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AT LAST!!! It's comes slowly, but every once in a while, a law is enforced.

By Lenn Harley

Real Estate Agent with Lenn Harley, Homefinders.com, MD & VA Homes and Real Estate 303829;0225082372

June 28, 2013 09:50 PM

How often do we hear a report of a consumer harmed by what to us may appear to be illegal actions by a commercial company?? More often than we can count.

The report below is small comfort, but it's better than nothing.

This report is gratifying since the targets of this company were U.S. Servicemembers.

_____________________

Heard on the news this morning. . . . .

Mortgage Broker Targeting U.S. Servicemembers Will Pay Record $7.5 Million to Settle Alleged Telemarketing Violations

Commission Announces Case on 10th Anniversary of National Do Not Call Registry

Mortgage Investors Corporation, one of the nation’s leading refinancers of veterans’ home loans, will pay a $7.5 million civil penalty, the largest fine the FTC has ever collected for allegedly violating Do Not Call provisions of the agency’s Telemarketing Sales Rule (TSR). This case also represents the first action brought by the FTC to enforce the Mortgage Acts and Practices - Advertising Rule (MAP Rule), which allows the FTC to collect civil penalties for deceptive mortgage ads. . . . . more.

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Gary L. Waters Broker Associate, Bucci Realty

Bucci Realty, Inc. - Melbourne, FL

Eighteen Years Experience in Brevard County

While it is nice to see this one getting its due, I wonder how many hundreds or thousands still neglect the rules.

Jun 28, 2013 09:55 PM

Clint Mckie

Desert Sun Home, commercial Inspections - Carlsbad, NM

Desert Sun Home, Comm. Inspection 1-575-706-5586

Hi Lenn,

Good news for all the Crap calls I get. I am on the "do not call list".

But still get them.

Have a good day in Loudoun County.

Best, Clint McKie

Jun 28, 2013 09:56 PM

Richard Burge Realty/ Burge Homes

Richard Burge Realty/Burge Homes - Conway, SC

Broker in Charge/Owner

Do not call list for real estate agents by salesmen trying to sell ads space on website should be a great idea.

Jun 28, 2013 10:11 PM

Fernando Herboso - Associate Broker MD, & VA

Maxus Realty Group of Samson Properties - Clarksburg, MD

301-246-0001 Serving Maryland, DC and Northern VA

. .yes, I think I got one of those calls. .

7.5 million. .pricey!

Jun 28, 2013 10:15 PM

Larry Brewer - Benchmark Realty llc

Benchmark Realty LLc - Nashville, TN

I like the idea of enforcing the law, and in this case it's a good message.

On the other hand, we have so many laws in this country now that don't make any sense at all, and I'm probably breaking some of them by just commenting about it.

Jun 28, 2013 10:22 PM

Jay Markanich

Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC - Bristow, VA

Home Inspector - servicing all Northern Virginia

I don't know if they ever called me, but I do know that the Do Not Call thing does not work. At all. It always starts, "This isn't a sales call..."

Jun 28, 2013 10:25 PM

Roger D. Mucci

Shaken...with a Twist 216.633.2092 - Euclid, OH

Lets shake things up at your home today!

That certainly is good news.....who knows when or if it will ever happen again though.

Jun 28, 2013 11:05 PM

Alan Gross

PrimeLending, A PlainsCapital Company, Equal Housing Lender - Bethesda, MD

Loan Consultant

Now if they could only catch up with all the others that are violating the "Do Not Ca;;" law. I don't know about you but I get more recorded calls then I care to count. Recently they've been coming to my cell phone as well.

Jun 28, 2013 11:23 PM

Jan Green - Scottsdale, AZ

Value Added Service, 602-620-2699 - Scottsdale, AZ

HomeSmart Elite Group, REALTOR®, EcoBroker, GREEN

There are many more that violate this law and we've all seen it. It's frustrating. Hopefully this case will bring attention to the problem. Great post!

Jun 29, 2013 02:15 AM

Hella Mitschke Rothwell

(831) 626-4000 - Honolulu, HI

Hawaii & California Real Estate Broker

Lenn: I can't count the number of calls I've gotten from "Cardholder Services" over the last 2 or 3 years. I could never figure out what they wanted. And no way to turn them off. Thank heavens there is an actual crackdown on them.

Jun 29, 2013 04:14 AM

George Souto

George Souto NMLS #65149 FHA, CHFA, VA Mortgages - Middletown, CT

Your Connecticut Mortgage Expert

Lenn, WOW that is a big fine. A few more fines like this and maybe telemarketers will take the do not call list more seriously.

Jun 29, 2013 09:40 AM

Debbie Reynolds, C21 Platinum Properties

Platinum Properties- (931)771-9070 - Clarksville, TN

The Dedicated Clarksville TN Realtor-(931)320-6730

Now that has some teeth in it. But others did it too and I hope they will be getting theirs too.

Jun 29, 2013 11:51 AM

Joe Petrowsky

Mortgage Consultant, Right Trac Financial Group, Inc. NMLS # 2709 - Manchester, CT

Your Mortgage Consultant for Life

Sure, great to see that some are caught for violating the "do not call". One gets fines and a thousand don't that is probably the ratio.

Jun 29, 2013 09:05 PM

Lenn Harley

Lenn Harley, Homefinders.com, MD & VA Homes and Real Estate - Leesburg, VA

Real Estate Broker - Virginia & Maryland

Gary. More than should. Often it's worth the risk for advertisers.

Clint. One small step.

Richard. The Do Not Call is for residences only, not businesses.

Fernanao. All in a day's work for most high visibility advertisers.

Larry. Sadly, I agree with you.

Jay. If your telephone number on the Do Not Call list is used for business, they can call.

Roger. We should live so long.

Alan. Me too.

Jan. One case won't stop most.

Hella. I'm not sure this is a "crackdown". It took years and it's just one case.

George. Do you really think so???

Debbie. It's just one case. A drop in the . . . . .

Jun 29, 2013 09:09 PM

George Souto

George Souto NMLS #65149 FHA, CHFA, VA Mortgages - Middletown, CT

Your Connecticut Mortgage Expert

Lenn, maybe not the mega companies, but most of the calls I get are by companies that would not be able to stay in business if got hit with a fine that big, so I do think that it would get their attention if a few more of these fines happen.

Jun 29, 2013 09:15 PM

Lenn Harley

Lenn Harley, Homefinders.com, MD & VA Homes and Real Estate - Leesburg, VA

Real Estate Broker - Virginia & Maryland

George. You're right. Most of the unsolicited calls I get are from local loan officers (yesterday). GEEZ! I spend a 1/2 hour on the phone with a gentleman yesterday before he "mentioned" that his company was a broker. I was ready to make an appt. to meet with him (a requirement for new referral partners).

Oh well.

Of course, he gave me the usual nonsense about the many lenders he used but when I asked if he could place a CDA (local state bond program) loan, he came up empty.

For some reason, thankfully, I don't get the calls from the aggregators that I once did.

Jun 29, 2013 09:42 PM

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AT LAST!!! It's comes slowly, but every once in a while, a law is enforced.

Mortgage Broker Targeting U.S. Servicemembers Will Pay Record $7.5 Million to Settle Alleged Telemarketing Violations

Commission Announces Case on 10th Anniversary of National Do Not Call Registry

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