NY Increases Penalties for Telemarketing Violations

The New York Legislature increased the penalties for violations of the state’s telemarketing protection law.

NY has a state-level telemarketing law—akin to the federal Telephone Consumer Protection Act—which places restrictions on various telemarketing-related activities.  Among other things, the law: allows consumers to limit telemarketing calls by joining a Do Not Call Registry; restricts the hours when telemarketers may call; requires that telemarketers provide certain disclosures at the beginning of calls; prohibits telemarketers from providing misleading or inaccurate identification information; and sets requirements related to pre-recorded messages.

The law previously provided for penalties of $11,000 for each violation.  The new law increases these penalties to $20,000 per violation.