FTC Announces Public Forum on Proposed Debt Relief Amendments to the Telemarketing Sales Rule

The Federal Trade Commission is inviting interested persons to participate in a public forum on November 4, 2009, to discuss proposed debt relief amendments to the Commission’s Telemarketing Sales Rule. The recently proposed rules seek to combat deceptive and abusive telemarketing of debt relief services that purportedly can reduce consumer credit card debt and other unsecured debt. The debt relief forum, which is free and open to the public, will be held at 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20850. Seating is limited and will be provided on a first come, first served basis. The Commission will publish an agenda on its Web site prior to the event.

Parties interested in participating as panelists must submit two things: a request to participate and a comment in response to the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) issued by the FTC on July 30, 2009. The NPRM, which was published in the Federal Register yesterday, is available on the FTC’s Web site at http://www.ftc.gov/os/fedreg/2009/august/090819telemarketingsalesrule.pdf.

Requests to participate as panelists in the public forum must be filed separately from public comments, either on paper or via e-mail to: tsrdebtrelief@ftc.gov. The e-mail should refer to “Telemarketing Sales Rule - Debt Relief Rulemaking Forum – Request to Participate, R411001.” Full instructions for submitting comments are in the supplementary information section of the NPRM. The forum is open to the public; however, seating is limited and will be provided on a first come, first served basis.

Reasonable accommodations for people with disabilities are available upon request. Requests should be submitted via e-mail to tsrdebtrelief@ftc.gov or by calling 202-326-3224. Requests should include a detailed description of the accommodations needed and a way to contact you if we need more information. Please provide advance notice. (FTC File No. R411001, the staff contact is Allison Brown, Bureau of Consumer Protection, 202-326-3224.)

Copies of the documents mentioned in this release are available from the FTC’s Web site at http://www.ftc.gov and from the FTC’s Consumer Response Center, Room 130, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20580. Call toll-free: 1-877-FTC-HELP.