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Cruise ships should conjure up images of umbrella drinks, shuffleboard, and the Lido Deck – not a sea of annoying robocalls. But according to the FTC, Grand Bahama Cruise Line and others unleashed a tidal wave of illegal calls purportedly pitching free vacations to consumers. The FTC has filed suit against the company and six related defendants. Also announced today: settlements with a call center and three individuals involved in the operation.

The complaint alleges that Grand Bahama Cruise Line made millions of robocalls through its in-house telemarketers and by hiring outside call centers to call consumers on its behalf. The company hired lead generators to conduct “survey” robocalls to identify potential customers. The FTC says that for years Grand Bahama Cruise Line knew – or consciously avoided knowing – that many of the lead generators’ survey robocalls and the subsequent outbound calls to consumers violated the Telemarketing Sales Rule. What’s more, the FTC says these weren’t wet-behind-the-ears operators on their first voyage. Sailing under the Grand Bahamas Cruise Line flag were recidivist companies that had been investigated or sued by state consumer agencies or private litigants for telemarketing violations. Nonetheless, the company allegedly continued to pay lead generators to make illegal robocalls and provided other telemarketers and vendors with the tools they needed to make unlawful calls.

In addition to putting consumers on robocall blast, the defendants allegedly failed to scrub their lists against the National Do Not Call Registry – which means that many of the people the defendants called had made it clear they didn’t want to receive telemarketing pitches. According to the FTC, the defendants also violated the TSR by failing to transmit accurate caller ID information. That lawsuit is pending in federal court in Florida.

Proposed settlements with call center Cabb Group, Christina R. Peterson, Robert J. Peterson II, and Christopher Cotroneo ban them for life from placing robocalls or helping others to. The orders also impose judgments totaling more than $7.8 million, which for the most part are suspended based on the defendants’ financial condition.

Even at this early stage, the case should send an unmistakable all-hands-on-deck message: Illegal robocalls belong in Davy Jones’ Locker.
 

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Ms.Ginger C.
January 10, 2020
I have received excessive calls from this company. I am a travel agent and I had explained that I do not need their services, but yet they continuously call without my consent. Though I have blocked them, they seen to still call from different exchanges This is preposterous. I have no clue how the FTC is allowing these SPAM to go on. Where is our protection? This is bazaar. Please have them stop. I suggest you sue them.
FTC Staff
January 10, 2020

In reply to by Ms.Ginger C.

The FTC filed suit against Grand Bahama Cruise Line and six related defendants. The FTC's complaint alleges that Grand Bahama Cruise Line made millions of robocalls through its in-house telemarketers and by hiring outside call centers to call consumers on its behalf.

Guest
January 10, 2020
Why does the FTC invariably suspend the fines? It is a ridiculous, crook-friendly policy!
FTC Staff
January 10, 2020

In reply to by Guest

The proposed settlement orders against the defendants Christopher Cotroneo and call center Cabb Group, LLC, and Christina and Robert Peterson II ban them from robocalling, including assisting others in making robocalls. The orders also bar the defendants from violating the TSR. The judgments are suspended for the most part because of the defendants’ inability to pay.  

  The FTC has filed suit against Grand Bahama Cruise Line, and alleges that the company made millions of robocalls through its in-house telemarketers and by hiring outside call centers to call consumers on its behalf.

Guest
January 10, 2020
I was called by them. They would not take NO for a answer. I told them I had too go and they said we can call you back. I said No! They did try to call but I blocked that.
Jason L.
February 17, 2020
I just received a phone call from this company and I am on a do not call list. The number was 636-321-9013 and was a robo call not a person.

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