Illinois court: Dish violated FTC telemarketing rules 'tens of millions' of times

Dish Network (NASDAQ: DISH) continues to face federal flack for its telemarketing practices.

The latest blow came from federal court in Springfield, Ill., which found Dish liable for "tens of millions" of calls that violated the Federal Trade Commission's Telemarketing Sales Rule.

The opinion represents a summary judgment win in a case the Justice Department filed on behalf of the FTC in 2009.

The FTC said Dish and its network of authorized retailers began violating its telemarketing rule in 2007, making millions of calls to consumers on the National Do Not Call Registry.

In all, the court found Dish and its vendors liable for making 4,094,099 calls to numbers on the Do Not Call Registry.

"I received numerous phone calls from Dish Network from telemarketers from a 208 area code," a Cedar Rapids, Iowa resident told Consumer Affairs. "The reps were rude and threatening and ran up excessive charges on my cell phone despite blocks that were added. I incurred a $139 vs. $49 phone 1 month and $89 vs. $49 the 2nd month before they called."

For more:
- read this FTC filing
- read this Consumer Affairs blog post
- read this Corporate Crime Reporter story

Related links:
FTC accuses Dish Network of making 'millions' of illegal telemarketing calls
Sling TV marketed to younger audience, but could appeal to older demographic
Dish makes deal with Fox News, ends blackout