Indiana AG Files Suit Against Three Illinois-Based Companies For Making Illegal Telemarketing Calls To Hoosiers

November 19, 2007 -- HAMMOND, IN – Indiana Attorney General Steve Carter has filed a lawsuit against three Illinois-based companies for making illegal pre-recorded sales calls to Indiana citizens whose phone numbers are registered on the state’s Do Not Call list. The named companies in the lawsuit, Sonnenschein Financial Services, Sonnenschein Marketing Services and Target Marketing of Illinois, Inc., are alleged to have used an automated dialing machine to call nearly 80 phone numbers.

“The privacy rights of citizens and state law were being ignored,” Attorney General Steve Carter said. “There are a variety of ways to make sales pitches to people in Indiana other than their private telephone line.”

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The lawsuit claims that from November 18, 2005 to May 16, 2006, the defendants made calls to Indiana citizens for the purpose of soliciting the sales of goods or services or an extension of credit. Many of the calls were made with an automated dialing device, disseminating the following pre-recorded message:

Hi, this is Paul from the Prize Claim Center. We have great news for you regarding the contest entry form you submitted to win a brand new automobile. We pulled your ticket. You guys have actually won one of our top four major prizes, and it would be in your best interest to call back as soon as possible. We can be reached toll free at 877-256-7894. Do not hesitate to give us a call back folks, we have great news for you.

The recipients of the pre-recorded message did not authorize the message and it was not preceded by a live operator.

The state also alleges the defendants violated Indiana’s Do Not Call law by calling consumers whose phone numbers are registered on the list.

The lawsuit has been filed in Porter County court.

In the last several years, the Indiana Attorney General’s Office has either filed suit or reach court-ordered agreements with more than 200 companies for alleged violations of the state’s Do Not Call law. In addition, the office has either filed suit against, or reached court-ordered agreements with 19 companies for alleged violations of federal or state statutes regulating automated and pre-recorded calls.

Source: Indiana Attorney General