FactoringEthics.com & StopCashCalls.com
The following is a review and unveiling of each of the two new sites. Both are part of the same movement we’re starting which we call, collectively, the Ethics Initiative. We’ve always believed that business should be conducted in as clean a manner as possible, and have always striven to do so. We are dismayed at the level of prominence that scraping, in particular, has reached in an industry that doesn’t need the bad press; and more importantly, we’re hoping you’ll join us in trying to clean it up.
FactoringEthics.com is dedicated to the collection and dissemination of information directly pertinent to maintaining cleanliness in the factoring industry. Relevant regulations, statutes, etc. are posted and explained in order to arm anyone who wants to prepare themselves for potential harassment by unscrupulous actors in the factoring industry. For example, brokers and annuitants should be aware of and well versed in the existence and application of the Telephone Consumer Protection Act, which is clear regarding the solicitation of potential clientele by phone-using businesses – and really, what business isn’t using a telephone? Violating the TCPA has clear consequences, but like most things in government, the question isn’t the intent or application of relevant regulation, but the enforceability. Simply put: no one can enforce anything if no one’s reporting wrongdoing. As far as the government is concerned, if there’s no squawking, there’s no problem. It’s time to squawk.
Another aspect of FactoringEthics.com that we’re pleased to announce is an oft-overlooked reality of the industry: there are many aliases in use. At first glance one might say, “Wow, what a competitive marketplace!” Well hold on, just because there are a bunch of different names being thrown out there doesn’t mean they’re competitors. This site will collect and expose all factoring companies and their known aliases over time. We do not seek to rate any of them nor do we seek to dissuade their use, per se – but we do believe that transparency in the secondary market can only help. There’s no reason that legitimate business will be harmed by exposing these aliases. The notion of “Let the buyer beware!” echoes true here; but with this information in hand, brokers and annuitants can both breathe a little easier knowing who’s-who in a seemingly crowded marketplace.
StopCashCalls.com is dedicated specifically to annuitants and brokers who want to have a more active role in standing against anyone who violates the TCPA. We’re surprised that there are no class-action suits initiated to-date against those guilty of harassing annuitants, especially by phone, given the clear-cut nature of the TCPA regulations. We encourage brokers and attorneys to get in touch with annuitants to determine if they have been harassed, and if not, to let them know their options going forward. StopCashCalls.com will provide information on these solutions and provide lists of who may be able to assist.
If you, a broker, are tired of hearing, both from your clients and through the grapevine, that yet-another annuitant is being harassed non-stop then we implore you to pick up the phone or open your e-mail client and let us know. Only through cooperation can we put a stop to behavior that shouldn’t even be going on in the first place. Scraping can stop. Harassment can stop. Ethics isn’t just jargon to throw around to generate buzz or get web-clicks. Ethical concerns are as serious as anyone’s bottom line – and our stance is that annuitants shouldn’t be taken advantage of to pad a predator’s bottom line.
We look forward to contact and cooperation for the Ethics Initiative as we get the ball rolling.
#TelephoneConsumerProtectionAct #TCPA #Ethics #BentzenFinancial #factoringethics #factoring #EthicsInitiative #RhondaBentzen #SeanBentzen #structuredsettlements
