Telemarketing is a primary tactic that businesses employ to market their products. With growing concerns for consumer protection, however, telemarketing should be handled with care. The Do Not Call Compliance (DNC) rules and regulations are growing fast and must be understood by all companies making outbound sales calls to consumers in order to avoid potential financial penalties for non-compliance. There are many rules and regulations regarding the Do Not Call list and all telemarketing companies and their employees must abide by them. When a telemarketer makes a call to promote a business or product, it must be done in a compliant manner. If the rules and regulations of DNC are violated when outbound calls are made, it may result in substantial financial penalties. In addition, a business' reputation may be severely damaged. Therefore, it is crucial to ensure that all outbound calls comply with DNC rules and regulations.

There are national and state Do Not Call Compliance rules and regulations that are frequently updated. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) gives specific guidelines for DNC compliance. According to FTC, the national Do Not Call Compliance rules are applicable to any plan, program or campaign (excluding political organizations, charities, or telephone surveyors) selling goods or services to consumers through telemarketing. There are also certain rules and regulations put in place by the FTC that regulate individual state-maintained Do Not Call Compliance lists. The rules governing Do Not Call Compliance are becoming increasingly complex and, if violated, may result in substantial financial penalty or, in some cases, closure of the business. The best way to avoid these outcomes is to be fully compliant with the most current rules and regulations.

If the rules governing Do Not Call Compliance are violated, beginning on 08/01/16, federal penalties of up to $40,000 can be levied, restrictions can be placed on telemarketing related activities, and/or the violating company may be ordered to pay a sum of money to the consumer. Each telemarketer who makes outbound calls must therefore be compliant with all the rules and regulations. Everyone must learn the details of both the national and state Do Not Call lists.

All companies who promote business through telemarketing to consumers must be aware of, and compliant with, the Do Not Call Compliance rules and regulations. For a company to be compliant, it must screen, or scrub, its prospect lists against the various national, state and wireless do not call lists. Many companies are therefore seeking call compliance solutions. There are many options available, depending on the individual company's needs. Some companies maintain their own in-house compliance policy and records and only need a software solution for scrubbing their lists. Other companies may need comprehensive assistance in establishing their company compliance policy, properly maintaining their compliance records and having their prospect lists scrubbed against the current do not call lists.

Do Not Call Compliance is a must for any telemarketing business because the risk of significant penalties is great if the rules are violated. Ensure that your employees know all the rules and regulations governing Do Not Call Compliance. You must stay current with all the latest rules and regulations to run a successful telemarketing business.