A bank faces penalties for bothering consumers with telemarketing calls and messages. The Public Prosecutor's Office highlights the legal violation. Understand the situation.
The Minas Gerais Consumer Protection Agency (Procon) has fined a bank for not following the guidelines established for active direct marketing within the state. The bank will therefore have to pay an amount exceeding R$250,000 for not properly adhering to telemarketing regulations.
Under local law, companies are not allowed to make calls or send telemarketing messages to individuals who have registered their information in the Telemarketing Blocking System, under the supervision of the Public Ministry of Minas Gerais (MPMG).
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Therefore, to establish this type of communication, companies need clear consent from the customer, confirming that they wish to receive such calls or messages. However, one bank continued with its active direct marketing strategies even with customers listed on the block list.
Banco BMG ignores customers' decision
According to the administrative investigation by Procon, Banco BMG repeatedly failed to comply with state laws and persisted in actively engaging in direct marketing with consumers who chose to block this type of communication. According to MPMG, the bank took advantage of its economic position to disturb and negatively affect customers.
Reports indicate that bank agents reached out via phone calls and text messages promoting products and services. Additionally, the bank repeated this approach numerous times, unbalancing the contractual relationship between the parties.
Penalty
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Procon-MG has filed an administrative action against Banco BMG, claiming that the bank did not follow state laws. Thus, the bank faces a fine of R$1,400,000 for disturbing the public.
During the course of the action, the Procon of Minas Gerais proposed an administrative agreement to the bank to resolve the financial issue. However, the bank did not accept the suggestion presented by the MPMG.
