Unsolicited Faxes

If you run a business, chances are your fax machine spews out a lot of unsolicited messages. Do you want to put an end to faxed ads?

I'm Shirley Rooker for the Federal Trade Commission.

A little known provision of the Telephone Consumer Protection Act bans unsolicited faxed advertisements...and puts teeth in the ban.

The Act makes it unlawful for anyone to fax an unsolicited ad to another individual or business if there is no prior business relationship - and the penalty for each violation is $500 or up to $1,500 if a company willfully and knowingly violates the law.

However, you don't have to tell the company you don't want its faxes. You can make a powerful statement by taking it to small claims court, and winning a judgement against the fax-happy company.

So save those unsolicited faxes and make your displeasure known by legal action. The law is there for your protection, so use it.

I'm Shirley Rooker, director of WTOP radio's Call For Action for the Federal Trade Commission.

January 2002