Telemarketers calling New Jersey residents will face new rules after the bipartisan “Seinfeld Bill” was signed into law this week.
Nicknamed after a famous scene from the hit NBC TV sitcom Seinfeld, S-921/A-1545 will require telemarketers to provide contact information within the first 30 seconds of a call.
“The famous Seinfeld scene where Jerry is irritated that telemarketers can call at any time, under any pretense, and without any kind of guidelines or consequences, makes light of a situation many New Jerseyans face every day, sometimes multiple times a day,” said Gov. Phil Murphy. “I am proud to sign the ‘Seinfeld Bill’ and to establish much-needed transparency in telemarketing.”
30 Second Window
Under the bill, telemarketers will have a thirty second window to accurately identify the telemarketer’s name, the name and telephone number of the person on whose behalf the call is being made, and the purpose of the call.
A violation of the bill’s provision constitutes a disorderly persons offense in addition to other penalties already prescribed by current law.
Time Block
Telemarketers will also be required to disclose the mailing address of the telemarketers and any company on whose behalf the company is telemarketing for.
The bill stipulates that a telemarketer cannot make any unsolicited telemarketing sales call to any customers between the hours of 9:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m. local time.
Of note, the bill does not apply to telemarketing sales calls when a customer contacts the telemarketer via phone call or website and affirmatively requests a follow-up call.
Lawmakers Celebrate Passage
Primary sponsors of the legislation included State Sen. Jon Bramnick (R-21) and Assemblyman Paul Moriarty (D-4).
“I am pleased that the Governor signed this legislation today to protect New Jerseyans from telemarketing scams,” said Bramnick. “When you answer a telemarketer’s call, you should know right up front who they are and who they work for.”
Moriarty noted the bill would help elder New Jerseyans who are targeted often for scams as well as helping cut down on the overwhelming number of calls seniors receive at home.
“This new law will clearly alert seniors that a telemarketer is seeking to sell them something and the law will provide them with a level of protection,” said Moriarty. “It’s important to do what we can to protect our seniors from falling victim to scams.”
Hard to believe laws can be passed based on a fictional tv show instead of real life. Way too many people watching the boob tube
Great News!! Though, why did it take so long?? However, it still falls short, cause how will this be enforced?? Since these scammer’s are Notorious Liars!! Why not Prevent them from calling altogether, thus making people Safe from their Scam’!!//
What a lame piece of legislation. We’ve been on the Do Not Call registry for decades. The home phone rings 6 or more times a day and only about 2 calls a month are from true contacts. At least my cell silences potential unsolicited sources. Seem to remember this all started with something passed by the Obama administration.