Comcast fined $900K for violating federal Do Not Call

Inquirer staff writer Sam Wood reports:.

The Federal Trade Commission today ordered Comcast to pay a $900,000 fine for having its telemarketers call customers who had specifically asked to be placed on the company’s Do Not Call registry.

The judgment was handed down after the FTC charged Comcast with placing more than 900,000 sales calls to customers who asked not to be called again. The cable and internet service provider could have been eligible for a $11,000 fine for each call violation.

DirectTV, the satellite TV provider, also was fined $2.3 million today for similar violations of the telemarketing sales rules.

“Comcast fully supports all Do-Not-Call regulations and we are committed to preventing unwanted telemarketing calls," said Sena Fitzmaurice, Executive Director Corporate Communications and Goverment Affairs for Comcast, in a statement.

"The FTC found our compliance with the national Registry to be 99.85% and chose not to pursue any claim against Comcast in that area. Since the period under review, we have further strengthened our policies and procedures to prevent unwanted telemarketing calls.”

Read more breaking news in our From The Source blog.

Posted by Inquirer Online Desk @ 11:15 AM Permalink | 32 comments

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0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 12:16 PM, 04/16/2009

Well, Comcast customers, it looks like your rates are going up if they do get fined!

— uncle meat

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0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 12:28 PM, 04/16/2009

Hey Rosie, it was 10 BILLION. And I couldn't live without Comcast, their local sports coverage and that DVR! If only I could program my DVR using my phone... Somehow Direct TV beat them to the punch, 5 years after TiVo beat them to the punch...

— Beeford

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0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 12:39 PM, 04/16/2009

Comcast is awful compared to DISH Network. Their equipment is badly outdated (I had a Dish DVR 3 years ago that blew away the newest Comcast model. 250 hours compared to like 50.) and the network is always jammed with traffic. What do we all pay $150/month? Get Fiber Optics already!!

— sla6yer

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 12:39 PM, 04/16/2009

Great news now my bill will go from 160 a month to 1,600

— Tron Carter

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0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 12:56 PM, 04/16/2009

In the early 70's, people were mocked for protesting the idea of paying for TV. Forty years later, those same people are paying about $140 a month to watch TV. Sure Comcast sucks, but we, the people, let it happen.

— feudi