Verizon takes legal action over phone spam

Consumer rights and wrongs

Verizon Wireless is taking legal action against two US companies for allegedly bombarding its customers with automated telemarketing calls.

In two separate lawsuits filed earlier this week, Verizon Wireless is seeking injunctions against Intelligent Alternatives of San Diego, California, and Resort Marketing Trends of Coral Springs, Florida.

The giant cellco, which boasts some 47m punters, alleges that the companies "made hundreds of thousands of calls to cell phone customers using pre-recorded messages and auto-dialers in violation of the federal Telephone Consumer Protection Act as well as state laws".

Not only is Verizon Wireless keen for both companies to cease their actions, it is also seeking "monetary damages".

Said Steven Zipperstein, Verizon Wireless' general counsel in a statement: "These lawsuits serve notice once again to any company, organisation or individual who seeks to infringe on our customers' privacy: the law says you can't do it, and we will help defend our customers against these sorts of illegal practices."

Under Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulations it is illegal for telemarketers to use automated diallers to call cell phone numbers. ®