Attorney General's News Release

April 9, 2009

Attorney General Chris Koster shuts down Texas telemarketer and collects $80,000

Jefferson City, Mo. - Attorney General Chris Koster today announced an out-of-state company has agreed to pay the state of Missouri $80,000 for calling and soliciting business from Missourians who had previously placed their names on the state's No-Call List. The agreement includes a provision that the company will no longer solicit business from any Missouri telephone customers.

The business, WAT Broadcasting of Allen, Texas, made telephone solicitations to residential subscribers in Missouri in an attempt to enlist consumers in a debt-consolidation program and/or charge consumers a fee to lower interest rates on their credit cards.

"Missouri law is clear that consumers who notify the Attorney General that they do not want to receive business solicitations are legally protected from receiving unwanted calls if they do not already have an existing business relationship with that company," Koster said. "We will not tolerate any business that ignores our law and harasses Missourians."

WAT Broadcasting had also been doing business as Credit Account Solutions and XYZ Marketing. The harassing calls were brought to the attention of the Attorney General's office by consumers who had called the Do-Not-Call hotline at 1-866-buzzoff (1-866-289-9633) to file a complaint with the office.