Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Cracks Down on Unlicensed Telemarketers
Contact: Amanda Bevis
February 26, 2013
(850) 617-7737
Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Cracks Down on Unlicensed Telemarketers
Department Arrests Two Unlicensed Salespersons, Issues $13,000 Fine to Telemarketing Business in Pinellas County
Tallahassee, FL – The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services announced today the arrest of two Pinellas County residents for Commercial Telephone Sales without a License. The business, Priority Funding Group, LLC, was issued an Administrative Complaint in the amount of $13,000 for operating an unlicensed telemarketing room that employed five unlicensed salespersons.
The arrests are a result of an investigation conducted by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and based on complaints received through the department’s 1-800-HELP-FLA consumer assistance hotline. Investigators discovered that Priority Funding Group, LLC, employed five unlicensed salespersons. Two of the sales persons were found to have prior knowledge of the laws governing phone sales and were criminally charged. The department issued warnings and information on how to become properly licensed to three.
The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services conducted a diligent records search and determined that the business, Priority Funding Group, LLC, was not licensed by the state of Florida to conduct commercial telephone solicitation. Florida State Statute 501.623 requires all businesses and individual salespersons engaging in telephone solicitation be licensed by the state of Florida.
Below is a list of the individuals arrested:
· Gary Vernon Granzow, Jr.
Charge: Telephone Sales without License
· David D. Morrow
Charge: Telephone Sales without License
The individuals were booked at the Pinellas County Jail on Monday.
Consumers who believe fraud has taken place can contact the department’s consumer assistance and information hotline at 1-800-HELP-FLA (435-7352) or, for Spanish speakers, 1-800-FL-AYUDA (352-9832).
For more information about the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, visit www.FreshFromFlorida.com.
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