The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has identified “unwanted calls – including illegal and spoofed robocalls” as its top consumer protection priority. Most robocalls, such as calls connecting consumers to a recorded message trying to sell something, rather than a live person, are illegal. To legally make a sales call utilizing a robocall, the company must obtain written permission from the consumer to call their number. The FCC has made a few exceptions to the written requirement which include:

  • Informational messages,
  • Debt collection calls that do not try to sell you a service,
  • Political calls,
  • Health care provider calls,
  • Message from charities.

With the emphasis on unwanted calls, it’s little wonder the market for robocall blockers of various kinds has skyrocketed. So what does this reality mean for sales reps that depend on calls to locate potential customers?

Know the Law

Robocalls and telemarketing calls are not necessarily the same. Businesses can make telemarketing calls where a live person makes the call individually or answers an autodialed number. However, telemarketing also falls under legal scrutiny by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).

The FTC’s Telemarketing Sales Rule (TSR) created the National Do Not Call Registry, enabling individuals to register their phone numbers and opt out of telemarketing calls. The TSR limits the hours in which businesses may make telemarketing calls. Sellers who violate TSR are subject to hefty fines and may also suffer nationwide prohibitions against certain activities and the need to reimburse injured parties.

Individual states also regulate telemarketing activities. Some states require businesses to obtain a license for such activity.

Practice Legal Compliance

Of course, sales reps need to comply with the law, but how do you stay abreast of all the legal implications if you are reaching several states during various times of the day? Is your business exempt from any of these regulations? You may not comply simply by ensuring the number you plan to call is not on the Do Not Call Registry. How can you ensure compliance and maintain marketing effectiveness?

Fortunately, the need for quick, efficient, accurate compliance to TSR has prompted the development of sales performance software. These software-as-a-service (SaaS) products take the guesswork and compliance angst out of telemarketing.

What should your SaaS application do for you? Look for sales performance software providing compliance services for your campaigns, applications, representatives, and even third parties on your behalf. The product should screen and block calls prior to the marketing interaction. Your SaaS application should also offer auditable tracking of all calls by the application as legal protection.

Gryphon Networks, G2 Crowd’s 2020 Leader in Enterprise Sales Performance Management and Call Compliance Software, has developed its patented “CORE-to-EDGE” architecture, providing among other features. Transaction-level visibility offers audit trails to all call activity.

Contact Gryphon Networks today to see how our platform can relieve your business from compliance worries and provide an end-to-end solution for marketing success.

Understanding the risks of TCPA and DNC violations

Understanding the risks of violating the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) and Do Not Call (DNC) regulations starts with understanding the regulations themselves. The TCPA was created to protect consumers…

Assessing TCPA Compliance ROI: A Recap of Contact Compliance Solutions

In the ever-evolving landscape of regulatory compliance, organizations face a critical task: determining the Return on Investment (ROI) of TCPA compliance solutions. Whether contemplating building an in-house solution or opting…

Regulatory update: Wisconsin’s prohibition of caller ID spoofing

Wisconsin senate bill 531 has passed, making caller identification (ID) spoofing illegal. Here is what you can expect. Overview of the new rule The bill prohibits a telephone solicitor from…