Current through Register Vol. 54, No. 49, December 7, 2024
Section 111.10 - Telemarketing(a) A supplier and its agents shall comply with regulations that govern marketing, consumer protection and telemarketing sales including consumer protection regulations in Chapters 54 and 62 (relating to electricity generation customer choice; and natural gas supply customer choice) and applicable provisions in Chapters 56, 57 and 59 (relating to standards and billing practices for residential utility service; electric service; and gas service). (1) A supplier that is licensed by the Commission and engages in telemarketing is not required to register as a telemarketer under section 3(a) of the act (73 P. S. § 2243(a)), regarding registration requirement, but shall comply with other provisions of the act.(2) An agent that contracts with a supplier to conduct telemarketing and sales activities on behalf of the supplier shall register as a telemarketer and comply with the act.(3) A supplier and its agents shall comply with the Telemarketing and Consumer Fraud and Abuse Prevention Act (15 U.S.C.A. § § 6101-6108) and 16 CFR Part 310 (relating to telemarketing sales rule).(4) Customer consent to the release of customer information by the distribution company to the supplier to enable competitive solicitations does not constitute an express request to receive telephone solicitation calls. See section 5 of the act (73 P. S. § 2245), regarding unlawful acts and penalties. See the definition of "do not call list" in section 2 of the act (73 P. S. § 2242).(b) An agent who contacts customers by telephone shall, after greeting the customer, immediately identify himself by name, identify the supplier the agent represents and the reason for the telephone call. The agent shall state that he is not working for and is independent of the local distribution company or another supplier. The agent may not say or suggest to a customer that a utility customer is required to choose a competitive energy supplier.(c) When an agent completes a transaction with a customer, the agent shall explain the supplier's verification process to the customer and state that the supplier will send a copy of the disclosure statement and other material about the service to the customer after the transaction has been verified. At the end of the telephone contact, the agent shall state that the customer may rescind the transaction within 3 business days after receiving the disclosure statement.