Privacy Law Library

Maryland Telephone Solicitations Act

MD Telephone Solicitations Act

Marketing

This older telemarketing law protects consumers from phone sales by making contracts formed through telephone solicitations unenforceable unless put in writing and signed by the consumer with required disclosures, and by barring charges to a consumer's account until the signed contract is received.

Where

Maryland

Citation

Md. Code, Com. Law §§ 14-2201 to 14-2205

Status

In force

Enforced by

Consumer Protection Division, Office of the Attorney General (Com. Law 13-301(14)(xiv))

People can sue

Yes

Penalties

A violation is an unfair or deceptive trade practice under the Consumer Protection Act (13-301(14)(xiv)), with Title 13 civil penalties and the private action under 13-408; noncompliant contracts are unenforceable against the consumer (14-2203(a)).

Applies to

• Merchants selling consumer goods, services, or realty through telephone solicitation, with exemptions for prior customers and existing relationships, in-store negotiations, refund-guaranteed sales, and catalog or advertisement-based purchases (14-2201, 14-2202)