Verizon Wireless shuts down telemarketers

Verizon Wireless has won permanent injunctions against two telemarketing firms that have been using auto-dialers to solicit its cellular customers. The operator also won $20,000 from one of the telemarketing companies, though the second got off without paying any damages.

Two separate state courts have permanently barred Intelligent Alternatives of San Diego and Resort Marketing of Coral Sprints, Fla., from contacting Verizon Wireless customers with auto-dialers or recorded messages. Verizon settled with both companies in their respective states, and in the case of Intelligent Alternatives secured an additional $20,000 in damages. Verizon said it would donate the entire amount to the Family Justice Foundation in San Diego, a domestic violence prevention program Verizon Wireless supports through its HopeLine initiative.

Of late, Verizon Wireless has been spending a lot of time in courtrooms fighting privacy battles with marketing and spam companies. Last month Verizon sued alleged SMS spammer Passport Holidays accusing it of sending 98,000 unsolicited marketing text messages to its customers in October. And in August, the carrier won an injunction against a Rhode Island man sending messages soliciting adult websites and mortgage loans.

This summer Verizon won injunctions against investigative and research companies that were obtaining its customers phone records and private information. Verizon privacy efforts have been called into question, however, because of its support for the national wireless phone directory.