in credit card receivables and its customer base totals over 15 million. Household 9s credit cards are serviced by its affiliates, Household Credit Services, Inc.<br><br> and Household Credit Services (11), Inc. which together employ over 5000 men and women throughout the country. General Telemarketing is a valuable tool that enables legitimate businesses to offer goods and services to consumers in a cost effective and efficient manner.<br><br> Consumers, and ultimately the economy, benefit from ths method of marketing in a number of ways, including the increased availability of low cost goods and services, a wider variety of choices, and the convenience of shopping nationwide and effecting a purchase in the comfort of their own home. For these reasons, Household supports the efforts of the Commission to curtail telemarketing fraud and Office of the Secretary Federal Trade Commission March 29, 2002 Page 2 abuse in accordance with its authority under the Telemarketing and Consumer Fraud and Abuse Prevention Act of 1994 (the cAct d). As further discussed below, however, we are concerned that in trying to address the abusive practices of unscrupulous telemarketers, the Commission has included a number of provisions in its Proposal which will negatively impact the ability of legitimate businesses to reach their own customers, as well as other consumers who may want or need their goods and services.<br><br> As discussed in greater detail below, we have significant concerns with respect the do - not - call provisions of the Proposal (§ 3 10.4(b)( l)(iii)(B)). First and foremost, the Commission 9s proposed do - not - call provisions do not exempt calls made to existing customers. In addition, the provisions would, in effect, create an additional do - not - call list that would be layered on to an already complicated and inconsistent patchwork of state do - not - call laws.<br><br> We are also concerned with the provisions of the Proposal that would restrict the sharing of billing information ( 5 3 10.3(a)(3) and ¬j 3 10.4(a)(5)) and instead require consumers to disclose their account numbers to telemarketers. This requirement is contrary to the longstanding advice against this practice given by the Commission and the financial services industry. (See e.g., attached brochure issued by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency ( cOCC d) entitled cHow to Avoid Becoming a Victim of Identity Theft d and Section VI of OCC Advisory Letter AL 2001 - 4.) Further, the information sharing restrictions of these sections would conflict with the Gramm - Leach - Bliley Act (15 U.S.C.<br><br> 6 6801 et seq.) ( cGLBA d) and the Commission 9s own regulations implementing that law. 16 C.F.R. Part 3 13.<br><br> While the GLBA was enacted after the Commission completed its review of the Rule, any final rule adopted by the Commission should acknowledge that the sharing of billing information between a financial institution and a third party telemarketer is governed exclusively by the GLBA and, in the case of an affiliate, by the Fair Credit Reporting Act (15 U.S.C. 516.81 et seq.) ( cFCRA d). For these reasons and as discussed further below, we urge the Commission to continue its careful consideration of revisions to the Rule and refrain from issuing final revisions until it has published a revised proposal for public comment.<br><br> Definition of cBilling information d (6 3 10.2(c)) In order to avoid conflict with the GLBA, we suggest that the definition of cbilling infomation d be clarified to exclude encrypted account numbers where the means to decode the encryption are not provided to the recipient. This clarification would be consistent with the Commission 9s interpretation of the GLBA wherein it stated that it cbelieves an encrypted account number without the key is something different f?om the number itself.. . d.<br><br> 65 Fed. Reg. 33646, 3 3669 (2000).<br><br> Rather, the Commission continued, c[an encrypted account number] operates as an identifier attached to an account for internal tracking purposes only. d Id. In further interpreting the meaning of caccount number d, the Commission referenced the concerns of cornenters that cif internal identifiers may not be used, a consumer would need to provide an account number.. .which would expose the consumer to a greater risk than would the use of an Office of the Secretary Federal Trade Commission March 29,2002 Page 3 internal tracking system that preserves the confidentiality of an account number that may be used to access the account. d Id.<br><br> The Commission concluded that c[c]onsumers will be adequately protected by disclosures of encrypted account numbers that do not enable the recipient to access the consumer 9s account. d Id. These conclusions should apply equally with respect to the Proposal. While the specific language of the proposed definition of cbilling information 9 9 appears consistent with the Commission 9s interpretation under the GLBA, our concerns arise from the Commission 9s discussion of the term in the Supplementary Information to the Proposal.<br><br> Specifically, the Commission states that it intends cbilling information d to include cinformation such as a credit or debit card number and expiration date.. ..customer 9s date of birth or mother 9s maiden name, and any other information used as proof of authorization to effect a charge against a person 9s account d. 67 Fed.<br><br> Reg. 4492,4499 (2002). This appears to go well beyond the Commission 9s specific language defining the term as cdata that provides access to a consumer 9s account d (emphasis added) and, as used in proposed section 3 10.4(a)(5), conflicts with the sharing of encrypted account numbers and, subject to a consumer 9s right to opt - out, the sharing of other non - public personal information as permitted by GLBA.<br><br> To avoid such a conflict, we suggest that the Commission clarify that the term cbilling information d includes only account numbers, and specifically excludes encrypted account numbers where the method for decoding the encryption is not provided to the recipient. Definition of cOutbound telephone call d (6 3 10.2(t)) Also, of significant concern to Household is the Proposal 9s definition of an coutbound telephone call d to include certain calls initiated by a consumer. Thus, if a consumer decides to contact a company by telephone to inquire about a product, and after purchasing the initial product is offered a second product by the same telemarketer but on behalf of a different seller (e.g., an affiliated company) or cis transferred to a telemarketer other than the original telemarketer, d the second part of the call appears to be subject to the restrictions of the Rule that apply to coutbound telephone calls. d These restrictions include the limitation on contacting customers who have gut themselves on the do - not - call registry (proposed section 3 10.4(b)( l)(iii)(B)), the restrictions on what time an outbound telephone call may be made (section 3 10.4(c)), and the making of required disclosures (section 3 10.4(d)).<br><br> This proposed change, though well - intentioned, would create an unworkable standard that is neither justified by the concerns raised in the Preamble nor authorized by statute. The Act specifically authorizes the Commission to issue rules to protect against cdeceptive telemarketing acts or practices and other abusive telemarketing acts or practices, d not telephone calls in general (1 5 U.S.C. 6102(a)( 1)).<br><br> Most notably, the only times the Act discusses ctelephone calls, d it specifies cunsolicited telephone calls d or calls made by the telemarketer cto the person receiving the call d (15 U.S.C. 6102(a)(3)). The Act lacks any indication that Congress intended the Commission to regulate anything but outbound calls (in the sense meant Office of the Secretary Federal Trade Commission March 29,2002 Page 4 by the Rule), and there is no alternative authority for the Commission 9s proposed expansion of the Rule to apply to inbound calls.<br><br> Even if the Commission has the authority to issue the proposed changes, the new definition as proposed is not tailored to the problems it is intended to address. The Commission states that it has proposed this change to the definition of an outbound telephone call in response to a reported increase in the practice of cup-selling. d 67 Fed. Reg.<br><br> 4492,4500. Moreover, the Commission specifically highlights the problems that arise when cup-selling d occurs after a consumer has provided a telemarketer with billing information and has closed a sale. 67 Fed.<br><br> Reg. 4492, 4495. However, the new definition would bring numerous situations within the scope of the Rule that do not pose the risks the Commission has stated that it is trying to address, as the new definition of coutbound telephone call d is not limited to situations where billing information has been provided, nor to those where a sale has been made.<br><br> The result of attempting to force inbound calls to fit the regulatory model created for outbound calls is to create unjustifiable and, in some cases, absurd consequences. For example, if a consumer initiates a call to a business and is put on hold, and the recorded message playing during the hold period urges the consumer to consider purchasing various products or services, the Proposal would appear to require the call to be treated as an outbound telephone call. If the consumer initiated such a call before 8 a.m.<br><br> or after 9 p.m., the call would then be an outbound telephone call at an impermissible time and per se abusive - despite the fact that the consumer would have chosen the time of the call, and presumably would only have called at a time the consumer herself found acceptable. Moreover, the telemarketer may not even know what time it was in the consumer 9s jurisdiction when the call was placed. Meanwhile, if the caller had registered on the do - not - call registry, the second telemarketer could be violating proposed section 3 10.4(b)( l)(iii)(B) even though the telemarketer did not call the consumer and has no practical way to determine whether the consumer is on that list.<br><br> There is simply no reasonable basis for treating any call the consumer has initiated, at a time and to a recipient of the consumer 9s choosing, as ever being subject to the same panoply of limitations as a call over which the consumer has no such control. In light of these weaknesses in the Proposal, we suggest that the definition of coutbound telephone call d in the Rule not be altered. Consumer initiated or inbound telemarketing calls have been in general use well pnor to 1994 and the passing of the Act and the Rule.<br><br> Indeed, the Rule exempts inbound calls for logical reasons. What makes an inbound call different from an outbound call is that it is initiated by a consumer who calls to purchase goods and services and directly provides (during the call) h s or her billing information for that purpose thereby employing what the FTC has characterized as cthe most fundamental tool consumers have for controlling transactions, i.e., withholding the information necessary to effect payment unless and until they have consented to buy. d 67 Fed. Reg.<br><br> 4492,4496. cUp - selling d, or offering the consumer an opportunity to purchase other goods and services after the initial purchase is completed, preserves the highest level of consumer protection because the consumer is specifically asked and consents to the additional goods or Office of the Secretary Federal Trade Commission March 29,2002 Page 5 services being charged to the same billing source the consumer provided moments before. If the true concern of the Commission is that the original or second telemarketer provides the required disclosures to the consumer, this can be achieved without creating the paradox of an inbound call becoming an outbound call.<br><br> It is also worthwhile to note that, contrary to the implicit assumption in the Proposal that all cup - selling d is bad for consumers, there exist cup-selling d opportunities that provide significant benefits to consumers. Numerous examples of these exist in the consumer credit industry, and telemarketing provides an important opportunity for financial services providers to provide consumers with information on products they may qualify for, need, that may save them money, and that they may not have otherwise heard about. Examples of products that are cup - sold d include - consolidation loans to reduce higher rate debt, automatic payment plans that may qualify customers for savings on their loan payments, debt cancellation programs that may protect a borrower in the event of unemployment or disability, and reduced rate loan products for customers of affiliated financial institutions.<br><br> Many of these products, as well as many other financial products, are sold by separate companies that are either commonly owned or that have agreed to offer products to each other 9s customers. Unduly restricting the financial services industry from offering such products to callers who have, of their own volition, contacted them, is wholly beyond the scope of the Act and unrelated to the cup - selling d threat enumerated by the Commission. Restrictions on Submitting Billing Infomation (4 3 10.3(a)(3) As it is currently drafted, the Rule requires telemarketers to obtain the cexpress verifiable consent d of the consumer before submitting the consumer 9s cdemand draft or similar negotiable paper d as payment in a sales transaction.<br><br> The Commission seeks to expand the express verifiable authorization requirement to cover any other method of payment where such method does not have the protections available to consumers under the Fair Credit Billing Act ( cFCBA d) and the Truth in Lending Act ( cTILA d), as amended. We commend the Commission for recognizing that consumers are well protected under the provisions of the FCBA and TILA, and agree with the Commission that when using payment methods covered thereby, the express verifiable authorization requirements should not apply. The Supplementary Information to the Proposal provides that methods of payment having protections ccomparable to those available under d the FCBA and TILA would also be exempt fsom the express verifiable authorization requirements.<br><br> 67 Fed. Reg. 4492,4506.<br><br> Based on this language, we believe the Commission would also consider exempt from the express authorization requirements payment transactions which are subject to the Electronic Fund Transfer Act (15 U.S.C. $8 1693 et seq.) ( cEFTA d) as its provides protections quite similar to those available under the Federal Reserve Board 9s Regulation Z, which implements the TILA and FCBA. Like Regulation Z, the Federal Reserve Board 9s Regulation E, whch implements the EFTA, provides consumers with the opportunity to dispute any cerrors d, such as an unauthorized Office of the Secretary Federal Trade Commission March 29, 2002 Page 6 electronic fund transfer, reflected on the consumer 9s billing statement.<br><br> 12 C.F.R. fj 205.1 1. Also, like Regulation 2, Regulation E generally limits the consumer 9s liability for unauthorized electronic transactions to $50.<br><br> 12 C.F.R. fj 205.6. For these reasons, 8we suggest that the Commission clarify that payment transactions covered by the EFTA would also be excluded from the express verifiable authorization provisions of this section.<br><br> The Commission also proposes to expand the list of information that must be received in order to deem a consumer 9s express oral authorization verifiable. Of significant concern to Household is the inclusion in this list of the consumer 9s account number. According to the Supplementary Information to the Proposal, the account number cmust be recited by either the consumer or the telemarketer. d 67 Fed.<br><br> Reg. 4492,4506. On the one hand, this requirement is not workable when the account number pertains to an account held by a financial institution that is subject to the GLBA.<br><br> Under the Commission 9s own rules implementing the GLBA, financial institutions are prohibited from disclosing account numbers to non - affiliated third parties for marketing purposes. 16 C.F.R. fj 3 13.12.<br><br> Consequently, in most instances a telemarketer will not have an account number to recite. And, in those situations where the GLBA does not apply, it is difficult to envision under what circumstances a telemarketer would come to possess an account number in the first place, given the Proposal 9s definition of cbilling information d and the restrictions in proposed section 3 10.4(a)(5). The end result is that it would be the consumer, in most if not all cases, who would be required to place herself at risk by disclosing her account number.<br><br> And not only is she disclosing it to the individual telemarketer she is speaking with on the telephone, but she is also disclosing it to any other party on the line who may be auditing the telephone call for quality control purposes, and any other person with whom either of those individuals choose to share her account number. It is for the express purpose of avoiding these risks that both the Commission and the financial services industry have long discouraged consumers from disclosing their account numbers to telemarketers. Consumers are best protected where the financial institution, and not the telemarketer, controls access to the consumer 9s account.<br><br> With this control, it is the financial institution that initiates charges to the consumer 9s account after it is satisfied that the telemarketer received the requisite authorization from the consumer to do so. This control, and the consumer protections that go along with it, are compromised by this provision of the Proposal. Therefore, we strongly urge the Commission to remove the consumer 9s account number from the list of information necessary to verify oral authorization.<br><br> If for some reason the Commission decides to retain the account number requirement, then we respecthlly request that it be eliminated for telemarketing situations where the GLBA applies. Restrictions on Sharing Billing Information (4 3 10.4(a)(5)) Here the Commission proposes to regulate the sharing of information which is clearly outside the scope of its authority under the Act. Congress directed the Commission to enact rules prohibiting abusive, deceptive, and fraudulent tezemarketing acts (emphasis added).<br><br> Office of the Secretary Federal Trade Commission March 29, 2002 Page 7 According to the Supplementary Information to the Proposal, the practice that lead the Commission to propose this section is the misuse by telemarketers of billing information. Clearly, the abusive telemarketing act is not the sharing of the billing information in the first instance, but is the misuse of that information by unscrupulous telemarketers. Rather than specifically addressing that abusive act, however, the Proposal effectively prohibits any sharing of billing infomation at the expense of legitimate businesses and, ultimately, the consumer.<br><br> Not only does this approach exceed the Commission 9s statutory authority, it is also directly conflicts with the GLBA and the Commission 9s regulations implementing the same. And, like section 3 10.3(a)(3) discussed above, this provision of the Proposal risks actually increasing the incidence of fraud against consumers who will now be encouraged to provide their account number over the telephone. For these reasons, the Commission should not include this section of the Proposal in the final rule.<br><br> If the Commission chooses to retain this provision, then, at a minimum, we suggest it be clarified as explained below to remove all conflicts with the GLBA and preserve the intent of Congress, the Federal functional regulators ( cAgencies d), and the Commission with respect thereto. The extent to which this proposed section conflicts with the GLBA depends on whether information is being shared with the financial institution 9s affiliate or with a non - affiliated third party. It also depends on the definition of cbilling information d as discussed previously and again below.<br><br> Pursuant to the FCRA, financial institutions are permitted to share account information with their affiliates and it is a common practice for financial institutions to share such information with affiliated companies that perform telemarketing services on the institution 9s behalf. If the account information is deemed to be credit information, it may only be shared with affiliates after the consumer to which the credit information relates has been given prior notice of the sharing, the opportunity to opt out of the sharing, and has not exercised that opt out right. As drafted, the Proposal conflicts with these FCRA information sharing provisions under which financial institutions have operated for years.<br><br> In addition, the necessity of these amendments in the context of affiliate sharing is illusive. A financial institution 9s affiliate is certainly not going to risk harming that institution 9s customer relationship by engaging in the abusive actions the Proposal 9s provisions are intended to prevent. Therefore, if retained, section 3 10.4(a)(5) should be modified to except from its coverage the sharing of billing information between financial institutions and their affiliates.<br><br> As noted by the Commission in the Supplementary Information to the Proposal, financial institutions may also contract with third parties to telemarket their customers. A financial institution 9s sharing of information with such parties is governed by the provisions of the GLBA and its implementing regulations. See e.g., 16 C.F.R.<br><br> Part 3 13. In passing the GLBA and drafting its implementing regulations, Congress, the Agencies, and the Commission, respectively, gave substantial consideration to the issue of information sharing by financial institutions with non - affiliated third parties. As the Commission is no doubt aware, subject to certain enumerated Office of the Secretary Federal Trade Commission March 29, 2002 Page 8 exceptions, the GLBA prohibits financial institutions from sharing non - public personal information about consumers with non - affiliated third parties if, after giving a consumer notice and the right to opt out, the consumer elects to opt out of such sharing.<br><br> However, a consumer 9s election not to opt of sharing under the GLBA would, effectively, be rendered moot by this proposed section based on the broad definition of the term cbilling information d. As previously discussed, this conflict can be avoided if the Commission clearly provides that cbilling information d includes only unencrypted account numbers and excludes encrypted account numbers so long as the method to decode the encryption is not provided to the recipient. The next conflict between this portion of the Proposal and the GLBA arises with respect to the sharing of account numbers themselves.<br><br> The sharing of account numbers for marketing purposes is addressed separately from all other information sharing under the GLBA and its implementing regulations, illustrating the significant consideration already given to the issue by Congress, the Agencies, and the Commission, respectively. Under the GLB A, financial institutions are prohibited from sharing account numbers with any non - affiliated third party for marketing purposes, including telemarketing, with two specific exceptions. First, the financial institution is permitted to share account numbers with its agents or service providers that are marketing the financial institution 9s own products, so long as the agent or service provider is not able to directly initiate a charge to the related account.<br><br> 16 C.F.R. 5 3 13.12(b)( 1). Second, financial institutions are allowed to share account numbers with their partners in private label, affinity or similar programs where the participants in the program have beenjdentified to the consumer.<br><br> 16 C.F.R. 5 313.12(b)(2). These exceptions were adopted by the Agencies and the Commission because they are necessary for a financial institution to continue to engage in its legitimate day - to - day business and pose no significant risk to consumers.<br><br> Therefore, if this proposed section 3 10.4(a)(5) is retained in the final rule, it must be amended to include the foregoing exceptions. Finally, this proposed section raises the same significant concerns previously discussed with respect to the Commission 9s proposed requirement that consumers provide their account numbers over the telephone. Requiring the consumer to determine when to provide this information places the burden on her to distinguish the legitimate from the unscrupulous telemarketer.<br><br> This will greatly increase the risk of fraud which harms both consumers and the financial services industry and is, of course, contrary to the purposes of the Act and the intentions of the Commission. As discussed above, this risk can be avoided by not requiring consumers to disclose their account numbers over the telephone and by not prohibiting the sharing of encrypted account numbers which, in promulgating the GLBA regulations, the Agencies and the Commission agreed poses no risk to a consumer, provided the key to decode the account number is not also provided to the recipient. Other concerns raised by the Commission prompting this portion of the Proposal include consumers not knowing which account would be charged and how the telemarketer came to possess their account information.<br><br> This concern can be alleviated more easily and without Office of the Secretary Federal Trade Commission March 29,2002 Page 9 increased risk to the consumer by disclosures, which legitimate telemarketers already provide, such as the brand name of the account being charged and the name of the entity from which the telemarketer received the encrypted account number. We share the Commission 9s concern regarding unauthorized use of a consumer 9s billing information, as this practice harms both consumers and financial service providers. But, even assuming it is within its statutory authority to do so, by restricting a financial institution from sharing customer information with legitimate businesses with which it contracts, the Commission will inadvertently increase the risk of fraud against consumers and the financial services industry.<br><br> In addition, such restrictions on a financial institution will negatively impact its ability to continue to make products and services available to consumers in a cost effective and efficient manner. The GLBA and its implementing regulations strike a balance between the protection of consumer interests in this regard and the continued flow of information for use by legitimate businesses. Given the fact that the GLBA regulations have been in effect for less than one year, it is certainly not necessary for the Commission or any other regulatory body to revisit and further restrict information sharing practices at this juncture.<br><br> Therefore, if proposed section 3 10.4(a)(5) is retained in the final rule, we suggest the Commission clarify that its provisions are not applicable to financial institutions covered by the GLBA. National Do - Not - Call Registry (4 3 10.4(b)(l )(iii)(B) Outbound Telephone Calls Made to Existing Customers As a general matter, we support the concept of a national do - not - call list. We believe that when there is no existing business relationship between the consumer and the business making the telemarketing call, the interests of both can best be served by a simplified 9and centralized method to record and communicate a consumer 9s telemarketing preferences.<br><br> However, where there is an existing business relationship, we believe the least burdensome and most efficient method for the consumer to communicate and the company to honor her wishes in this regard continues to be the company specific approach as provided in the original Rule and the TCPA (47 U.S.C. 227 et seq.). For this reason and those set forth below, outbound telephone calls made by a company to its existing customers should be excluded from the prohibitions of proposed section 3 10.4(b)( l)(iii)(B).<br><br> We also suggest that the Commission define an existing ccustomer d consistently with the definition of that term in the Commission 9s GLBA regulation (1 6 C.F.R. 93 13.3(h) and (i)) in order to provide clear guidance on who is and is not a ccustomer. d According to the Supplementary Information to the Proposal, the company - specific approach has been criticized by consumers and state law enforcement agencies as being unduly burdensome on consumers and ineffective in preventing unwanted telemarketing calls. The Commission cites instances in which consumers have had to make do - not - call requests repeatedly, as well as those in which consumers 9 do - not - call requests are ignored.<br><br> Office of the Secretary Federal Trade Commission March 29, 2002 Page 10 Unfortunately, we do not doubt that these practices occur. But, it is highly unlikely that this is happening where the business making the telemarketing call has an existing relationship with the consumer. When calling a consumer with which it has no existing relationship, a telemarketer that is not concerned with applicable law, much less the interests of consumers, could certainly take the position that it has nothing to lose by interfering with that consumer 9s right to be placed on its do - not - call list.<br><br> To the extreme contrary, the company that is calling its own customer would have everything to lose with such behavior. This is because a company 9s customers and its reputation are its most valuable assets, without which it cannot survive in a competitive marketplace. A company risks losing both by failing to honor its customers 9 requests not to receive outbound telephone calls.<br><br> Therefore, it acts contrary to its own interests in doing so. Additionally, from a cost perspective, a company has no interest in telemarketing those of its customers who have indicated their desire not to receive such calls. But, for those customers who do want to receive offers of special products and services, a company must be able to make such offers available by using the most cost efficient and convenient means.<br><br> With no justifiable reason, the Proposal would severely restrict a company 9s ability to reach these customers. Certainly, the states that have adopted their own do - not - call list have seen the value in preserving the relationship between customer and business in this regard as all exempt from their do - not - call provisions telemarketing calls made to existing customers. 9 Because of this inherent conflict between the Proposal and the states, a company that complies with all twenty state do - not - call laws would nevertheless be out of compliance with the Proposal.<br><br> This is contrary to the concept of a simplified and centralized do - not - call list method. We, therefore, strongly urge the Commission to exclude outbound telephone calls made to existing customers from proposed section 3 10.4(b)( l)(iii)(B). We also ask the Commission to re - examine its conclusion that the Proposal does not conflict with the TCPA.<br><br> The Proposal does conflict with the TCPA with respect to telemarketing calls made to existing customers. While the TCPA allows a company to telemarket its own customers unless and until the customer directs it not to, the Proposal takes the exact opposite approach by prohibiting a company from telemarketing its own customers unless and until the company receives cexpress verifiable authorization d from the customer to do so. The TCPA, as well as the Rule, preserve the business relationship and properly leave it to the consumer and company to determine the course taken with respect the company 9s ability to make and the consumer 9s decision to receive offers for existing products and services over the telephone.<br><br> On the other hand, the Proposal interferes with the business relationship between consumer and company and requires both to go through time consuming, costly, and burdensome steps in order to return the relationship to its intended state. Consequently, the consumer who places her name on the proposed do - not - call registry ( cRegistry d) intending to prevent unwanted telemarketing 9 See e.g., Alaska Stat. $45-50-475(g)(3)(B)(v); California Senate Bill 771 (2001), effective January 1, 2003; Colorado House Bill 1405 (2001), effective July 1, 2002; FL.<br><br> Stat. 9&. 501.604(21); GA Code Ann. $46-5- 27(b)(3)(B); ID Code $48-1002( 12); LSA - R.S.<br><br> §45:844.12(4)(~); Missouri Stat. Ann. §407.1095(3)(b); OR Rev.<br><br> Stat. §646.569(2)(b); TN Code Ann. §65-5-401(6)(B)(iii).<br><br> Office of the Secretary Federal Trade Commission March 29, 2002 Page 11 calls from companies with which she has no relationship, but not intending to prevent telemarketing calls from the companies with which she does have a relationship, finds herself in the position of having to write or call (and, based on proposed section 3 10.4(b)( l)(iii)(B)(2), call only from the telephone number at which she will accept telemarketing calls) each and every company with whom she has a relationship in order to continue to receive offers for additional products and services by telephone. Likewise, the company with which the business relationship exists would have to establish and implement costly procedures in order to obtain and retain written or tape recorded evidence of all express verifiable authorizations received from its own customers. In this regard, many companies would also have to make significant capital expenditure in order to purchase equipment that enables them to determine the telephone number from which the consumer is calling and to tape record authorizations, as the Proposal would require.<br><br> The imposition of these burdens will have the unfortunate effect of eliminating the telephone as the most cost efficient and convenient method available to companies in making offers of goods and services to their own customers. This loss of efficiency and convenience will lead to higher costs and fewer choices to the ultimate detriment of the consumer. Outbound telephone calls made to former customers should also be exempted from proposed section 3 10.4(b)( l)(iii)(B) for some period of time after the customer relationship has ended.<br><br> A number of states have adopted this approach. For example, in Louisiana 2 , calls made to former customers are permissible where the customer relationship ended no more than six months prior to the call. In Colorado 3 , this exemption is extended to calls made to former customers up to eighteen (1 8) months after the relationship ends.<br><br> In both Texas 4 and Tennessee 9, a former customer can be contacted up to twelve (12) months after the relationship ends. And, some states allow calls to be made to former customers regardless of when the prior relationship ended! Consequently, these and other state legislatures have recognized that even though an account that gives rise to an existing relationship may have been paid in full, it does not necessarily follow that the relationship between the company and the consumer is likewise terminated.<br><br> Many consumers will choose one particular company as the provider of a product or service that they want or need from time to time. And, the approach taken by these and other states allows companies to continue to offer goods and services to the consumers they have served before to the benefit of both the consumer and the company. And, of course, should the consumer not wish to receive further offers, she can ask the company to discontinue calling.<br><br> Therefore, we suggest that the Commission adopt the approach taken by these and other states by exempting from the restrictions of proposed section 3 10.4(b)( l)(iii)(B) calls made to former customers for at least twelve (1 2) months after the existing customer relationship ends. 9 LSA - R.S. §45:844.12(4)(~) 9 House Bill 1405 (2001); July 1, 2002 effective date TX Bus.<br><br> & Corn. Code §43.003(b)(2) TN Code Ann. §65-4-401(6)(B)(iii) See e.g., FL Stat.<br><br> Ann. $501.604(21); GA Code Ann. 46-5-27(b)(3)(B); OR Rev.<br><br> Stat. §646.569(2)(b) Office of the Secretary Federal Trade Commission March 29, 2002 Page 12 In conclusion, we believe the Commission 9s statement that the Proposal would provide consumers with a wider range of choices than does the original Rule, is flawed. Rather, the Proposal would have quite the opposite effect in terms of any existing business relationship by making it so difficult for both the consumer to exercise her choice and the company to honor it that any such choice is, in effect, forfeited once the consumer is on the Registry.<br><br> For these and the foregoing reasons, the Commission should exclude outbound telephone calls made to existing customers, as well as former customers from proposed section 3 10.4(b)( l)(iii)(B). In addition, in order to preserve the synergies that the financial modernization provisions of the GLBA were designed to create, this exemption should extend to all members of a corporate family such that one company may contact a consumer if one of its sister companies has an existing or prior relationship with that consumer. Proposed National Do - Not - Call Registry As stated above, we believe that a centralized and simplified method to record and communicate a consumer 9s telemarketing preferences is a good approach in theory.<br><br> While the Commission has taken a step in the right direction toward this end, our concern is that the Registry would simply be layered on top of an already complicated and inconsistent patchwork of existing state do - not - call lists. We commend the Commission for appreciating the importance of the economic burdens that compliance with a myriad of state do - not - call lists places on the industry. Clearly, these burdens will continue to grow as more and more states adopt their own do - not - call lists.<br><br> Certainly a nationwide cone - stop shopping d approach is beneficial to both consumers and the industry. Therefore, if and when a Registry is established, it should either preempt or incorporate all state do - not - call lists such that, with either approach, a company 9s compliance with the Registry will constitute compliance with all state do-not-.call lists. Before the Registry can even be considered by consumers and the industry, however, there are a number of issues that must be addressed.<br><br> First, how much will the Registry cost to establish and maintain, and how will it be funded? Who will have access to it and how will it be accessible? Will consumers have to pay a fee to be on the Registry?<br><br> What will the cost be to access the Registry? The States are all over the board on this last question, with some lists available for as little as $10.00 and others costing as much as $800.00. We believe the cost for the Registry should not exceed $500.00 per year per corporate family (i.e., not per subsidiary), including updates.<br><br> This suggested amount is based on an average of the amounts charged by the states and the Direct Marketing Association for their respective lists. Another important item that must be more clearly addressed in the Proposal is what information will be on the Registry? As the Proposal currently reads, only a consumer 9s cname and/or telephone number d would be included.<br><br> Does this mean the consumer would have the option of placing either her name or her telephone number on the Registry, but would not be required to include both? The industry is already dealing with inconsistent state requirements in this regard which increase the risk of error to the detriment of both consumers and businesses Office of the Secretary Federal Trade Commission March 29, 2002 Page 13 alike. Some state do - not - call lists include the consumer 9s name and telephone number, some include the consumer 9s zip code and telephone number, and some only include the consumer 9s telephone number.<br><br> Our concern is that the less information that is on a do - not - call list, the more chance for error, given the fact that so many consumers have the same name, and a single telephone number can belong or be transferred to more than one consumer. The more information that is on a do - not - call list, the more efficiently and accurately it can be used to honor the wishes of the consumers thereon. Consequently, at a minimum, the Registry should include the name, address, and telephone number of each consumer who chooses to be included thereon.<br><br> The Proposal provides that the Registry would be updated on a monthly basis. We believe this update schedule is too frequent and not workable given the fact that each monthly update would include information on consumers living in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. This would create a substantial burden on the industry that would find itself spending more and more time and resources continually updating its own do - not - call databases.<br><br> A more cost effective and reasonable approach, and that which has been adopted by many of the states having do - not - call lists, is an annual list that is updated on a quarterly basis. This approach would also be less burdensome on the Commission. The Commission correctly raises the question of what procedures should be in place with respect to updating the Registry when consumers change their telephone numbers or when area codes associated with those numbers change.<br><br> Most states are silent in this regard, but we commend the Commission for recognizing that this issue is central to the establishment and delivery to the industry of an accurate Registry. Aside from impressing upon the Commission the importance of this issue, we would like to suggest that this situation is best addressed between the Commission, the local exchange camers, and other telecommunications entities. To answer the Commission 9s question of how long a consumer should remain on the Registry, we consulted U.S.<br><br> Postal Service and U.S. Census Bureau data. According to the U.S.<br><br> Postal Service, over 40 million Americans move every year. The U.S. Census Bureau reports that there were 284.7 million United States residents as of July 1,2001.<br><br> Consequently, between 15% and 20% of consumers move each year. Therefore, we recommend that consumers remain on the Registry for no more than five or six years. At the expiration of that time period, those consumers who wish to remain on the Registry should be required to re - register and update any information that may have changed.<br><br> Another question posed by the Commission is whether third parties should be able to place a consumer 9s name on the Registry. We believe the answer to that question is no. Allowing third parties to opt consumers out of receiving outbound telephone calls will likely lead to inaccuracies and increase the potential for fraud and abuse.<br><br> The Commission and the industry should not be put in the position of having to second guess the intentions of someone purportedly acting on behalf of a consumer in this regard. To protect the integrity and reliability of the Office of the Secretary Federal Trade Commission March 29, 2002 Page 14 Registry, the only person who should be able to place the consumer 9s name on the Registry is the consumer. Any other approach is a disservice to the consumers and the industry who rely on the Regis try.<br><br> We support the Commission 9s retention of the current calling time restrictions which represent a workable balance between the privacy of consumers and the regulatory burden on interstate commerce. Any approach that would allow consumers to pick the dates and times they can receive outbound telephone calls would simply be impossible to implement. Beyond the fact that this would completely overload any internal do - not - call database maintained by a company, consumers change their minds.<br><br> The time and day that works for a consumer during one month, or even one week, may not work the following week or month based on a variety of ever changing facts and circumstances impacting their daily lives. While well - intentioned, we believe this approach is not cost effective, would complicate and frustrate the compliance efforts of the industry, and would ultimately provide no additional benefit to the consumer. We believe the restriction imposed by section 3 10.4(b)( l)(iv) on selling, purchasing or using the Registry for any purpose other than compliance with proposed do - not - call provisions is adequate to protect consumers.<br><br> Our concern, however, is that this section not be so broadly construed as to prohibit affiliated companies from sharing the same list for purposes of compliance. While some states having do - not - call lists allow affiliated companies to purchase and share one list, other states have required each affiliated company to purchase its own list. The ludicrous result of this requirement is that a family of companies must purchase the same list over and over again at significant cost to those companies without corresponding benefit to consumers.<br><br> This is especially absurd when that family of companies utilizes a central do - not - call database for cost and efficiency purposes. The other issue raised by proposed section 3 10.4(b)( l)(iv) is with respect to a company 9s use of the information contained on the Registry. In many instances the consumers on the Registry will already be customers of the company that obtained the Registry.<br><br> So, that company already has in its possession the information on that list (x, name, address, and telephone number) and should not be restricted from using it for any other lawful purposes. Similarly, a company may also have information with respect to consumers on the Registry who are not yet customers, but are potential customers. Again, companies should not be restricted from using this information for other lawful purposes merely because it is also contained on the Registry.<br><br> Express Verifiable Authorization The Commission asks whether the Proposal provides adequate guidance with respect to what infomation is sufficient to evidence a consumer 9s cexpress verifiable authorization d to receive outbound telephone calls from a particular company. We believe that proposed section 3 10.4(b)( l)(iii)(B) provides more than just guidance stating that such authorization is deemed verifiable if ceither of the following means are employed d. Thus, the Commission has set forth Office of the Secretary Federal Trade Commission March 29, 2002 Page 15 two choices that a company must use to establish express verifiable authorization, one for oral and the other for written authorization.<br><br> Since the burden will be on the company to establish that it has received express verifiable authorization to place an outbound telephone call to a consumer on the Registry, we would suggest that the company should have the flexibility to determine what constitutes such authorization. As discussed previously, each of the choices set forth in the Proposal raise considerable burdens for both consumers and businesses. And what will work for one company will not necessarily work for another.<br><br> A more workable approach would be for the Commission to provide a non - exclusive list of examples that would constitute express verifiable authorization. The ultimate decision of whether to use one of the examples provided, or to develop another method based on the guidance those examples provide, should be left to the individual company as it is in the best position to know its capabilities in ths regard. Safe Harbor We generally support the safe harbor provisions in section 3 10.4(b)(2).<br><br> We agree with and cornmend the Commission 9s determination that strict liability is inappropriate where a company has made a good faith effort to comply with applicable do - not - call laws and a call that would otherwise violate section 3 10.4(b)( l)(iii)(B) is the result of bona fide error. For the reasons discussed above, however, the provision requiring companies to obtain and reconcile the Registry on not less than a monthly basis in order to take advantage of this safe harbor should be changed to instead require a quarterly update. h addition, a company 9s ability to timely reconcile an updated list depends on the format it is in and when it is made available.<br><br> In order to give companies a reasonable opportunity to ensure that their own internal databases can be updated accurately, the safe harbor provisions should provide that an outbound call to a consumer on the Registry is not a violation of proposed section 3 10.4(b)( l)(iii)(B) if it is made no more than thirty (30) days after the most recent updated Registry becomes available. Many states have also adopted this approach. 9 A company should also be entitled to the safe harbor provisions to the extent any of the information contained in the most recent version of the Registry becomes inaccurate, such as a consumer7s change of name or telephone number. Finally, we are concerned with the proposed changes to section 3 10.4(b)(2)(ii) which would require a company to train its employees and cany entity assisting in its compliance d.<br><br> This change would appear to require a company to provide compliance training with respect to the Rule to any telemarketing vendor it engages. If this is the intention of the Commission, we strongly urge it to reconsider. Companies that engage telemarketing vendors to perform services on their behalf do so primarily for efficiency and cost savings purposes.<br><br> To require the company to train the telemarketer in the first instance negates any savings that could have been realized. In addition, because vendors perform services for a multitude of companies, they could not continue to operate if required to change their procedures every time they perform services for a different company. The telemarketing vendor is relied upon by the company that hires it as an 9 See e.g., NY Gen.<br><br> Bus. 5399-2 3. (provides for 30 days); TX Bus.<br><br> & Corn. Code $43.102(a) (provides for 60 days). Office of the Secretary Federal Trade Cornmission March 29,2002 Page 16 expert in the field in which it operates.<br><br> Before hiring any vendor, a company confirms that the vendor has policies and procedures in place, and properly trains its employees, to ensure compliance with all applicable laws. Rather than requiring a company to train its vendors, it should be sufficient that it engages in this due diligence review and enters into a contract with the vendor that provides the company with rights and remedies it can exercise in the event the vendor fails to comply with applicable law. Therefore, if the Commission 9s intention with this language is to require companies to provide compliance training to the vendors they engage, the language should be stricken.<br><br> If the language is designed to serve some other purpose, we respectfully request the Commission to provide clarification consistent with these comments. Blocking Caller ID ((j 3 10.4(a)(6)) Caller identification services provide consumers with an important mechanism to exercise their choice with respect to who is contacting them. We agree that blocking, circumventing, or altering transmission of the name and telephone number ( cCaller ID information d) of the calling party for caller identification purposes is an abusive telemarketing act or practice.<br><br> While we support the Proposal in this regard, if it is adopted in the final Rule, we strongly urge the Commission to expressly clarify that the use of telephone equipment that is incapable of displaying the name and telephone number of the calling party does not constitute cblocking d of Caller ID information in violation of the final Rule. The Commission correctly notes in the Supplementary Information to the Proposal that it is technologically impossible for many telemarketers to transmit Caller ID information because of the type of telephone system they use. Telemarketers use this type of equipment because of the cost efficiency it provides, and it would be beyond the scope and authority of the Act for the Commission to affirmatively require telemarketers to purchase and use only telephone equipment that is capable of transmitting Caller ID information.<br><br> One of the questions the Commission poses is how telemarketers currently comply with the requirements of those states that have passed legislation crequiring the transmission of full caller identification information d. 67 Fed. Reg.<br><br> 4492,4538. While a number of states have enacted Caller ID legislation, these laws prohibit the use of devices and methods to intentionally block Caller ID information, but do not affirmatively require the transmission of Caller ID information. For example, in Illinois the law specifically provides that it is a violation to cimpede[s] the function of any caller id when the telephone solicitor 9s service or equipment is capable ofallowing the display of the solicitor 9s telephone number. d 9 (emphasis added).<br><br> $815 ILCS 413/15(c). Also see FL Stat. Ann.<br><br> $501.616(7) ( c. . .<br><br> unlawful. . .<br><br> to prevent transmission. . .<br><br> when equipment or service used by the telephone solicitor is capable of creating and transmitting the telephone solicitor 9s name or telephone number. d); Utah Code Ann. $13-25a-103(6) ( cA telephone solicitor may not withhold the display of. .<br><br> . telephone number from a caller identification service . .<br><br> . when the telephone solicitor 9s service or equipment is capable of allowing the display of the number. d); K.S.A. 50-67Otc) ( cA telephone solicitor shall not withhold the display of the telephone solicitor 9s telephone number .<br><br> . . when the telephone solicitor 9s service or equipment is capable of allowing the display of such number. d).<br><br> Office of the Secretary Federal Trade Commission March 29, 2002 Page 17 For the foregoing reasons, we urge the Commission to clarify that the Proposal does not affinnatively obligate telemarketers to purchase and use telephone equipment that is capable of transmitting Caller ID information and that use of technology that is not capable of transmitting Caller ID information is acceptable. Predictive Dialers The Commission seeks recommendations on alternative approaches to the use of predictive dialers. In response to comments it reports to have received from consumers expressing frustration over cdead air d calls, the Commission asks whether it should establish a maximum abandon rate when predictive dialers are used, limit the use of predictive dialers to only those telemarketers that use equipment capable of transmitting Caller ID information, or allow telemarketers to play a tape recorded message until a live telemarketer is available to speak to the consumer.<br><br> 67 Fed. Reg. 4492,4539.<br><br> It is undisputed that the proper use of predictive dialers increases the efficiency with which products and services can be made available to consumers over the telephone. While it is true that the misuse of predictive dialers can lead to consumer frustration, any regulation of call abandonment rates must be carefully weighed against the potential loss of the cost efficiencies provided by predictive dialers. For example, while requiring a zero percent call abandonment rate would effectively render illegal the use of predictive dialers, a low abandonment rate may limit the impact on consumers while preserving the cost benefits predictive dialers provide to the industry.<br><br> With this in mind, we believe the Commission should conduct further study into current industry practices to determine what would be an acceptable call abandonment rate. We do not believe that the use of predictive dialers should be limited to only those telemarketers that use technology capable of displaying Caller ID infomation. Such a rule would unfairly penalize and disadvantage telemarketers that choose to purchase and use more cost effective telephone equipment.<br><br> Further, any cost savings realized by being able to use a predictive dialer under such circumstances would be lost on the purchase and use of more expensive telephone techno logy . Since it appears that the primary issue with chang ups d and cdead air d calls is that consumers don 9t know who is calling and why they are being called, the most logical approach may be to allow telemarketers to play a recorded message until a live telemarketer is available to speak to the consumer. This approach strikes a balance between the interests of consumers who want to know who is calling and the interests of telemarketers that wish to use the most cost efficient method of reaching consumers.<br><br> If the Commission adopts this approach, however, the industry will need guidance as to the interplay of the final Rule with the TCPA 9s conflicting provision prohibiting the initiation of a call using a cprerecorded voice d. 47 C.F.R. 5 64.1200(a)(2).<br><br> Office of the Secretary Federal Trade Commission March 29, 2002 Page 18 Conclusion Once again, we appreciate the opportunity to comment on this Proposal. If you should have any questions on the information contained in this letter, please feel free to contact either me at (847) 564 - 6324, or Martha Pampel, Associate General Counsel, at (847) 564 - 7941. Sincerely, ulie A.<br><br> Davenport' Associate General Counsel Attachments FTC TSR Comment Letter f 1 If 9You Become a Victim of Identity Theft If you believe that someone has stolen your identity, you should: Contact the fraud department of each of the three major credit bureaus to report the identity theft and request that the credit bureaus place a fraud alert and a victim 9s statement in your file. The fraud alert puts creditors on notice that you have been the victim of fraud, and the victim 9s statement asks them not to open additional accounts without first contacting you. The following are the telephone numbers for the fraud departments of the three national credit bureaus: Trans Union: 1 - 800 - 680 - 7289; Equifax: 1 - 800 - 525 - 6285; Experian: 1 - 88 8 - 397 - 3 742.<br><br> You may request a free copy of your credit report. Credit bureaus must provide a free copy of your report, if you have reason to believe the report is inaccurate because of fraud and you submit a request in writing. Review your report to make sure no additional fraudulent accounts have been opened in your name, or unauthorized changes made to your existing accounts.<br><br> Also, check the section of your report that lists cinquiries d and request that any inquiries from companies that opened the fraudulent accounts be removed. Contact any bank or other creditor where you have an account that you think may be the subject of identity theft. Advise them of the identity theft.<br><br> Request that they restrict access to your account, change your account password, or close your account, if there is evidence that your account has been the target of criminal activity. If your bank closes your account, ask them to issue you a new credit card, ATM card, debit card, or checks, as appropriate. .<br><br> File a report with your local police department. Contact the FTC 9s Identity Theft Hotline toll - free at 1 - 877 - ID - THEFT (438-4338). The FTC puts the information into a secure consumer fraud database and shares it with local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies.<br><br> Comptroller of the Currency Administrator of National Banks How to Avoid Becoming a Victim of Identity theft is the fraudulent use of a person 9s personal identifying information. Often, identity thieves will use another person 9s personal information, such as a social security number, mother 9s maiden name, date of birth, or account number to open fraudulent new credit card accounts, charge existing credit card accounts, write checks, open bank accounts, or obtain new loans. They may obtain this information by: Stealing wallets that contain personal identification information and credit cards.<br><br> Stealing bank statements from the mail. Diverting mail from its intended recipients by submitting a change of address form. Rummaging through trash for personal data.<br><br> Stealing personal identification information from workplace records. Intercepting or otherwise obtaining information transmitted electronically. Pretext calling is a fraudulent means of obtaining a person 9s personal information.<br><br> Pretext callers may contact bank employees, posing as customers, to access customers 9 personal account information. Information obtained from pretext calling may be sold to debt collection services, attorneys, and private investigators to use in court proceedings. Identity thieves may also engage in pretext calling to obtain personal information to create fraudulent accounts.<br><br> Do not give personal information, such as account numbers or social security numbers, over the telephone, through the mail, or over the Internet, unless you initiated the contact or know with whom you are dealing. Store personal information in a safe place and tear up old credit card receipts, ATM receipts, old account statements, and unused credit card offers before throwing them away. Protect your PINS and other passwords.<br><br> Avoid using easily available information, such as your mother 9s maiden name, your birth date, the last four digits of your social security number, your phone number, etc. Carry only the minimum amount of identifying information and number of credit cards that you need. Pay attention to billing cycles and statements.<br><br> Inquire of the bank, if you do not receive a monthly bill. It may mean that the bill has been diverted by an identity thief. Check account statements carefully to ensure all charges, checks, or withdrawals were authorized.<br><br> Guard your mail from theft. If you have the type of mailbox with a flag to signal that the box contains mail, do not leave bill payment envelopes in your mailbox with the flag up. Instead, deposit them in a post office collection box or at the local post office.<br><br> Promptly remove incoming mail. Order copies of your credit report from each of the three major credit bureaus once a year to ensure th

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