FCC logs 10,000 telemarketing complaints

updated 4:34 p.m. ET Feb. 18, 2004

WASHINGTON - The Federal Communications Commission said Wednesday it has received almost 10,000 complaints and has cited eight companies for calling people who registered their phone numbers on the government's do-not-call list.

None of the companies cited by the FCC was fined, but the commission warned them that future violations could bring a penalty of up to $11,000 for each incident.

The companies cited were Mortgage Concepts Inc./L.M.A. Marketing Inc. of New Smyrna Beach, Fla.; L.A.P. Holdings LLC/First Finance of Tempe, Ariz.; Nations Mortgage of Coral Springs, Fla.; Ban-Cor/Ban-Cor Mortgage of Ontario, Calif.; Cactus Cash Inc. and Dynasty Mortgage, both of Phoenix; Debt Masters of Grand Terrace, Calif.; and CPM Funding Inc. of Irvine, Calif.

The Federal Trade Commission, which is administering the list, has received more than 150,000 complaints but has yet to cite any company.

On Tuesday, the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals dismissed a lawsuit brought by the telemarketing industry seeking to abolish the list as an unconstitutional infringement on free speech.

The court said the registry of more than 56 million phone numbers was a reasonable attempt by the government to safeguard personal privacy and reduce "the danger of telemarketing abuse."

People can register numbers or file complaints at www.donotcall.gov or by calling 1-888-382-1222.

The government says people who sign up can expect about 80 percent of telemarketing calls to be blocked. Exempted are charities, pollsters and political campaigns, as well as companies that have recently done business with someone on the list.

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