As more service-seeking consumers let their fingers do the clicking, Tennessee has strengthened its existing deceptive telephone listings ban by widening the law to prohibit deceptive Internet practices. 

"This law will ensure that business is done through your local florists," says Jerry Hankin, AIFD, TCF, treasurer of the Tennessee State Florists' Association.

Effective July 1, any company that misrepresents its geographic location through a misleading business name or listing in a telephone directory, dialing service or over the Internet in order to gain an unfair competitive advantage, is subject to a penalty of a minimum of $1,000 up to a maximum of $5,000 per violation. 

Tennessee has banned deceptive phone listings since 1971. The addition of online listings helps break new legal ground in consumer protection, say those who pushed for it.

"By passing this law, it shows that this state will enforce and protect consumers from being deceived," says Peggy Doyle, chairman of the Legislative Committee for the Tennessee State Florists' Association.

The process for filing a complaint is relatively straightforward. If anyone has evidence a company is in violation of the law, that person can file a formal complaint with the office of Consumer Affairs for the State of Tennessee. If the evidence is found to be sufficient, penalties will be assessed.

Currently 23 states have a deceptive telephone listings ban in place. For more information, check out SAF's Web site.

--Morgan Schimminger
mschimminger@safnow.org

 

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