Do-Not-Call

 

DO NOT CALL ALERT

NAR and MNAR have become aware of an individual threatening to bring claims against real estate brokerages for violating the federal "Do Not Call" laws. The caller contacts a real estate brokerage and requests that his phone number be placed on their internal "do not call" lists and he also requests that a copy of the company's policy for maintaining it's call list within five days. If the caller does not receive the brokerage's policy within five days, he will threaten to file a lawsuit in MN state court. To avoid a lawsuit, the caller offers the brokerage to settle the matter for around $5,000.

The caller's method is not without legal support. The best defense against such claims is for each real estate brokerage to be prepared to properly respond to such calls. MNAR Legal Counsel Don Smith recommends that each brokerage have a written "do not call" policy and to educate its salespeople who to respond to with these kinds of requests. Don has written a Model Do Not Call Policy. (237k)

 

You may have heard that the Minnesota and Federal Legislature has passed the "Do-Not-Call-Bill" prohibiting telemarketers from calling persons listed on the do-not-call list. Here is some information that will help you understand this law and how it could affect your business.

Summary of the bill (132k)
Read the bill
Do-Not-Call Media Release (100k)
Federal Do-Not-Call Media Release (42k)
Federal and State Communication Law Update by Susan Dioury (393k)
View NAR's Field Guide to Do-Not-Call, Do-Not-Fax and Do-Not-Email Laws