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2016
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DO NOT CALL - RECALLS OK
Dealers who call customers about recall-related issues are not violating national Do-Not-Call (PNC) rules by
doing so.
The Do-Not-Call Registry was set up a little over a decade ago, so people could designate their phone number as
off-limits for telemarketers and other solicitations. However, informing a customer that their vehicle is subject
to a recall does not fall into these categories; rather, it is a helpful cue to the customer that their vehicle needs
servicing.
It should be noted that this exception only applies when the repair work involves no cost to the customer. Any
attempts to make additional sales or extract extra money during the conversation will designate it as a phone
solicitation, which is prohibited.
Cell phones, texting, autodialing and prerecorded calls are subject to completely separate sets of restrictions,
under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA). The cell phone stipulation admittedly makes the lines
tricky to stay within, as a dealer may not be able to tell whether he/she is calling a cellular or landline. However,
if a customer provided you with their cell phone number in the first place, you’re probably safe dialing it, as long
as you keep the discussion squarely on the subject of the recall.
Dealers should consult with counsel
to ensure their customer outreach
procedures align with the TCPA.
The FCC’s full ruling can be found
here:
https://apps.fcc.gov/edocspubli
c/ attachmatch/DA-05-1667
A l .pdf




