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Attorney General Balderas Urges U.S. Senate to Pass the HANGUP Act

New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas

  Commentary:   Today, Attorney General Hector Balderas is urging the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation to pass the ‘‘Help Americans Never Get Unwanted Phone calls Act of 2015’’ or ‘‘HANGUP” Act.  In the letter, Attorney General Balderas and 24 state attorneys general, called on the committee to pass the Act, which repeals a recent amendment to the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) to allow debt-collection robocalls to consumers’ cell phones.

“While New Mexicans need to repay loan obligations that they have incurred, they should not be subjected to predatory, overly invasive, or harassing robocalls,” said Attorney General Balderas. “I want to thank Senator Tom Udall for his leadership on this legislation and for working with our office to protect New Mexico families and consumers."

Prior to the amendment, the TCPA prohibited all robocalls to cell phones. As amended, the TCPA now permits citizens to receive unwanted and previously illegal robocalls to their cell phones if the calls are made pursuant to the collection of debt owed to or guaranteed by the United States, such as federal student loans.  By passing the HANGUP Act, the federal government has the opportunity to stop the barrage of debt-collection robocalls that can be frustrating and even harassing to citizens who pay for calls to their cell phones.

To file a complaint with the New Mexico Office of the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division, please call 1-866-627-3249 or visit www.nmag.gov/consumer-complaint-instructions.aspx.

Here is a link to a copy of the letter: https://www.ago.mo.gov/docs/default-source/press-releases/2016/hangupact.pdf?sfvrsn=2