If every New Yorker wrote a list of their least favorite things, “phone calls from telemarketers” would no doubt be near the top of the list. Now, there’s a better and faster way to end those annoying calls.
Governor Kathy Hochul has signed legislation designed to limit unwanted telemarketing calls by giving consumers the option to be added to a company’s “Do Not Call” list at the very beginning of the phone call. The new law took effect on March 6, 2023, by amending Section 399-z of the New York General Business Law (which regulates telemarketers). A “telemarketer” is defined by law as an entity that engages in solicitation by telephone call or electronic messaging text to any customer located in New York State.
The amendment to the law now requires telemarketers to give potential customers the option of being added to the company’s “Do Not Call” list at the beginning of the telemarketing sales call, immediately after the telemarketer gives his/her name and names the company making the solicitation.
Section 399-z had previously required the telemarketer to offer to add the customer to the “Do Not Call” list, but did not specify when that had to be done.
Telemarketers who don’t comply with the change in the law can face fines of up to $11,000 for each violation.
