Bill that would limit robocalls reaches governor's desk

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  • Sen. Bill Coleman
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Are you tired of harassing telephone calls about home mortgages, new Medicare opportunities and financial counseling that will solve all of your money woes?

The Oklahoma Legislature apparently is tired of it too and approved House Bill 3168, which now goes to Gov. Kevin Stitt for his signature.

For years, people thought the federal Do Not Call list prevented them from receiving these types of calls, but apparently not. The measure written by Sen. Bill Coleman, R-Ponca City, creates the Telephone Solicitation Act of 2022, which would prohibit numerous types of marketing calls and set strict rules on when others can be made.

Although the bill has not been signed into law, Oklahoma Attorney General John O’Connor continues to take a stance against the telephone scammers.

“Illegal robocalls are not only a nuisance but can also lead to Oklahomans falling victim to fraud and scams,” said Madelyn Hague, O’Connor’s communications director. “HB 3168 will help reduce and prevent illegal imposters’ scams. This office stands ready to regulate or prosecute anyone who attempts to financially exploit any Oklahoman.”

Coleman, a longtime Ponca City broadcaster and business owner, understands the annoying calls about expiring warranties and questionable items on credit reports.

“This list goes on and on, and the calls are endless,” he said. “This act will limit robocalls and sketchy sales calls, giving citizens some peace. This is a consumer reform that has been desperately needed for some time to get control over this frustrating industry that is continually finding new ways to get around the federal Do Not Call list.”

House Bill 316 would prohibit

  • Automated telephonic sales/robocalls without prior express written consent.
  • Telephone sales calls that do not display the originating telephone number and name on the caller ID.
  • Telephone sales calls that intentionally alter the caller’s voice to disguise or conceal their identity to mislead or confuse the recipient.
  • Sales calls before 8 a.m. and after 8 p.m.
  • More than three sales calls within a 24-hour period on the same matter.
  • Telephone sales calls that block caller ID or display a different phone number than the originating number.

The measure also provides 26 exemptions, including:

  • Sales calls of an infrequent or one-time nature.
  • Calls for noncommercial purposes.
  • Solicitors who do not make the sales presentation during the call, but rather arrange a face-to-face meeting.
  • Financial institutions or licensed securities, commodities, investment, or insurance brokers.
  • Newspaper or cable solicitations, or book, video, or record club plan.
  • Qualified business-to-business sales calls.

If a sales call violates this act, an aggrieved party can initiate legal action to have a judge require the solicitor to stop, and the called party can recover actual damages or $500, whichever is greater.