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§ 2245. Unlawful acts and penalties

Purdon's Pennsylvania Statutes and Consolidated StatutesTitle 73 P.S. Trade and CommerceEffective: December 3, 2019

Purdon's Pennsylvania Statutes and Consolidated Statutes
Title 73 P.S. Trade and Commerce (Refs & Annos)
Chapter 40. Telemarketer Registration Act (Refs & Annos)
Effective: December 3, 2019
73 P.S. § 2245
§ 2245. Unlawful acts and penalties
(a) Acts enumerated.--The following acts are prohibited:
(1) Conducting telemarketing after 9 p.m. or before 8 a.m.
(2) Initiating an outbound telephone call, including a robocall, to a person when the person previously has stated that the person does not wish to receive an outbound telephone call made by or on behalf of the seller whose goods or services are being offered. A seller or telemarketer will not be liable for violating the provisions of this paragraph if:
(i) he has established and implemented written procedures to comply with this paragraph;
(ii) he has trained his personnel in the procedures;
(iii) the seller or the telemarketer acting on behalf of the seller has maintained and recorded lists of persons who may not be contacted; and
(iv) any subsequent call is the result of error.
(3) Obtaining or submitting for payment a check, draft or other form of negotiable paper drawn on a person's checking, savings, share or similar account without the person's express verifiable authorization. Such authorization shall be deemed verifiable if any of the following means are employed:
(i) Express written authorization by the customer, which may include the customer's signature on the negotiable instrument.
(ii) Express oral authorization which is tape recorded and made available upon request to the customer's bank and customer and which evidences clearly both the customer's authorization of payment for the goods and services that are the subject of the sales offer and the customer's receipt of all of the following information:
(A) The date of the draft or drafts.
(B) The amount of the draft or drafts.
(C) The payor's name.
(D) The number of draft payments, if more than one.
(E) A telephone number for customer inquiry that is answered during normal business hours.
(F) The date of the customer's oral authorization.
(G) A statement that the transaction is one for which the customer may receive a full refund by returning undamaged and unused consumer goods within ten days after receiving them or by sending a cancellation of service notice to the telemarketer or telemarketing business within five days after the transaction and that a refund shall be processed within 30 days after receiving the returned goods or cancellation from the customer. The statement required by this clause need not be provided to the consumer orally by telephone if it is provided in writing with advertising, promotional material or with delivery of the goods or services. A seller who discloses in writing that a sale is made or provided “SATISFACTION GUARANTEED,” with “FREE INSPECTION” or “NO RISK GUARANTEE” with similar words or phrases shall be deemed to meet the requirements of the review and return for refund policy set forth in this clause.
(iii) Written confirmation of the transaction, sent to the customer prior to submission for payment of the customer's check, draft or other form of negotiable paper, which includes:
(A) all of the information contained in subparagraph (ii); and
(B) the procedures by which the customer can obtain a cancellation of the transaction from the seller or telemarketer in the event that confirmation is inaccurate.
(4) Requesting or receiving payment of any fee or consideration from a person for goods or services represented to recover or otherwise assist in the return of money or any other item of value paid for by or promised to that person in a previous telemarketing transaction until seven business days after such money or other item is delivered to that person. This provision shall not apply to goods or services provided to a person by a licensed attorney.
(5) Failing to disclose promptly to any consumer during the initial telephone contact the purpose of the call, the name of the telemarketer or telemarketing business and what the telemarketer or telemarketing business is selling.
(6) In the case of prize promotions, failing to provide the odds of winning, advising that no purchase or payment is necessary to win and identifying restrictions or conditions on obtaining a prize. In any prize promotion, if the odds are not calculable in advance, the factors used in calculating the odds must be disclosed. The no-purchase/no-payment method of participating in the prize promotion with either instructions on how to participate or an address or local or toll-free telephone number to which customers may write or call for information on how to participate shall be provided. All material costs or conditions to receive or redeem a prize that is the subject of the prize promotion must also be provided. Disclosure under this paragraph must be made prior to the customer's payment for the goods or services offered.
(7) Failing to reduce any sale of goods or services made during a telemarketing call to a written contract and obtaining the consumer's signature on the written contract, except as provided in subsection (d).
(8) Failing to end a telemarketing solicitation call when the consumer indicates he wants to end the call.
(9) Engaging in any deceptive or abusive telemarketing acts or practices in violation of 16 CFR 310 (relating to telemarketing sales rule).
(10) Making a telephone solicitation call on a legal holiday.
(b) Recordkeeping.--Telemarketers who are required to make verifiable authorizations under subsection (a)(3) shall keep such records for at least 24 months.
(c) Contract provisions.--A contract under subsection (a)(7) shall contain the following information:
(1) The name, address and telephone number of the telemarketer or telemarketing business.
(2) The total price of the consumer goods or services purchased.
(3) A detailed description of the consumer goods and services purchased which shall match the oral description given in the telemarketing solicitation.
(4) Any oral or written representations made during the telemarketing solicitation.
(5) A statement that reads “You are not obligated to pay any money unless you sign this contract and return it to the seller.”
(d) Exception.--A signed, written contract is not needed if any of the following apply:
(1) The contractual sale is regulated under other laws of this Commonwealth.
(2) The transaction was made as a result of prior negotiations by the consumer and telemarketer or telemarketing business, where the consumer visited a merchant operating a retail business establishment in a permanent location where consumer goods are displayed or offered for sale on a continuing basis.
(3) All of the following apply:
(i) The transaction is one for which the consumer may receive a full refund upon the return of undamaged and unused consumer goods within ten days of receipt of the consumer goods or upon sending a cancellation of consumer service notice to the telemarketer or telemarketing business within five days of the transaction.
(ii) The return and refund policy is disclosed to the consumer orally by telephone or in writing with the advertising, promotional material or with delivery of the goods or services. A seller who discloses in writing that a sale is made or provided “SATISFACTION GUARANTEED,” with “FREE INSPECTION” or “NO RISK GUARANTEE” or with similar words or phrases shall be deemed to meet the requirements of the review and return policy set forth in this subparagraph.
(iii) The refund is processed within 30 days of receipt of the returned consumer goods or upon receipt of the cancellation of the consumer.
(4) The transaction is a result of the consumer examining an advertisement, sample, brochure or catalog of the telemarketer or telemarketing business which contains the name, address and telephone number of the telemarketer or telemarketing business, a description of the goods or services and any limitations or restrictions that apply to the offer.
(5) The transaction is a sale or solicitation made by or on behalf of a bona fide charitable organization which is tax exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (Public Law 99-514, 26 U.S.C. § 501(c)(3)).

Credits

1996, Dec. 4, P.L. 911, No. 147, § 5, effective in 90 days. Amended 2003, Sept. 12, P.L. 105, No. 22, § 1.1, imd. effective; 2019, Oct. 4, P.L. 447, No. 73, § 2, effective in 60 days [Dec. 3, 2019].
73 P.S. § 2245, PA ST 73 P.S. § 2245
Current through the end of the 2023 Regular Session. Some statute sections may be more current, see credits for details.
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