What Is Telemarketing? Definition

Why it matters

Telemarketing rules protect consumers from deceptive and abusive calls. They cover calling hours, caller identification, Do Not Call lists, and what a seller must say. Insurance has extra layers, since state insurance departments regulate agents and advertising. Families can lower unwanted calls by joining the National Do Not Call Registry. Agents who sell by phone need training on these rules, because one violation can lead to complaints, carrier action, or fines. Rules vary by state.

Source: law.cornell.edu

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Related terms

Telesales: Telesales is the practice of selling products by phone instead of in person. In life insurance, telesales agents explain coverage, answer questions, and take applications over a call.
Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA): The TCPA is a federal law that limits telemarketing calls, texts, autodialed calls, and prerecorded voice messages. It requires proper consent for many marketing calls and gives consumers a right to sue for violations.
Do Not Call (DNC): DNC stands for Do Not Call. It refers to lists, national and company-level, of phone numbers that telemarketers generally may not call without a legal exception or permission.
National Do Not Call Registry: The National Do Not Call Registry is a federal list of phone numbers whose owners asked not to receive telemarketing calls. It is run by the Federal Trade Commission, and registration is free.
Outbound Call: An outbound call is a call that a business or agent places to a consumer. In insurance, outbound calling is limited by federal and state telemarketing rules, including Do Not Call lists and consent requirements.

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Where we use this term

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