Attorney General's News Release
May 24, 2007
Texas telemarketer selling burial plans over the phone to pay $15,000 for calling Missourians on the No Call list
St. Louis, Mo. — A Texas business that made telemarketing calls to Missourians on the No Call list to try to sell pre-paid burial plans will pay $15,000 under a court order obtained today by Attorney General Jay Nixon. St. Louis City Circuit Judge John F. Garvey Jr. approved the assurance of voluntary compliance that requires The Lead Connection Inc. and its owner, Kim Wilhelm, to pay $15,000 to the state and also requires them to comply with Missouri consumer protection laws in the future.
Nixon brought the legal action against the Houston-based business after Missourians on the No Call list complained to the Attorney General's Office about telemarketing calls they received from the company, which does business under the name Senior Benefits. Wilhelm paid $5,000 today toward satisfying the court order and will pay $2,000 monthly beginning in July.
Judge Garvey also entered a default judgment against a second Houston business that also made telemarketing calls to Missourians on the No Call list to sell burial services. That judgment orders Your Lead Sources Inc. and its owner, Fred Kruttlin, to pay $50,000 to the state and also bans them from making any telemarketing calls into Missouri. Nixon said the matter would be turned over to the Financial Services Division of his office for collection of the judgment.
To date, Nixon has obtained more than $1.7 million from telemarketers that called Missourians on the No Call list. The list now includes 2.4 million residential phone numbers.
Missourians who are not yet on the No Call list can sign up online through the Attorney General's Web site, ago.mo.gov, or by calling toll-free 1-866 NOCALL 1 (866-662-2551). Those on the No Call list may register complaints about telemarketing calls through the Web site or the phone number.
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 the Press Secretary.
E-mail Phone: 573-751-8844 Fax: 573-751-5818