Telemarketing List Management Options

Through the course of interacting with consumers, and in connection with various ongoing commercial relationships with those consumers, business owners of all kinds are frequently able to amass a valuable database of consumer telephone numbers. Where permitted by the applicable privacy policy, as well as the specific telemarketing-related consent obtained from the subject consumers at the time of registration when their respective telephone numbers were collected, that database can be shared by the business in question ("list owner") with third party entities ("list managers") that specialize in telemarketing to client databases in order to create a mutually rewarding business opportunity.

Telemarketing list management arrangements enable third party list managers, with expertise in telemarketing to client databases, to select high performing and desirable offers, market those offers to client databases and manage the logistical aspects of such telemarketing campaigns. Telemarketing list managers thus provide a valuable service to list owners who may lack the knowledge or resources to undertake such campaigns.

Notwithstanding the potential benefits, it is crucial that businesses interested in pursuing these types of relationships, whether as list managers or list owners, ensure that the proper consumer consents have been obtained, in advance, prior to engaging in any telemarketing to those consumers. Further, it is also vital that the parties negotiate and enter into a comprehensive list management agreement that establishes each party's legal and operational obligations in order to maximize revenue potential, while allocating risk and potential liability.

Could a Telemarketing List Management Relationships Benefit My Business?

Stand by Your Manager

From the list manager's perspective, the primary goal in entering into a telemarketing list management agreement should be to ensure that the document reflects that the list owner is entirely liable for any and all matters related to the collection of the database(s), as well as the ability of the list owner to share the database with the list manager for the marketing purposes contemplated by the agreement.

In particular, the list manager should require that the list owner represent that it has obtained all required consents to contact consumers via telemarketing, including the "prior express written consent" of the subject consumers to be contacted on their respective mobile devices (where applicable) using automated means by the list manager, as required under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act ("TCPA") and other applicable state and federal telemarketing laws. Further, the list manager should make certain that the list owner scrubs its database against the National Do-Not-Call Registry, as well as any applicable state do-not-call lists prior to providing the database to the list manager – with regular updates to be provided throughout the relationship

Owner Beware

As a preliminary matter, when compiling a database for telemarketing purposes, list owners must ensure that they obtain all legally required consumer consents, including the "prior express written consent" required under the TCPA and that they scrub their database against any applicable state and federal do-not-call lists or, in the alternative, rely on an exception contained in the Telemarketing Sales Rule ("TSR").

With the proper consents secured, list owners should seek to ensure: 1) that the list manager represents that its telemarketing activities will comply with all applicable laws, including restrictions regarding which days and times are permissible for telemarketing activities; 2) strict adherence to the scripts provided or approved by list owner; and 3) that the list manager will remain solely responsible for any and all telemarketing activities associated with its use of the database.

Making a List, Checking it Twice

Without implementing strict contractual obligations that ensure each party's respective state and federal regulatory compliance, there is an increased likelihood that you, as either a list owner or list manager, will suffer significant liability.

Under these circumstances, it is highly recommended that you retain qualified legal counsel to ensure that your database collection and maintenance practices are legally compliant and that any telemarketing list management agreement that you enter into, or currently use, is drafted and/or revised, as applicable, in order to ensure that you are adequately protected.

The material contained herein is provided for informational purposes only and is not legal advice, nor is it a substitute for obtaining legal advice from an attorney. Each situation is unique, and you should not act or rely on any information contained herein without seeking the advice of an experienced attorney.

United States: Telemarketing List Management Options