Attorney General's News Release

January 14, 2002

10 telemarketers to pay $50,000 for No Call violations, Nixon announces; Springfield travel agency also sued

Jefferson City, Mo. — Attorney General Jay Nixon announced today that 10 more telemarketers have been ordered to pay a total of $50,000 to the state for violating Missouri's No Call law. That brings to $500,000 the amount Nixon has obtained in court orders from telemarketers since July 1, 2001, when enforcement of the No Call law took effect.

Nixon also has filed a lawsuit in St. Charles County Circuit Court against a Springfield travel agency, Surrey Vacation Resorts, for calling Missourians whose telephone numbers are on the No Call law list. The business made the telemarketing calls to sell timeshares and vacation packages.

The 10 telemarketers covered by the court orders each will pay $5,000 for the No Call violations and have been ordered to obtain current copies of the No Call list and comply with the law in the future.

The telemarketers, their principle places of business, and calls made are:

• BMG Direct Marketing, New York: Marketed recorded music to consumers
• Central States Supply, Lindenhurst, N.Y: Marketed farm supplies to consumers
• Coast Satellite, Atascadero, Calif.: Marketed satellite television service to consumers
• Culligan Water, Kansas City, and Culligan Water, Springfield: Marketed water softening equipment services and supplies to consumers
• May Enterprises (also known as Daisy Floor Care), St. Louis: Marketed carpet and floor care to consumers
• Miller-Plante, Maitland, Fla.: Marketed septic tank additives to consumers
• MSM Builders and Remodelers (also known as Thumbs Up Marketing), St. Louis: Marketed home improvements to consumers
• Redden Enterprises, Grain Valley: Marketed air purification systems to consumers
• Sears Home Improvement Products, Longwood, Fla.: Marketed home improvements and services to consumers

Nixon renewed his call for state legislators to close exemptions in the law that allow certain telemarketers, including telephone and credit-card companies, to continue to legally call Missourians on the No Call list. The Missouri General Assembly convened this week in Jefferson City for the 2002 session.

"This is a classic confrontation between the will of the people and the will of the lobbyists," Nixon said. "The response from Missourians to sign up for the No Call list and report violations to us has been tremendous, and we've been aggressive in going after violators. We need to close those loopholes that remain to make the No Call list as effective as possible."

Consumers can register either online or by calling toll-free 1-866-NOCALL1 (1-866-662-2551.) The next deadline for signing up for the No Call list is Feb. 1. People who register their numbers by that date will be protected under the next quarterly list that goes out April 1.

Missourians already on the No Call list may file complaints about telemarketing calls by downloading a complaint form form or by calling the toll-free number.

View legal actions taken against telemarketers

Inquiries from consumers should be directed to consumer@ago.mo.gov or 1-800-392-8222 (from within Missouri) or 573-751-3321 (outside Missouri).

All media inquiries should be directed to Press Secretary John Fougere.

E-mail      Phone: 573-751-8844         Fax: 573-751-5818