Mortgage brokers offer Do Not Call help

To help its members comply with the Federal Trade Commission's Do Not Call list, the Maryland Association of Mortgage Brokers has teamed up with Authtel, whose software enforces regulatory compliance with the list.

MAMB members can now use Authtel's compliance system, CallPermission.com, for a discount on its standard monthly fee, the organization said Monday. The system will help members avoid calling individuals who have asked the FTC to put them on the national DNC registry that went into effect in October of 2003. The MAMB said there are more than 80 million phone numbers on that list.

"MAMB recognizes the devastating financial effect that calling a consumer who has placed their name on the National DNC Registry can have on our members businesses," Thomas Shaner, the association's executive director, said in a letter to MAMB members. Mistakenly calling an individual who is on the Do Not Call list could result in fines to the broker.

"If members think they're flying under the FTC's radar, they're mistaken," Shaner said. "The FTC continues to increase enforcement against violators of the national DNC Registry. If anyone is using the telephone as a prospecting tool to contact consumers, then he or she needs a service like CallPermission.com to ensure compliance with this legislation."

Authtel, headquartered in Kennett Square, Pa., provides regulatory compliance and consumer consent acquisition solutions to direct marketers.

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