Illinois Attorney General - Attorney General Madigan Files Suit Against Dish Network for "Do Not Call" Violations
March 25, 2009
ATTORNEY GENERAL MADIGAN FILES SUIT AGAINST DISH NETWORK FOR “DO NOT CALL” VIOLATIONS
Chicago—Attorney General Lisa Madigan today filed a lawsuit along with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and several state Attorneys General against DISH Network LLC for allegedly violating federal and state Do Not Call laws.
“The Do Not Call laws are an important way to protect consumers,” Madigan said. “I have committed to working to enforce the Do Not Call registry’s rules to ensure that businesses comply with the federal program in Illinois.”
The lawsuit, which Madigan filed with the DOJ, the FTC and Attorneys General in California, North Carolina and Ohio, alleges DISH Network violated federal telemarketing laws by calling individuals listed on the national Do Not Call registry and failing to honor consumers’ requests not to receive further calls. The suit also alleges that DISH violated Illinois law by using an automatic dialer with a prerecorded voice to place calls to residential phone lines without first obtaining the called party’s express consent. Hundreds of consumers in Illinois, many of whom are listed on the Do Not Call registry, have complained about receiving unwanted telemarketing calls from DISH or DISH’s authorized dealers.
Madigan’s lawsuit seeks a permanent injunction, barring DISH Network from violating federal and state telemarketing laws and requiring DISH to control and monitor its marketers and authorized dealers for compliance with these laws. The lawsuit also seeks various civil penalties allowable under the applicable laws, including up to $500 per violation of the Telephone Consumer Protection Act, one of the federal telemarketing laws, and up to $50,000 for violations of Illinois law.
Consumers can file Do Not Call complaints with the FTC by going to www.donotcall.gov or by calling 1-888-382-1222. Illinois consumers can call the Attorney General’s Consumer Fraud Hotline if they have questions or want further information at the numbers below:
Chicago 1-800-386-5438
Springfield 1-800-243-0618
Carbondale 1-800-243-0607
Spanish-language Hotline: 1-866-310-8398
March 25, 2009
ATTORNEY GENERAL MADIGAN FILES SUIT AGAINST DISH NETWORK FOR “DO NOT CALL” VIOLATIONS
Chicago—Attorney General Lisa Madigan today filed a lawsuit along with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and several state Attorneys General against DISH Network LLC for allegedly violating federal and state Do Not Call laws.
“The Do Not Call laws are an important way to protect consumers,” Madigan said. “I have committed to working to enforce the Do Not Call registry’s rules to ensure that businesses comply with the federal program in Illinois.”
The lawsuit, which Madigan filed with the DOJ, the FTC and Attorneys General in California, North Carolina and Ohio, alleges DISH Network violated federal telemarketing laws by calling individuals listed on the national Do Not Call registry and failing to honor consumers’ requests not to receive further calls. The suit also alleges that DISH violated Illinois law by using an automatic dialer with a prerecorded voice to place calls to residential phone lines without first obtaining the called party’s express consent. Hundreds of consumers in Illinois, many of whom are listed on the Do Not Call registry, have complained about receiving unwanted telemarketing calls from DISH or DISH’s authorized dealers.
Madigan’s lawsuit seeks a permanent injunction, barring DISH Network from violating federal and state telemarketing laws and requiring DISH to control and monitor its marketers and authorized dealers for compliance with these laws. The lawsuit also seeks various civil penalties allowable under the applicable laws, including up to $500 per violation of the Telephone Consumer Protection Act, one of the federal telemarketing laws, and up to $50,000 for violations of Illinois law.
Consumers can file Do Not Call complaints with the FTC by going to www.donotcall.gov or by calling 1-888-382-1222. Illinois consumers can call the Attorney General’s Consumer Fraud Hotline if they have questions or want further information at the numbers below:
Chicago 1-800-386-5438
Springfield 1-800-243-0618
Carbondale 1-800-243-0607
Spanish-language Hotline: 1-866-310-8398
