It was 6:30 and I was half way through my dinner when the phone rang. My mother answered the phone in her usual friendly voice. Instead of beginning a conversation with someone she knew, she stood there silently listening. I could not hear what was being said, but a distinct frown gradually emerged on her face. Still silent, she began to thumb through a coupon book she bought from the Springfield Chamber of Commerce.She shook her head and said "I don't think we're going to do that", then hung up the phone. "Who was that"? I asked, "Some portrait studio. They said we had a coupon that said we should expect a call".
It was true. Page 225 of the coupon book from the Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce was the beginning of the "Portrait Section". The page stated plainly enough that "within 90 days after you receive your book, you will receive a call from PORTRAITAMERICA to schedule your family portrait".
Just like any contract, you have to read the fine print. Even if it means sifting through 225 pages of a coupon book to find the phrase "expect a phone call". Purchasing of the coupon book is the same as affirming a contractual agreement to receive sales calls.
Luckily for the consumer in this case, "A phone call" means one phone call, and any additional calls over that number constitutes a violation of the Federal "Do Not Call" regulation.
Unfortunately, there are six coupons in the book that state "expect a phone call".
The End