FCC Imposes $.96 Million Fine for Prerecorded Sales Calls

Media Contact:

Will Wiquist, (202) 418-0509

will.wiquist@fcc.gov

For Immediate Release

FCC FINES TRAVEL CLUB MARKETING $2.96 MILLION FOR

ILLEGAL ROBOCALLS

Florida Company Made Unsolicited Prerecorded Advertising Calls to Over 100

Consumers

--

WASHINGTON, August 11, 2015 - The Federal Communications Commission announced a

$2.96 million fine against Travel Club Marketing, Inc., its related companies, and the companies'

owner Olen Miller. Travel Club Marketing, based in Tampa, Florida, made or initiated at least

185 robocalls, all of which were unsolicited, prerecorded advertising calls to over 142

consumers who had not consented to the robocalls and the majority of whom had placed their

telephone number on the National Do-Not-Call Registry. This is the largest forfeiture order the

Commission has issued for robocalling violations.

It is unacceptable to invade consumers' privacy by bombarding them with unwanted and

intrusive robocalls, said Travis LeBlanc, Chief of the FCC Enforcement Bureau. All

companies, and their owners, who thwart the Do-Not-Call list should expect to face severe

consequences.

The Enforcement Bureau reviewed complaints from consumers who had received unwanted

prerecorded calls to residential and cell phone lines promoting travel deals, free vacations, and

time-shares. In addition, many of these consumers had sought to prevent unwanted telemarketing

calls by placing their telephone numbers on the National Do-Not-Call Registry.

The Commission's action finds that Travel Club Marketing, its related companies, and its owner

Olen Miller willfully and repeatedly violated the Communications Act and the Commission's

rules by making or initiating at least185 unlawful prerecorded advertising calls to 142 consumers.

At the time of these calls, the Communications Act and Commission's rules required prior

express consent for all robocalls to cell phones and either prior express consent or an established

business relations for advertising robocalls to residential telephone lines. Travel Club Marketing

did not have prior express consent or an established business relationship for any of the calls they

made. The Commission amended the rules, effective October 2013, to rescind the established

business relationship exemption and to require that prior express consent be in writing for all

advertising robocalls.

For more information about the FCCs rules protecting consumers from unwanted calls and faxes,

see the FCC consumer guide Rules and Resources for Dealing with Unwanted Calls and Texts at

https://www.fcc.gov/robocalls.

To file a complaint with the FCC, go to https://consumercomplaints.fcc.gov/hc/en-us or contact

the FCC's Consumer Center by calling 1-888-CALL-FCC (1-888-225-5322) voice or 1-888-

TELL-FCC (1-888-835-5322) TTY; faxing 1-866-418-0232; or by writing to:

Federal Communications Commission

Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau

Consumer Inquiries and Complaints Division

445 12th Street, SW

Washington, DC 20554

The Forfeiture Order is available at: https://apps.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/

FCC-15-102A1.pdf

Action by the Commission August 6, 2015 by Order (FCC 15-102). Chairman Wheeler,

Commissioners Clyburn, Rosenworcel, Pai, and O'Rielly.

###

Office of Media Relations: (202) 418-0500

TTY: (888) 835-5322

Twitter: @FCC

www.fcc.gov/office-media-relations

This is an unofficial announcement of Commission action. Release of the full text of a Commission order

constitutes official action. See MCI v. FCC, 515 F.2d 385 (D.C. Cir. 1974).

LINK:	http://www.fcc.gov/document/fcc-imposes-296-million-fine-prerecorded-s...
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