Telemarketing Sales Rule (TSR)
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) enforces the Telemarketing Sales Rule (TSR), a collection of rules designed to shield consumers from harmful telemarketing tactics. Established in 1995, with updates by the FTC since the TSR aims to safeguard individuals in the United States from deceptive and unwanted telemarketing calls.
TSR provides comprehensive guidelines encompassing various telemarketing activities, including traditional phone calls, automated calls, and text messages. Its aim is to prevent fraud in the US by establishing specific requirements that telemarketers must follow:
- The Telemarketing Sales Rule makes it illegal for telemarketers to contact any number listed on the National Do Not Call (DNC) Registry. This registry gives consumers the choice of whether they want to receive telemarketing calls and acts as an important tool for managing privacy.
- Telemarketing calls are limited to reasonable hours, with no calls allowed before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m. in order to ensure that consumers’ personal time is respected.
- Telemarketers must provide important information at the start of a call, such as their name, the company they work for, and the reason for the call. This transparency helps consumers make informed decisions about whether to continue the call.
- Telemarketers must secure prior explicit written consent from consumers for any calls that involve automated telephone dialing systems (ATDS) or pre-recorded messages. This rule respects consumer preferences and protects them from receiving unsolicited robocalls.
- The Telemarketing Sales Rule prohibits telemarketers from making any deceptive statements that could mislead consumers, including providing false information about the costs, nature, or purpose of the products and services being offered.