Understanding Colorado's Do Not Call List protections
Colorado residents have legal protections against unwanted sales calls, automated marketing messages, and certain unsolicited text messages. The Colorado No-Call List Act establishes rules for businesses that contact consumers by telephone.
The law gives qualifying residential and wireless subscribers a way to limit unwanted telephone solicitations. It also establishes duties for companies that conduct telemarketing campaigns.
Residents can register their telephone numbers on Colorado's state no-call list. This registration helps prevent covered businesses from contacting consumers for sales purposes without a legally recognized exception.
Colorado's rules work alongside federal telephone consumer protection laws. A single unwanted communication may raise issues under state law, federal law, or both.
How the Colorado No-Call List works
The Colorado Public Utilities Commission oversees the state's no-call program through a designated administrator.
Consumers can register residential and wireless telephone numbers without paying a registration fee. Once the applicable update period has passed, covered telemarketers must respect the registered numbers.
Businesses conducting telephone solicitations must follow state requirements, including checking applicable no-call records.
A key timing rule concerns quarterly list updates. Telemarketers generally must update their records within 30 days after the beginning of each calendar quarter.
This means a consumer who recently registered may need to wait until the applicable update period ends before a particular call supports a state no-call complaint.
Local spotlight: Colorado's separate consumer protection system
Colorado maintains its own no-call program in addition to the national registry.
This creates an extra layer of protection for residents in Denver, Colorado Springs, Aurora, Fort Collins, Boulder, and other communities.
Consumers should confirm their registration status and keep records of unwanted contacts.
The state program covers qualifying telephone solicitations made through live operators, automated dialing equipment, and recorded-message systems. Certain marketing text messages also fall within the statutory definition.
When telemarketing calls may violate Colorado law
A business may violate Colorado's no-call restrictions when it contacts a protected number for a covered solicitation without an applicable exception.
However, not every unwanted call is automatically unlawful.
The law recognizes several situations in which a business may contact a consumer. These include prior permission, certain existing business relationships, and qualifying inquiries initiated by the consumer.
Political communications and some charitable contacts may also fall outside the state no-call definition.
Consumer rights and potential legal remedies
Colorado law treats violations of its No-Call List Act as deceptive trade practices.
Under applicable provisions of the Colorado Consumer Protection Act, an eligible injured consumer may seek actual damages or a statutory amount of $500, whichever is greater.
Certain cases involving proven bad faith may support additional damages. Attorney fees and litigation costs may also be available.
Recovery is not automatic. A claimant must satisfy the relevant legal requirements, and statutory defenses may apply.
Common questions around Colorado's Do Not Call List
Is registration free?
Yes. Eligible Colorado consumers can register qualifying telephone numbers without paying a fee.
Does the law protect cell phones?
Yes. The state program includes qualifying wireless telephone subscribers.
Can unwanted marketing texts violate the law?
Yes. Colorado's definition of telephone solicitation expressly includes certain text messaging communications.
Can consumers sue over illegal telemarketing?
Potentially. Private legal remedies depend on the violation, proof of injury, available defenses, and applicable law.
How can residents report unwanted calls?
Consumers can submit complaints through the state no-call program or the Colorado Attorney General's consumer protection resources.
To learn more, visit: https://robocalllawsuit.com/autodialer-laws/colorado/
