Telemarketers losing access to Texas crash victims' phone numbers
The Dallas Morning News has the story that Texas drivers involved in accidents will no longer be required to furnish telephone numbers for crash reports under an agreement between two state agencies trying to pull the plug on phone solicitations by telemarketers.
This is an important change because telemarketers generally try to drum up business for chiropractors, lawyers and body shops and these people will often say absolutely anything to get someone into the office. This results in citizens being funneled to service providers that may not be the most competent for the job.
"It is getting to the point where every person involved in a reported traffic accident is being solicited," said Mark Hanna, a spokesman for the Texas Committee on Insurance Fraud, a panel created by the insurance industry and the Texas Department of Insurance.
"The telemarketers say whatever it takes to get crash victims into the doctor's office. They are today's lazy ambulance chasers, doing it all by phone. We are trying to put a stop to these calls or at least slow them down." said Hanna according to the article.
I am all in favor of this long-needed change. If you need a quality body shop or a competent lawyer, don't go to anyone based on a phone solicitation. Get on the internet and do your own research and ask your friends about their experiences. Such decisions are way too important to base it on an unsolicited phone call.
Source for Article: Dallas Morning News
Extra: See the statewide standard accident report form.
