TOPEKA, KAN. – A California marketing company has been ordered to pay nearly $700,000 in fees and penalties for violating the Kansas No-Call Act, Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt said today.
Variable Marketing, LLC, based in Los Angeles, was ordered in a default judgment to pay $691,500 in penalties and fees for calling Kansas consumers registered on the Do-Not-Call list. Shawnee County District Judge Larry Hendricks entered the order against the company last week.
The attorney general’s office began investigating the case in January 2013 after receiving six complaints from Kansans registered on the Do-Not-Call list about the company. The Federal Trade Commission also received 28 complaints from Kansas consumers. The company tried to sell auto insurance to the consumers, while representing themselves to be with the “Kansas Division of Motor Vehicles.”
“The law requires companies to be honest with Kansas consumers about who they are and what they are selling – and to respect their wishes if they have registered on the Do-Not-Call list,” Schmidt said. “When companies have violated the law, our office will take action to protect Kansas consumers.”
Schmidt also reminded Kansans that a new law, taking effect on July 1, will allow the attorney general’s office to pursue violations of the No-Call Act when a telemarketer calls a consumer’s registered cell phone. Kansans can register their cell phone or landline numbers on the Do-Not-Call list on the attorney general’s consumer protection website at www.InYourCornerKansas.org.
