Source: https://development.code.dccouncil.us/dc/council/code/titles/22/chapters/32/subchapters/III-B/
Timestamp: 2019-04-23 12:51:42+00:00

Document:
D.C. Law Library - Subchapter III-B. Telephone Fraud.
§ 22–3226.04. Security alternative to surety bonds.
§ 22–3226.08. Abusive telemarketing acts or practices.
§ 22–3226.11. Private right of action.
§ 22–3226.12. Statute of limitations period.
§ 22–3226.13. Task force to combat fraud.
(1) “Applicant” means any individual, sole proprietorship, partnership, association, cooperative, corporation, nonprofit organization, and any other organization required to register with the District to conduct telemarketing in the District of Columbia.
(2) “Certificate of registration” means a document issued by the District government showing that a named individual or business has registered as a telephone solicitor with the Mayor of the District of Columbia.
(3) “Consumer” means a person who is or may be required to pay for goods or services offered by a telephone solicitor through telemarketing.
(4) “Goods” or “services” means any real property or any tangible or intangible personal property or services of any kind provided or offered to a consumer.
(5) “Licensed securities, commodities or investment broker” means a licensed or registered securities, commodities or investment broker.
(6) “Seller” means any person, who, in connection with a telemarketing transaction, provides, offers to provide, or arranges for others to provide goods or services to the customer in exchange for consideration.
(E) In which payment for the sale of good or services is not accepted in that telephone call.
(E) Does not accept payment for the sale of good or services in that telephone call.
D.C. Law 14-42, in par. (8)(E), made a nonsubstantive change.
For temporary (90 day) amendment of section, see § 18 of Technical Amendments Emergency Act of 2001 (D.C. Act 14-108, August 3, 2001, 48 DCR 7622).
(a) The application for registration or renewal shall be accompanied by a surety bond in the amount of $50,000. The bond shall provide for the indemnification of any person suffering a loss as the result a violation of this subchapter.
(b) The surety may terminate the bond upon giving a 60-day written notice to the principal and to the Mayor.
(c) Unless the bond is replaced by that of another surety before the expiration of the 60-day notice of cancellation, the registration of the principal shall be treated as lapsed.
(a) An applicant required under this subchapter to file a bond with a registration application may file with the Mayor, in lieu thereof, a certificate of deposit or government bond in the amount of $50,000.
(b) The Mayor shall hold the certificate of deposit or government bond for 3 years starting from the date the telemarketing business ceases to operate or the registration lapses in order to pay claims made against the telemarketing business during its period of operation after which time the Mayor shall return any remaining balance.
(c) The registration of the telemarketing business shall be treated as lapsed if, at any time, the amount of bond, cash, certificate of deposit or government bonds falls below the amount required by this section.
(d) The surety bond shall remain in effect for 3 years from the period the telemarketing business ceases to operate in the District.
(e) The aggregate liability of the surety company to all persons injured by a telephone solicitor’s violations of this subchapter shall not exceed the amount of the bond.
(14) A solicitation by a person who is a licensed real estate broker within the scope of the broker’s license.
(3) Material aspects of the quality or basic characteristics of the goods or services purchased.
(b) It is a deceptive telemarketing act or practice for any seller or telephone solicitor to misrepresent any material fact regarding the goods or services purchased that has a tendency to mislead.
(c) No person shall commit a deceptive telemarketing act or practice.
This section is referenced in § 22-3226.11.
(3) Engage in telephone solicitation to a consumer’s residence at any time before 8:00 a.m. and after 9:00 p.m., local time at the place of the consumer called.
(1) Any telephone solicitor who violates any provision of this subchapter may be fined up to $1,000 per violation.
(2) A permit or license shall be revoked or suspended if the seller or telephone solicitor fails to comply with the registration requirements of this subchapter.
(3) A judge may impose treble damages against any telephone solicitor who knowingly targets elderly persons or persons with disabilities.
(b) Fines shall be payable to the Fraud Prevention Fund established in § 22-3226.14.
This section is referenced in § 22-3226.06 and § 22-3226.15.
D.C. Law 16-305, in subsec. (a)(3), substituted “persons or persons with disabilities” for “or disabled persons”.
(1) If the amount of the transaction is valued at $20,000 or more, the seller or telephone solicitor shall upon conviction be guilty of a felony, and shall be subject to a fine of not more than the amount set forth in § 22-3571.01 or imprisonment for not more than 4 years, or both.
(2) If the amount of the transaction is valued at less than $20,000 but more than $5,000, the seller or telephone solicitor shall upon conviction be guilty of a felony, and shall be subject to a fine of not more than the amount set forth in § 22-3571.01 or imprisonment for not more than 3 years, or both.
(3) If the amount of the transaction is valued at less than $5,000 or less, the seller or telephone solicitor shall upon conviction be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be subject to a fine of not more than the amount set forth in § 22-3571.01 or imprisonment for not more than 6 months, or both.
This section is referenced in § 16-801 and § 22-3226.06.
The 2013 amendment by D.C. Law 19-317 substituted “not more than the amount set forth in § 22-3571.01” for “not more than $10,000” in (1), for “not more than $5,000” in (2), and “not more than $500” in (3).
For temporary (90 days) amendment of this section, see § 205(m) of the Criminal Fine Proportionality Emergency Act of 2013 (D.C. Act 20-45, April 1, 2013, 60 DCR 5400, 20 DCSTAT 1300).
(6) Any other equitable relief which the court deems proper.
(b) Nothing in this subchapter shall prevent any consumer who is injured by any other trade practice from exercising any right or seeking any remedy to which the consumer might be entitled.
Claims for damages or compensation under this subchapter shall be filed within 3 years of the time the seller or telephone solicitor initiated the solicitation telephone call.
(5) Advising the Mayor on enforcement of the provisions of this subchapter.
(4) Any other agency the Mayor deems appropriate.
This section is referenced in § 22-3226.09.
For temporary (90 days) amendment of this section, see § 6 of Repeal of Outdated and Unnecessary Audit Mandates Emergency Amendment Act of 2016 (D.C. Act 21-403, May 21, 2016, 63 DCR 7925).
(a) Within the first 30 seconds of a telephone call, the telephone solicitor shall identify himself or herself by stating his or her true name, the company on whose behalf the solicitation is being made, and the goods or services to be sold.
(b) Any person who violates this section shall be subject to civil penalties pursuant to § 22-3226.09.

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