Financial trade groups—including CUNA and NAFCU—are asking the Federal Communications Commission to reject a petition seeking to expand the types of phone calls prohibited by the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA).
The FCC has a pending petition filed by two consumers who argue that the FCC should adopt a rule that the financial institutions argue would prohibit them from making necessary phone calls to members and consumers.
The petition would require an expansion of the types of phone calls that would require written consent before they can be made.
“Specifically, the Petition urges the FCC to adopt a rule requiring that every call made to either a wireless or residential line be placed pursuant to consent that is expressly stated, specifically pertaining to autodialed or prerecorded calls, at a specified number, and in writing,” the trade groups said, in their letter.
Granting the petition would be “would be disastrous to the thousands of relationships between institutions and their customers,” the financial institution groups contend.
The institutions must have the capability to contact their customers or members regarding “informational, non-telemarketing calls,” they added.
In addition, if the petition were granted, financial institutions would not be able to make servicing phone calls required by federal law, they said.
Separately, credit unions are asking the FCC for an exemption from 2015 commission guidance that they claim restrains them from communicating with members and expose the financial institutions to class action lawsuits.
