La. PSC won't push change to 'Do Not Call' law

By MELINDA DESLATTE

posted: 43 DAYS 12 HOURS AGO

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BATON ROUGE, La. -State utility regulators refused Wednesday to ask the Louisiana Legislature to change state law to ban debt collectors from calling people on the "Do Not Call" list.

Public Service Commissioner Eric Skrmetta was pushing for the change, saying the debt collection calls can become harassing and intimidating. But the four other members of the commission argued it would be improper to say credit card companies, banks and other businesses can't call the people who have debts with them.

"I've got to call somebody who owes me money until they pay me or until they tell me when they're going to pay me," said Clyde Holloway, a commissioner from central Louisiana who owns a plant and tree nursery business.

Louisiana's "Do Not Call" law, established in 2002, lets people sign up on a list that bars most telemarketers from calling them. Companies that don't comply can be fined by the PSC. Exceptions are included in the law for debt collectors, charitable organizations and others.

The PSC voted 4-1 against asking state lawmakers to change the law as Skrmetta suggested. PSC staff suggested the law shouldn't be changed and noted a similar federal law also allows debt collectors to call people on the national "Do Not Call" registry.

Skrmetta, from the New Orleans suburb of Metairie, argued debt collectors and businesses owed money could send letters in the mail or file a claim in court but shouldn't constantly pester those who owe them money by phone calls.

"When it's a series of phone calls, then it goes from being a method of collection to a method of intimidation," he said.

Commissioner Foster Campbell, who represents north Louisiana on the PSC, sponsored the "Do Not Call" law when he was a state senator. He said the law was difficult to pass and debt collectors were excluded to help win final passage. And he said he agreed with their exclusion.

"You got to be able to call people when they owe you money," Campbell said.

2009-10-14 16:55:59