A Texas-based telemarketing company and its subsidiaries have been banned from conducting business in North Dakota after Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem filed a cease and desist order against them on Monday for allegedly violating Do Not Call List laws.
Telemarketer France Carrasco, operating under the business names Hyper-Phonebank, The Political Group, Hyperphonebank.com and Thepoliticalgroup.com, allegedly contacted consumers who were on the Do Not Call List. He also is accused of using recorded messages during his telemarketing calls, which is illegal in North Dakota.
Telemarketers are not allowed to call numbers that have been on the Do Not Call List for more than 31 days under federal and state laws.
“North Dakotans have made it abundantly clear that they do not want to be bothered by unwanted telemarketing calls," Stenehjem said. "My office will vigorously enforce the state’s Do Not Call laws."
Carrasco allegedly did not follow orders to comply with requests from investigators or give any relevant response to the attorney general. The ban prevents Carrasco or any of his businesses from billing or invoicing North Dakota consumers, as well as accepting payment.
Carrasco's business address is in San Antonio, Texas. His businesses also operate in Washington, DC.