Koster resolves lawsuit with local telemarketers

Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster announced late last week he reached an agreement with two local companies and their owner prohibiting them from making telemarketing calls to people in the Show-Me State.

Under the agreement, the companies would face fines for violations of the telemarketing prohibition.

The action resolves a lawsuit filed last year against Kim Bascom and his companies Branson Vacation Land LLC and The Buzz Marketing and Communications LLC that alleged the companies made more than a quarter-million calls to Missourians on the state’s no-call list during a six-month period in 2012. The calls were meant for the purpose of selling Branson vacation packages, according to a news release.

As part of the agreement, should Bascom or any of his companies violate the agreement, they would be subject to up to $175,000 in fines and penalties.

“Over a six-month period, these companies together accounted for over 1,000 illegal telemarketing calls a day to Missourians on the no call list,” Koster said in the release. “This agreement keeps these calls out of our state with hefty penalties for any violation.”