Page 26 of27
2013
Case 0:12-cv-61872-RNS Document 187 Entered on FLSD Docket 05/23/2013 Page 27 of 41
IT IS SO ORDERED, this
.z
2.tay of
&
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Case 0:12-cv-61872-RNS Document 187 Entered on FLSD Docket 05/23/2013 Page 28 of 41
APPENDIX A
Telemarketing Sales Rule
pt, 3 10
16 CFR Ch. I (1-1-11 Edition)
Fee for access to the National Do Not
Call Registry .
Severabili ty.
PART 31G-TELEMARKETING SALES
RULE 16 CFR PART 310
310.8
310.9
A UTHORITY: 15 U.S.C. 6101- 6108.
Sec.
310.1 Scope of regulations in this part.
310.2 Definitions.
310.3 Deceptive telemarketing acts or prac-
tices.
Abusive telemarketing acts or practices.
310.5 RecordkeepJng requirements.
310.6 Exemptions.
310.7 Actions by states and private persons.
FR 48516. Aug. 10, 2010. unless
otherwise noted .
S OURCE: 75
§ 310.1
Scope of regulations in this
part.
310.4
This part implements the Telemarketing and Consumer Fraud and
Abuse Prevention Act, 15 U.S.C. 61016108, as amended.
362
Page 1 of 14
Case 0:12-cv-61872-RNS Document 187 Entered on FLSD Docket 05/23/2013 Page 29 of 41
APPENDIX A
Telemarketing Sales Rule
Federal Trade Commission
§310.2
§310.2 Definitions.
(a) Acquirer means a business organi-
zation, financial institution, or an
agent of a business organization or fi nancial institution that has authority
from an organization that operates or
licenses a credit card system to authorIze merchants to accept, transmit, or
process payment by credit card
through the ct·ed!t card system for
money, goods or services, or anything
else of value.
(b) Attorney General means the chief
legal officer of a state.
(C) Billing information means any data
t hat enables any person to access a
customer 's or donor's account, such as
a credit card, checking. savings. share
or similar account, utility bill. mortgage loan account, or debit card.
(d) Caller identification service means a
service that allows a telephone subscriber to have the telephone number.
and, where available. name of the calling party transmitted contemporaneously with t he telephone call, and
displayed on a device in or connected
to the subscriber's telephone.
(e) Cardholder means a person to
whom a credit card is issued or who is
authorized to use a credit card on behalf of or in add! t!on to the person to
whom the credi t card is issued.
(f) Charitable contribution means any
donation or gift of money or any other
thi ng of value.
(g) Commission means the l''ederal
Trade Commission.
(h) Credit means the right granted by
a creditor to a debtor to defer payment
of debt or to incur debt and defer its
payment.
(i) Credit card means any card, plate,
coupon book, or other credit device existing for the purpose of obtaining
money, proper ty. labor. or services on
credit.
(j) Credit card sales draft means any
record or evidence of a credit card
transaction.
(k) Credit card system means any
method or procedure used to process
credit card transactions involving credit cards issued or licensed by the operator of that system.
0) Customer means any person who is
or may be required to pay for goods or
services
offered
through
telemarketing.
(m) Debt relief service means any program or service represented. directly or
by implication. to renegotiate, settle.
or in any way alter the terms of payment or other terms of the debt between a person and one or more unsecured creditors or debt collectors, including. but not limited to, a reduction
in the balance, interest rate, or fees
owed by a person to an unsecured creditor or debt collector.
(n) Donor means any person solicited
to make a charitable contribution.
(o)
Established
business relationship
means a relationship between a seller
and a consumer based on:
(1) the consumer 's purchase, rental.
or lease of the seller's goods or services
or a financial transaction between the
consumer and seller, within t.he eighteen (18) months immediately preceding
the date of a telemarketing call: or
(2) the consumer's inquiry or application regarding a product or service offered by the seller . within the three (3)
months immediately preceding the
date of a telemarketing call.
(p) Free-to-pay conversion means. in
an offer or agreement to sell or provide
any goods or services, a provision
under which a customer receives a
product or service for free for an ini tial
period and will incur an obligation to
pay for the product or service if he or
she does not, take affirmative action to
cancel before Lhe end of that period.
(q) Investment opportunity means anything, tangible or intangible, that is offered, offered for sale. sold, or traded
based wholly or in part on r epresentations. either express or implied, about
past, present, or future income, profit,
or appreciation.
(r) Material means likely to affect a
person's choice of, or conduct regarding, goods or services or a charitable
contribution.
(s) Merchant means a person who is
authorized under a written contract
with an acquirer to honor or accept
credit cards. or to transmit or process
for payment credit card payments. for
the purchase of goods or services or a
charitable contribution.
(t) Merchant agreement means a written contract between a merchant and
an acquirer to honor or accept credit
cards, or to transmit or process for
payment credit card payments, for the
363
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Case 0:12-cv-61872-RNS Document 187 Entered on FLSD Docket 05/23/2013 Page 30 of 41
APPENDIX A
Telemarketing Sales Rule
§310.2
16 CFR Ch. I (1-1-11 Edition)
purchase of goods or services Ol' a charitable contribution.
(u) Negative option feature means, in
an offer or agreement to sell or provide
any goods or services, a provision
under which the customer's silence or
failure to take an affirmative action to
reject goods or services or to cancel the
agreement is interpreted by the seller
as acceptance of the offer.
(v) Outbound telephone call means a
telephone call in! tiated by a telamarketer to induce the purchase of
goods or services or to solicit a charitable contribution.
(w) Person means any Individual,
group, unincorporated association, limited or general partnership, coi·poration, or other business entity.
(x)
?reacquired account information
means any information that enables a
seller or telemarketer to cause a
charge to be placed against a customer's or donor's account without obtaining the account number directly
from the customer or donor during the
telema-rketing transaction pursuant to
which the account will be charged.
(y) Prize means anything offered, or
purportedly offered. and given. or purportedly given, to a person by chance.
For purposes of this definition, chance
exists If a person is guaranteed to receive an item and. at the time of the
offer or purported offer. the telamarketer does not identify the specific
item that the person will receive.
(i) Prize promotion means:
<1) A sweepstakes or other game of
chance: or
(2) An oral or written express or implied represent-ation that a person has
won. has been selected to receive, or
may be eligible to receive a prize or
purported prize.
(aa) Seller means any person who, in
connection with a telemarketing transaction, provides, offers to provide, or
arranges for others to provide goods or
services Lo t he customer in exchange
for consideration.
(bb) State means any state of the
United States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico. the Northern Mariana
Islands, and any territory or possession
of the United States.
(cc) Telemarketer means any person
who, in connection with telemarketing,
initiates or receives telephone calls to
or from a customer or donor.
(dd) Telemarketing means a plan. program , or campaign which is conducted
to induce the purchase of goods or services or a charitable contribution. by
use of one or more telephones and
which involves more than one interstate telephone call. The term does not
include the solicitation of sales
through the mailing of a catalog
which: contai ns a written description
or Illustration of the goods or services
offered for sale; includes the business
address of the seller: includes multiple
pages of written material or illustrations; and has been Issued not less frequently than once a year. when the
person making the solicitation does
not solicit customers by telephone but
only receives calls initiated by customers in response to the catalog and
during those calls takes orders only
without further solicitation. For purposes of the previous sentence, the
term "further solicitation" does not include providing the customer with information about. or attempting to sell .
any other item included in the same
catalog which prompted the customer's
call or in a substantially similar catalog.
(ee) Upselling means soliciting the
purchase of goods or services following
an initial transaction during a single
telephone call. The upsell is a separate
telemarketing transaction, not a continuation of the initial transaction. An
"external upsell" is a solicitation made
by or on behalf of a seller different
from the seller in the initial transaction, regardless of whether the initial transaction and the subsequent solicitation are made by the same talemarketer. An "internal upsell" is a solicitation made by or on behalf of the
same seller as in the initial transaction, regardless of whether the initial t ransaction and subsequent solicitation are made by the same telamarketer.
364
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Case 0:12-cv-61872-RNS Document 187 Entered on FLSD Docket 05/23/2013 Page 31 of 41
APPENDIX A
Telemarketing Sales Rule
Federal Trade Commission
§310.3
§ 310.3
Deceptive telemarketing acts or
practices.
(a) Prohibited deceptive telemarketing
acts or practices. It is a deceptive tele-
marketing act or practice and a violation of this Rule for any seller or talemarketer to engage in the following
conduct:
(1) Before a customer consents to
pay6S9f~ for goods or services offered,
failing to disclose truthfully, in a clear
and conspicuous manner. the following
material information:
ti) The total costs to purchase. receive. or use, and the quantity of. any
goods or services that are the subject
of the sales offer; 660f~
(ii) All material restrictions, limitations, or conditions to purchase. receive. or use the goods or services that
are the subject of the sales offer;
(iii) If the seller has a policy of not
making refunds. cancellations, exchanges, or repurchases. a statement
informing the customer that this is the
seller's policy: or, if the seller or telamarketer makes a representation
about a refund, cancellation. exchange,
or repurchase policy, a statement of all
matet·ial terms and conditions of such
policy;
(i v) In any prize promotion. the odds
of being able to receive the prize. and.
if the odds are not calculable in advance, the factors used in calculating
the odds: that no purchase or payment
is required to win a prize ot• to participate in a prize promotion and that any
purchase or payment will not increase
the person's chances of winning; and
the no-purchase/no-payment method of
6>9 When a seller or telemarketer uses. or
directs a cust.omer to use . a courier to transport payment. the seller or telemarketer
must make the disclosul·es required by
§310.3(a){l) before sending a courier to pick
up payment or author!llation for payment. ot·
directing a cust.omer to have a courier pick
up payment or authorization for payment. In
the case of debt relief services. the seller or
teiemarketer must make t he disclosures required by §310.3(a)(l) before the consumer enrolls in an offered program.
G<lo For offers of consumer credit products
subject to the Trnth in Lending Act, 15
U.S.C. 1601 et seq., and Regulation Z. 12 CFR
226, compliance wi th the disclosure requirements under the Truth in Lending Act and
Regulation Z shall constitute compliance
with §310.3(a)(l)(!) of this Rule.
participating in the prize promotion
with either instructions on how to participate or an address or local or tollfree telephone number to which customers may write or call for information on how to participate;
(v) All material costs or conditions
to receive or redeem a prize that is the
subject of the prize promotion;
(vi) In the sale of any goods or services represented to protect, insure, or
otherwise limit a customer's liability
in the event of unauthorized use of the
customer's credit card, the limits on a
cardholder's liability for unauthorized
use of a credit card pursuant to 15
u.s.c. 1643;
(vii) If the offer includes a negative
option feature. all material terms and
conditions of the negative option feature, including, but not limited to, the
fact that the customer's account w111
be charged unless the customer takes
an affirmative action to avoid the
charge(s), the date(s) the charge(s) will
be submitted for payment, and t he specific steps the customer must take to
avoid the charge(s): and
(viii) In the sale of any debt relief
service:
(A) the amount of time necessary to
achieve the represented resul ts, and to
the extent that t he service may include
a settlement offer to any of the customer's creditors or debt collectors.
the time by which the debt relief service provider will make a bona fide settlement offer to each of them;
(B) to the extent that the service
may include a settlement offer to any
of the customer's creditors or debt collectors, the amount of money or the
percentage of each outstanding debt
tha.t. the customer must accumulate before the debt relief service provider
will make a bona fide settlement offer
to each of them;
(C) to Lhe extent that any aspect of
the debt relief service t'elies upon or results in the customer's failure to make
timely payments to creditors or debt
collectors. that the use of the debt relief service will likely adversely affect
the customer's creditworthiness, may
result in the customer being subject to
collections or sued by creditors or debt
collectors. and may increase the
amount of money the customer owes
365
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Case 0:12-cv-61872-RNS Document 187 Entered on FLSD Docket 05/23/2013 Page 32 of 41
APPENDIX A
Telemarketing Sales Rule
§310.3
16 CFR Ch. I (1- 1- 11 Edition)
due to the accrual of fees and interest;
and
(D) to the extent that the debt relief
service requests or requires the customer to place funds in an account at
an insured financial !nsti t ution, t hat
the customer owns the funds held in
the account. the customer may withdraw from the debt rellef service at any
time without penalty, and, if the customer withdraws, the customer must
receive all funds in the account, other
than funds earned by the debt relief
service
in
compliance
with
§ 310.4(a)(5)(1)(A) through (C).
(2) Misrepresenting, directly or by
implica tion. in the sale of goods or
services any of the following material
information:
(i) The total costs to purchase, receive. or use. and the quantity of. any
goods or services that are the subject
of a sales offer;
(ii) Any material restriction. limitation, or condition to purchase, receive.
or use goods or services that are the
subject of a sales offer;
(iii) Any material aspect of the performance . efficacy, nature. or central
characteristics of goods or services
that are the subject of a sales offer;
{iv) Any material aspect of the nature or terms of the seller's refund,
cancellation, exchange, or repurchase
policies;
(v) Any material aspect of a prize
promotion including, but not limited
to, the odds of being able to receive a
prize. the nature or value of a prize. or
that a purchase or payment is required
to win a prize or to participate in a
prize promotion;
(vi) Any material aspect of an investment opportunity including. but not
limited to. risk, liquidity, earnings poten tial, or profitability;
(vii) A seller's or telemarketer's a.ffiliation with, or endorsement or sponsorship by, any person or government
entity;
(viii) That any customer needs offered goods or services to provide protections a customer already has pursuant to 15 U.S.C. 1613;
(ix) Any material aspect of a negative option fea t ure including. but not.
limited to, the fact that the customer's
account will be charged unless t he customer takes an affirmative action to
avoid t he charge(s), the date(s) the
charge(s) will be submitted for payment, and the specific steps the customer must take to avoid the
charge(s); or
(x) Any material aspect of any debt
relief service, including. but not limited to. the amount of money or the
percentage of the debt amount that a
customer may save by using such service; the amoun t of time necessary to
achieve the represented results; the
amount of money or the percentage of
each outstanding debt that the customer must accumulate before t he provider of the debt relief service will initiate attempts with the customer's
creditors or debt collectors or make a
bona fide offer to negotiate. settle, or
modify t he terms of the customer's
debt; the effect of the service on a customer's creditworthiness; the effect of
the service on collection efforts of the
customer's creditors or debt collectors;
the percentage or number of customers
who attain the represented results: and
whe ther a debt relief service is offered
or provided by a non-profi t entity.
(3) Causing billing informat ion to be
submitted for payment, or collecting or
attempting to collect payment for
goods or services or a charitable contribution, directly or indirectly. without the customer's or donor's express
verifiable authorization, except when
the method of payment used is a credit
card subject to protections of the
Truth in Lending Act and Regulation
Z,661f:S or a debit card subject to the
protections of the Electronic Fund
Transfer Act and Regulation E.662f:S
Such authorization shall be deemed
verifiable if any of the following means
is employed:
(i) Express written authorization by
the customer or donor, which includes
the c ustomer's or donor's signature;sas;
::;
••1
Truth in Lending Act, 15 U.S.C. 1601 et
seq .. and Regulation Z. 12 CFR part 226.
""" Electronic Fund Transfer Act. 15 U.S.C.
1693 et seq .. and Regulation E. 12 CFR part
205.
"'" For ptlrposes of this Rule. the term
"signature" shall Include an electronic or digItal form of slgnatw·e. to the extent that
such form of signature is recognized as a
valid signature under applicable federal Jaw
or st-ate contra ct law.
366
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Case 0:12-cv-61872-RNS Document 187 Entered on FLSD Docket 05/23/2013 Page 33 of 41
APPENDIX A
Telemarketing Sales Rule
Federal Trade Commission
§310.3
(ii) Express oral authorization which
is audio-recorded and made available
upon request to the customer or donor,
and the customer's or donor's bank or
other billing entity, and which evidences clearly both the customer's or
donor's authorization of payment for
the goods or services or charitable contribution that are the subject of the
telemarketing transaction and the customer's or donor's receipt of all of the
following information:
(A) The number of debits, charges. or
payments (if more than one);
the
debit(s).
(B) The date(s)
charge(s). or payment(s) will be submitted for payment;
(C) The amount(s) of the debit(s).
charge(s), or payment(s);
(Dl The customer's or donor's name:
(E) The c ustomer's ot· donor's billing
information, identified with sufficient
specificity such that the customer or
donor understands what account will
be used to collect payment for the
goods or services Ot' charitable contribution that are the subject of the
telemarketing transaction;
(I<') A telephone number for customer
or donor inquiry that is answered during normal business hours; and
(G) The date of the customer's or donor's oral authorization; or
(iii) Written confirmation of the
transaction. identified in a clear and
conspicuous manner as such on the
outside of the envelope, sent to the
customer or donor via first class mail
prior to the submission for payment of
the customer's or donor's billing information, and that includes all of the information
contained
In
§§310.3(a)(3)(ii)(A)-(G) and a clear and
conspicuous statement of the procedures by which the customer or donor
can obtain a refund from the seller or
telemarketer or charitable organization in the event the confirmation is
inaccurate; provided, however, that
this means of authorization shall not
be deemed verifiable in instances in
which goods or services are offered in a
transaction involving a free-to-pay
conversion and preacquired account information.
(4) Making a false or misleading
statement to induce any person to pay
for goods or services or to induce a
chari table contribution.
(b) Assisting and facilitating. It is a deceptive telemarketing act or practice
and a violation of this Rule for a person to provide substantial assistance or
support to any seller or telemarketer
when that person knows or consciously
avoids knowing that the seller or talemarketer is e ngaged i n a ny act or practice that violates §§ 310.3(a), (c) or (d).
or §310.4 of this Rule.
(c) Credit card laundering. Except as
expressly permitted by t he applicable
credit card system, It is a deceptive
telemarketing act or practice a nd a
violation of this Rule for:
(1) A merchant to present to or deposi t into, or cause another to present
to or deposit into. the credit card system for payment. a credit card sales
draft. generated by a telemarketing
transaction t hat is not the result of a
telemar keting credi t card transaction
between the cardholder and the merchant;
(2) Any person to employ, solicit. or
otherwise cause a merchant. or an employee. representative, or agent of the
merchant. to present to or deposit Into
the credit card system for payment, a
credit card sales draft generated by a
telemarketing transaction that is not
the resul t of a telemarketing credit
card transaction between the cardholder and the merchant; or
(3) Any person to obtain access to the
crecli t card system through the use of a
business relationship or an affiliation
with a m erchant, when such access is
not a uthorized by the merchant agreement or the applicable credit card system.
(d) Prohibited deceptive acts or practices in the solicitation of charitable contributions. It is a fraudulent charitable
solicitation, a deceptive telemarketing
act or practice. and a violation of this
Rule for any telemarketer soliciting
charitable contributions to m isrepresent, directly or by implication, any of
the following m aterial information:
(1) The nature, purpose, or mission of
any entity on behalf of which a cha r itable contribution is being requested;
(2) That any charitable contribution
Is tax deductible in whole or in part;
(3) The purpose for which any charitable contribution will be used;
(4) The percentage or amount of any
charitable contribution that will go to
367
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APPENDIX A
Telemarketing Sales Rule
§310.4
16 CFR Ch. I (1-1-11 Edition)
a charitable organization or to any
particular charitable program;
(5) Any material aspect of a prize
promotion including, but not limited
to: the odds of being able to receive a
prize; the nature or value of a prize: or
that a charitable contribution is required to win a prize or to participate
in a prize promot ion; or
t6) A charitable organization's or
telemarketer's affiliation wi t h, or endorsement or sponsorship by, any person or government entity.
§ 310.4 Abusive telemarketing acts or
practices.
(a) Abusive conduct generally. It is an
abusive telemarketing act or practice
and a violation of this Rule for any
seller or telemarketer to engage in the
following conduct:
(1) Threats, intimidation, or the use
of profane or obscene language:
(2) Requesting or receiving payment
of any fee or consideration for goods or
services represented to t•emove derogatory information from. or improve. a
person's credit history, credit. record,
or credit rating until:
(i) The time frame in which the seller
has represented all of the goods or
services will be provided to that person
has expired; and
(ii) The seller has provided the person
with documentation in the form of a
consumer report from a consumer reporting agency demonstrating that the
promised results have been achieved.
such report having been issued more
than six months after the results were
achieved. Nothing in this Rule should
be construed to affect the requirement
in the Fair Credit Reporting Act, 15
U.S.C. 1681, that a consumer report
may only be obtained for a specified
permissible purpose:
(3) Requesting or receiving payment
of any fee or consideration from a person for goods or services represented to
recover or otherwise assist in the return of money or any other item of
value paid for by, or promised to, that.
person in a previous telemarketing
transaction. until seven (7) business
days after such money or other item is
delivered to that person. This provision
shall not apply to goods or services
provided to a person by a licensed attorney;
(4) Requesting or receiving payment
of any fee or consid.eration in advance
of obtaining a loan or other extension
of credit when t he seller or talemarketer has guaranteed or represented a high likelihood of success in
obtaining or arranging a loan or other
extension of credit for a person:
(5) (i) Requesting or receiving payment of any fee or consideration for
any debt relief service until and unless:
(A) The seller or telemarketer has renegotiated, settled, reduced, or otherwise altered the terms of at least one
debt pursuant to a settlement agreement, debt management plan, or other
such valid contractual agreement executed by the customer;
(B) The customer has made at least
one payment pursuant to that settlement agreement, debt management
plan, or other valid contractual agreement between the customer and the
creditor or debt collector: and
(C) To the extent that debts enrolled
in a service are renegotiated, set.tled.
!'educed, or otherwise altered individually, the fee or consideration either:
(I) Bears the same proportional relationship to the total fee for renegotiating, settling, reducing. or altering
the terms of the entire debt balance as
the individual debt amount bears to
the entire debt amount. The individual
debt amount and the entire debt
amount are t hose owed at the time the
deb t was enrolled in tile service; or
(2) Is a percentage of the amount
saved as a result of the renegotiation.
settlement. reduc tion, or alteration.
The percentage charged cannot change
from one individual debt to another.
The amount saved is the difference between the amount owed at the time t he
debt was enrolled in the service and the
amount actually paid to satisfy the
debt.
(11) Nothing in §310.4(a)(5)(i) prohibits
requesting or requiring the customer
to place funds in an account to be used
for the debt relief provider's fees and
for payments to creditors or debt collectors in connection with the renegotiation, settlement. reduction. or other
alteration of the terms of payment or
other terms of a debt, provided that:
(A) The funds are held in an account
at an insured financial institution;
368
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APPENDIX A
Telemarketing Sales Rule
Federal Trade Commission
§310.4
<B) The customer owns the funds held
in the account and is paid accrued interest on the account, If any:
(C) The entity administering the account is not owned or controlled by, or
in any way affiliated with, the debt relief service:
lD) The entity administering the account does not give or accept any
money or other compensation in exchange for referrals of business involving the debt relief service: and
tE) The customer may withdraw from
the debt relief service at a ny time
without penalty, and must receive all
funds in the account, ot-her than funds
earned by t he debt relief service in
compliance
with
§310.4ta)(5)(i)(A)
through lC), within seven t7) business
days of the customer's request.
(6) Disclosing or receiving, fot• consideration. unencrypted consumer account numbers for use in telemarketing: provided, however. that
this paragraph shall not apply to the
disclosure or receipt of a customer's or
donor's billing information t.o process a
payment for goods or services or a
charitable contribution pursuant to a
tt·ansaction:
(7) Causing billing information to be
submit-ted for payment, directly or indirectly, without the express informed
consent of the customer or donor. In
any tele marketing transaction, the
seller or telemarketer must obtain the
express informed consent of the c ustomer or donor to be charged for the
goods or services or charitable cont ribution and to be charged using the
identified account. In any telemarke ting
transaction
involving
preacquired account information. the
requirements in paragraphs (a)(6)(1)
through (ii) of this section must be met
to evidence express informed consent.
(I) In any telemark eting transaction
involving preacquired account information and a free-to -pay conversion feature, the seller or telemarketer must:
(A) Obtain from the customer, at a
minimum, the last four (4) digits of the
account number to be charged:
(B) Obtain from the customer his or
her express agreement, to be charged
for the goods or services and to be
charged using the account number pursuant to paragraph (a)(6)(iJ(A) of this
section: and,
(C) Make and maintain an audio recording of the entire tel emarketing
transaction.
(11) In any other telemarke ting tran saction involving preacquired account
information not described in paragraph
(a)(6)(i) of this section, the seller or
telemarketer must:
(A) At a minimum, identify t he account to be charged wit-h sufficient
specifici ty for the customer or donor to
understand what account will be
charged: and
(B) Obtain from the c ustomer or
donor his or her express agreement to
be charged for the goods or services
and to be charged using the account
number identified pursuant to para graph (a)(6)(ii)(A) of this section: or
(8) Failing to t r ansm! t or cause to be
transmitted the telephone number.
and. when made avail able by the talemarketer's canier, the name of the
telemarketer, to any caller identification service in use by a recipient of a
telemark eting call; provided that It
shall not be a violation to substi tute
(for the name and phone number used
in. or billed for, making the call) t he
name of the seller or charitabl e organization on behalf of which a telemarketing call is placed, and the seller's or charitable organization's customer or donor service telephone number, which is answered during regular
business hours.
(b) Pattern of calls. (1) It is an abusive
telem at·keting act Ol' practice and a
violation of this Rule for a telemarketer to engage in. or for a seller
to cause a telemarketer to engage in.
the following conduct:
(i) Causing any telephone to ring, or
engaging any person in telephone conversation, repeatedly or continu ously
wi th int ent to annoy, abuse. or harass
any person at the called number;
(ii) Denying or interfering in a n y
way, directly or indirectly, with a person's righ t to be placed on any r egistry
of names and/or telephone numbers of
persons who do n ot wish to receive outbound telephone calls establlshed to
comply with § 310.4(b)(l)(iii);
(iii) Initiating any outboun<l. telephone call Lo a person when:
(A) That person previously has stated
t-hat he or she does not wish to receive
an outbound tel ephone call made by or
369
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Case 0:12-cv-61872-RNS Document 187 Entered on FLSD Docket 05/23/2013 Page 36 of 41
APPENDIX A
Telemarketing Sales Rule
§3 10.4
16 C FR Ch. I (1-1-11 Edition)
on behalf of the seller whose goods or
services are being offered or made on
behalf of the charitable organizat.ion
for which a charitable contribution Is
being sollclt.ed: or
(B) That. person's telephone number
is on the "do-not-call" regist1·y, maintained by the Commission. of persons
who do not wish to receive outbound
telephone calls to induce the pu1·cha.se
of goods or services unless the seller:
(!) Has obtained the express agreement. In writing, of such person to
place calls to that person. Such written
agreement shall clearly evidence such
person's authorization that calls made
by or on behalf of a specific pa1·ty may
be placed to that person, and shall Include t.he telephone number to which
the calls may be placed and the s1gnatureGI>4tS of t.hat. person: or
(U) Has an established business relationship with such person. and that
person has not stated that he or sbe
does not wish to receive out.bound telephone
calls
under
paragraph
(b)(l)(IU)(A) of this section: or
tiv) Abandoning any outbound telephone call. An outbound telephone call
is "abandoned" under this section lf a.
person answers it and the telemarketer
does not. connect the call to a sales representative within two ( 2) seconds of
t.he person's completed greeting.
(v) Inltia.t.ing any outbound telephone
call that delivers a prerecorded message. ot.heJ' t.han a prerecorded message
permit.t.ed for compliance with the call
abandonment.
safe
harbor
in
§310.4(b)(4)(iil), unless:
(A) In any such call to induce the
purchase of any good or service, the
seller has obtained from the recipient
of the call an express agreement, In
writing, t.ha.t:
ti) The seller obtained only after a
clear and conspicuous disclosure that
the purpose of the agreement. ill to authorize the seller to place prerecorded
calls to such person:
(II) The seller obt.alned without. requJring, directly o1· indirectly. that t.he
agreement be executed as a condition
of purchasing any good or service:
(IIi) Evidences the w!lllngness of the
l'ec!pient of the call to receive calls
tbA.C deliver prerecorded messages by
or on behalf of a specific seller: and
(iv) Includes such person's telephone
number and signature;llllSfS and
(B) In any such call to Induce the
purchase of any good or service, or to
Induce a charitable contribution from a
member of, or previous donor to, a nonprofit charitable organization on whose
behalf the call is made, the seller or
t.elemarketer:
U) Allows the telephone to ring for at
least. fifteen (15) seconds or four (4)
rings before disconnecting an unanswered call: and
(ii) Within two (2} seconds after the
completed greeting of the person
called. plays a prerecorded message
that promptly provides the disclosu1·es
required by §3l0.4(dl or (e), followed
Immediately by a disclosure of one or
both of the following:
(A) In the case of a call that could be
answered in pei'Son by a consumer. that
the pei'SOn called can use an automated
int.eractive voice and/or keypress-activated opt-out mechanism to assert a
Do Not Call request pursuant to
§ 310.4(b)(l )(iii)(A) at any Lime during
t-he message. The mechanism must.:
(1) Automatically add t.he number
called to the seller's entity-specific Do
Not Call list:
(2) Once invoked. Immediately disconnect the call: and
(3) Be available for use at any time
during the message: and
(B) ln the case of a call that could be
answered by an answering machine or
voicemail service, t.haL the person
called can use a toll-fr-ee telephone
number r.o assert a Do Not Call request.
pursuant to §310.4(b)(l )(!i!}(A). The
number provided must connect. cth·ectly
to an automated interactive voice or
keypress-activalted opL-out. mechanism
t.hat:
ooo Fo1· purposes of this Rule . t.he t.lll'm
"s1gna.tllre" shall Include an electronic ot· digItal form of signature. to the exLen~ t.hM
such form or signature is recognized as a
valid signature under applicable federal law
or state cont.ract.la.w.
6M For p\lrposes of ~bls Rule. lhe term
"signature· shall include a.n electronic or diglt.al !orm or signature. Lo Lhe extent that
such form of signature is recognized lUi a
valid signature under applicable feder'B.l law
or state contract law.
370
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APPENDIX A
Telemarketing Sales Rule
Federal Trade Commission
§310.4
(1) Automatically adds the number
called to the seller's entity-specific Do
Not Call list;
(2) Immediately thereafter disconnects the call; and
(3) Is accessible at any time throughout the duration of the telemarketing
campaign: and
(iii) Complies with all other requirements of this part and other applicable
federal and state laws.
(C) Any call that complies with all
applicable requirements of this paragraph (v) shall not be deemed to violate
§ 310.4(b)(l)(iv) of this part.
(D) This paragraph (v) shall not. apply
to any outbound telephone call that delivers a prerecorded healthcare message made by, or on behalf of. a covered
entity or its business associate, as
those terms are defined in the HIPAA
Privacy Rule, 45 CFR 160.103.
(2) It is an abusive telemarketing act
or pract.ice and a violation of this Rule
for any person to sell. rent. lease. purchase, or use any list established to
comply with §310.4(b)(l)(iii)(A), or
maint.ained by the Commission pursuant to §310.4(b)(l)(iiiJ(B). for any purpose except compliance with the provisions of this Rule or otherwise to prevent telephone calls to telephone numbers on such lists.
(3) A seller or telemarketer will not
be liable for violating §310.4(b)(l)(ii)
and (iii) if it can demonstrate that, as
part of the seller's or telemarketer's
routine business practice:
(i) It has established and implemented written procedures to comply
with § 310.4(b)(l)(ii) and (iii);
(ii) It has trained its personnel, and
any entity assisting in its compliance,
in the procedures established pursuant
to §310.4(b)(3)(i);
(iii) The seller, or a telemarketer or
another person acting on behalf of the
seller or charitable organization, has
maintained and recorded a list of telephone numbers the seller or charitable
organization may not contact. in compliance with §310.4(b)(1)(iii)(A);
(ivl The seller or a telemarketer uses
a process to prevent telemarketing to
any telephone number on any list established pursuant to §310.4(b)(3)(iii) or
310.4(b)(l)(iii)(B), employing a version
of the "do-not-call" registry obtained
from the Commission no more than
thirty-one (31) days prior to the date
any call is made. and maintains
records documenting this process;
(v) The seller or a telemarketer or
another person acting on behalf of the
seller or charitable organization, monitors and enforces compliance with the
procedures established pursuant to
§ 310.4(b)(3)(i); and
(vi) Any subsequent call otherwise
violating §310.4(b)(l)(ii) or (iii) is the
result of error.
(4) A seller or telemarketer will not
be liable for violating §310.4(b)(1)(iv) if:
(i} The seller or telemarketer employs technology that ensures abandonment of no more than three (3) percent of all calls answered by a person.
measured over the duration of a single
calling campaign. if less than 30 days,
or separately over each successive 30day period or portion t hereof that the
campaign continues.
(ii) The seller or telemarketer, for
each telemarketing call placed. allows
the telephone to ring for at least fifteen (15) seconds or four (4) rings before
disconnecting an unanswered call:
(iii) Whenever a sales representative
is not available to speak with the person answering the call within two (2)
seconds after the person's completed
greeting, the seller or telemarketer
promptly plays a recorded message
that states the name and telephone
number of the seller on whose behalf
the call was placed666/$: and
(iv) The seller or telemarketer, in accordance with §310.5(b)-(d), retains
records est.ablishing compliance with
§310. 4( b)( 4)(i)-(iii ).
(c) Calling time restrictions. Without
the prior consent of a person, it is an
abusive telemarketing act or practice
and a violation of this Rule for a talemarketer to engage in outbound telephone calls to a person's residence at
any time other than between 8:00 a.m.
and 9:00 p.m. local time at the called
person's location.
(d) Required oral disclosures in the sale
of goods or services. It is an abusive tele-
marketing act or practice and a violation of this Rule for a telemarketer in
666 This provision does not affect any sell·
er's or telemarketer's obligation to comply
with relevant state and federal laws. including but not limited to the TCPA. 47 U.S.C.
227. and 47 CFR part 64.1200.
371
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APPENDIX A
Telemarketing Sales Rule
§310.5
16 CFR Ch. I (1-1-11 Edition)
an outbound telephone call or internal
or external upsell to induce the purchase of goods or services to fail to disclose truthfully, promptly. and in a
clear and conspicuous manner to the
person receiving the call, the following
information:
(1) The identity of the seller;
(2) That the purpose of the call is to
sell goods or services;
(3) The nature of the goods or services; and
(4 ) That no purchase or payment is
necessary to be able to win a prize or
participate in a prize promotion if a
prize promotion is offered and tha t any
pur chase or payment wlll no t increase
the person's chances of winning. This
disclosure must be made before or in
conjunction with the description of the
prize to the person called. If requested
by that person, the telemarketer must
disclose the no-purchase/no-payment
entry method for the prize promotion;
provided. however, that, in any internal upsell for the sale of goods or services, the seller or telemarketer must
provide the disclosures listed in Lhls
sect ion onJy to the extent that the information in the upsell differs from t he
disclosures provided in Lhe initial telemarke ting transaction.
(e) Required oral disclosures in charitable solicitations. It ls an abusive tele-
marketing act or practice and a violation of this Rule for a telemarketer. ln
an outbound telephone call to induce a
charitable contribution, to fail to disclose t ruthfully. promptly, and in a
clear and conspicuous manner to the
person receiving the call, the following
information:
(1) The identity of the charitable organization on behalf of which the request is being made; and
(2) That the purpose of the call is to
solicit a charitable contribution.
§ 310.5
Recordkeeping requirements.
(a) Any seller or telemarketer shall
keep. for a period of 2<1 months from
the date the record is produced, the following records relating t o its telemarketing activities:
(1) All substantially different advertising,
brochures,
telemarketing
scripts. and promotional materials;
(2) The name and last known address
of each prize recipient and the prize
awarded for prizes that are represented. directly or by implication. to
have a value of S25.00 or more;
(3) The name and last known address
of each customer. the goods or services
purchased. the date such goods or services were shipped or provided. and the
amount paid by the customer for the
goods or services;6(17t:>
(4) The name, any fictitious name
used. the last known home address and
telephone number, and the job title(s)
for all current and former employees
directly involved in telephone sales or
solicitations; provided. however, that if
the seller or telemarketer permits fictitious names to be used by employees,
each fictitious name must be traceable
to only one specific employee; and
(5) All verifiable authorizations or
records of express informed consent or
express agreement required to be provided or received under this Rule.
(b) A seller or tel emarketer may
keep the records required by § 310.5(a)
in any form. and in the same manner.
format. or place as they keep such
records in the ordinary course of business. Failure t o keep a ll records required by § 310.5(a) shall be a violation
of this Rule.
(c) The seller and the telemarketer
calling on behalf of the seller may, by
wrl iten ag reement. allocate responsibility between themselves for the recordkeeping required by this Section.
When a seller and telemarketer have
entered into such an agreement, t he
terms of that agreement shall govern,
and the seller or ielemarketer, as the
case may be, need not keep records
that duplicate those of the other. If the
agreement is unclear as to who must
maintain any required record(s), or if
no such agreement exists, the seller
shall be responsible for complying with
§§310.5(a)(l)-(3) and (5); the talemarketer shall be responsible for complying with §310.5(a)(<l).
(d) In the event of any dissolution or
termination of the seller's or telamarketer's business, the principal of
G6'7 For offers of consumet· credit products
subject to the Truth in Lending Act. 15
U.S.C. 1601 et seq .. and Regulation z. 12 CFR
226. compliance with the recordkeeping requirements under the Truth in Lending Act.
and Regulation z. shall constitute compl i·
ance with §310.5(a)(3) of this Rule.
372
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APPENDIX A
Telemarketing Sales Rule
Federal Trade Commission
§31 0.7
&hat seller or telemarketer shall maintain all records as required under this
section. In Lhe event of any sale, assignment,, or other change In ownership
of the seller's or telemar ke ter's business. the successor business shall mai ntain all records t·equ!red under this section.
Exemptions.
(a) Solicitations to Induce charitable
contributions via outbound telephone
calls
are
not
covered
by
§310.4(b)(l)(iii)(B) of this Rule.
(b) The following acts or practices
are exempt from this Rule:
(1) The sale of pay-per-call services
subject. to t.he Commission's Rule entitled ''Tt•ade Regulation Rule Pursuant
to the Telephone Disclosure and Dispute Resolution Act of 1992," 16 CFR
Part 308, provided. however, that thls
exemption does not apply to the requirements of §§ Sl0.4(a)(l), (al{7), (b),
and (c):
(2) The sale of franchises subject to
the Commission's Rule entitled "Disclosure Requirements and Prohibitions
Concerning Franchising,» ("Franchise
Rule") 16 CFR Part 436, a nd the sale of
business opportunities subject t,o the
Commission's Rule entitled "Disclosure
Require ments and Prohibitions Concerning
Business
Opportunl Lies."
("Business Qpportunit,y Rule") 16 CFR
Part. 437. provided, however. t ha t this
exemption does not apply to the t·equll•ements of §§Sl0.4(a)tl}, (a)(7), (b),
and (C):
(3) Telephone calls in which the sale
of goods or services or charitable solicitation Is not completed. and payment
or authorization of payment is not required. untll after a face-to-face sales
or donation presentation by the seller
or charl table organization, provided,
however, that t his exemption does not
apply
to
th e
requirements
of
§§ 310.4(a)(l). (a)(7), (b ) . and (c):
(4) Telephone calls initiated by a customer Ol' donor that are not the result
of any solicitation by a seller, charttable organization. or telemarketer,
provided , however. tha t this exemption
does not a pply to any instances of
upselllng Included in such telephone
calls:
{5) Telephone calls initiated by a customer or donor In response to an adver§ 310.6
tisement through any medium, other
than direct mail solicitation, provided,
however, that this exemption does not
apply to calls initiated by a customer
or donor in response to an advertisement relating to investment opportunities, debt relief services. business opportunities other than business arrangements covered by the Franchise
Rule or Business Opportuni&y Rule, or
advertisements involvi ng goods or
services described in §§310.S(a)(l)(vl) or
310.4(a)(2)-(4}: or to any instances of
upselllng included in such telephone
cal ls;
(6) Telephone calls inlt.lated by a customer or donor in response to a direct
mall solicitation . Including solicitations via the u.s. Postal Service, facsimile t ransmission, electronic mail.
and other similar methods of delivery
In which a solicit:.ation is directed to
specific address(es) or person(s). that
clearly. conspicuously. and tru l,h!ully
discloses all material information listed in §310.3(a)(l) of this Rule. for any
goods or services offered In the direct
mail solicitation, and that contains no
material misrepresentation regarding
any Item contained In §310.3(d) of this
Rule for any requested c hari table contribution; provided, however. that. this
exemption does not apply t.o calls initiated by a cus tomer In response t,o a dit·ect mail solicitation relaLing Lo prize
promotions, investment. opportunities.
debt relief services. business opportunities other than businel:ls arrangements
covered by the Franchise Rule or Business Opportunity Rule, or goods or
services described in §§310.3(a)(l)(vi) or
310.4{a )(2)-(4); or to any instances of
upselling included in such telephone
calls; and
(7) Telephone calls between a telamarketer and any business. except
calls to induce the r etail sale of nondurable office or cleaning supplies; provided, however, that §310.4(b)(l)(ii!}(B}
and §310.5 of this Rule shall not a pply
to sellers or telemarketers of nondurable office or cleaning supplies.
§310.7 Actions by states a nd private
persons.
(al Any at.torney general or other offleer of a state authorized by the state
to bring an action under the Telemarketing and Consumet· Fraud and
373
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Case 0:12-cv-61872-RNS Document 187 Entered on FLSD Docket 05/23/2013 Page 40 of 41
APPENDIX A
Telemarketing Sales Rule
§310.8
16 CFR Ch. I (1-1-11 Edition)
Abuse Prevention Act.. and any privat,e
person who brings a.n action under that
Act, shall serve wr! tten notice of its
action on the Commission. if fea.aible,
prior to its init.iating an action under
Lhls Rule. The notice shall be sent to
the Office of the Director. Bureau of
Consumer Prot.eot!on, Federal Trade
Commission. Washington, DC 20580. a.nd
shall Include a copy of the state's or
Pl'lvate person's complaint and any
other pleadings to be filed with the
court. If prior notice Is not feasible.
the sLate or private person shall serve
the Commission wlt.h the required notice immediately upon instituting its
action.
(b) Nothing contained in t.hls Section
shall prohibit any attorney general or
ot.her authorized state official from
proceeding in stat.e court on the basis
of a.n alleged violation of any civil or
criminal statute of such state.
§310.8 Fee tor access to the National
Do Not CaJI Registry.
(a) It is a violation of this Rule for
any seller to inlt.!ate. or cause any
telemarketer Lo Initiate. an outbound
t.elephone call to any person whose
t.elephone number is within a given
area code unless such seller. either directly or through another person. first
has paid the a.n nual fee. required by
§310.8(c), for access to telephone numbers within that area code that are included in the National Do Not Call
Registry maintained by the Commission under §310.4(b)(l )(lii)(B): provided.
however. that such payment is not. necessary if the seller initiates. or causes
a telemarketer t.o initiate, calls solely
to
persons
pursuant
to
§§310.4(b)(l)(iiiHB)( I l o1· ( U ). and the
seller does not access the National Do
Not Call Registry for any other purpose.
(b) It. is a violation of this Rule for
any telemarketer. on behalf of any sellel'. t.o initiate an outbound telephone
call t.o any person whose telephone
number is within a given area code unless t.hat seller. either directly or
through another person. first has paid
the annual fee, required by § 310.8<c),
for access to the telephone numbers
w!t.h!n that area code that are included
in the National Do Not Call Registry;
provided. howevet·. that such payment
is not necessary If the seller Initiates.
or causes a telemarket.er to Initiate.
calls solely to persons pursuant to
§§310.4(b)(l)(ill)(B)( I ) or < ii ). and the
seller does not. access the National Do
Not Call Registry for any other purpose.
(c) The annual fee, which must. be
paid by any person prior to obtaining
access Lo the National Do Not Call
Registry. is S55 for each area code of
dat,a accessed, up to a maximum of
$15,058: provided, however, that there
shall be no charge to any person for accessing t.he first five area codes of data.
and provided further·. that there shall
be no charge to any person engaging In
or causing others to engage in outbound telephone calls to consumers
a.nd who Is accessing area codes of data
in the National Do Not Call Registry if
the person is permitted t.o access, but
Is not required to access. the Nat.ional
Do Not. Call Registry under this Rule.
47 CJ:o~ R 64.1200. or any other Federal
regulat.lon or Jaw. Any person accessing the National Do Not Call Reg!st.ry
may not participate ln any arrangement Lo share t.he cost of accessing t.he
reglsLry. including any arrangement
w! th any telemarketer or service provider to divide the costs to access the
registry among various clients of that
telema1·keter or service provider.
(d) Each person who pays, either directly or through another person. t.he
annual fee set forth in §310.8(c), each
person excepted under §310.8(c) from
paying t.he annual Cee, and each person
excepted from paying a.n annua.l fee
under §310.4<b)tl )(lii)(B). will be provided a unique account number ~hat
will allow that person to access t.he
registry data for the selected area
codes at any time for the twelve month
period beginning on the first day of the
month in which the person paid the fee
("the annual period"). To obt;ain access
to additional area codes of data during
the first six months of the annual period, each person requh·ed to pay t.he
fee under §310.8(c) must first pay $55
for each additional area code of data
not initially selected. To obtain access
to a.ddit.ional area codes of data during
the second six months of the annual period. each person l'equired to pay t.he
fee under §310.8(c) must first pay $27
Cot· each addHional area code of daLa
374
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Case 0:12-cv-61872-RNS Document 187 Entered on FLSD Docket 05/23/2013 Page 41 of 41
APPENDIX A
Telemarketing Sales Rule
Federal Trade Commission
§311.3
not Initially selected. The payment of
the additional fee will permit the person to access the addi tiona! area codes
of dat.a for the remainder of the annual
period.
(e) Access to the National Do Not
Call Registry is limited to t.elemarketers, sellers, others engaged in or
causing others t.o engage in telephone
calls to consumes·s. service providers
acting on behalf of such persons, and
any government agency that has law
enforcement authority. Prior to accessing t.he Nat-Ional Do Not Call Registry.
a person must. provide the Identifying
information required by tbe operator of
the registry t.o collect the fee, and
must certify. under penalty of law.
that t.he person Is accessing the registry solely to comply with the provisions of t.his Rule or to otherwise prevent. telephone calls to telephone numbers on the registry. If the person Is accessing t.he registry on behalf of sellers, that. person also must Identify
each of tbe sellers on whose behalf It is
accessing the registry. must provide
each seller's unique account number
fo1· access t.o the national registry. and
must certify, under penalty of law.
that the sellers will be using the Information gat.hered from the registry
solely to comply with the provisions of
this Rule or otherwise to prevent telephone calls t.o telephone n umbers on
the registry.
[75 FR 48516. Aug. 10. 2010: 75 FR 51934. Aug.
24. 2010]
§310.9 Severability.
The provisions of this Rule are separate and severable from one another. If
any PI'Ov1slon Is stayed or determined
to be invalid. II. Is the Commission's Intention tbal. t.he remaining provisions
shall continue In effect.
375
Page 14 of 14
This is a copy of a public record, reproduced as it was published. It is not legal advice, and it may not be the version a court would rely on. Check the official source before you cite it.