Potential order gather law in Vermont

S

steve

Well-Known Member
Jan 6, 2004
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South Burlington
chappellsflorist.com
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Vermont
Well I am getting some traction here in Vermont on having a law introduced to try and regulate phone book listings and internet listings. Two representatives from my area are prepared to introduce a bill in January and I have been asked to testify in front of the legistlature so maybe we got a chance of cleaning things up a bit here in Vermont
 
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Steve, That's awesome. I sent the info you gave me to a friend of my mother's who is a state representative here in MA and she has been working on a bill also. She called me to ask if I thought there would be a lot of support for it and if I could testify and get other MA florists to as well. It will be introduced in January, too, so I thanks you for your help and wish Vermont and Massachusetts luck in getting something passed!
 
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The MOST important part of any presentation should be testimony from consumer-victims of phony locals. When florists complain, the nay-sayers just accuse us of trying to limit competition.

In neither of the last 2 FAILED attempts of this kind of legislation in California were consumers brought in to share their bad experiences.

Is it possible to get copies of previous complaints from your State AG?

Good Luck. SAF has helped many state associations with this issue so you might also ask them for some pointers.
 
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If your phone company is Fairpoint (which used to be Verizon), they cover OG's by using substations and switching stations as locations for the OG's... Valerie in NH... has some info regarding New Hampshire's attempt. Our legislature wanted testimony and numbers regarding dollars lost... geez, how could you ever get that "real" info..... It's a tough fight which has now switched to the internet where there is no "law".. I do believe phone books are now a thing of the past but some of our "older" customers still rely on them. (But dang, I'm finding so many older customers love to get their receipt by email??? !!! )
 
As one of my last posts as a pro member before my subscription runs out........let me add a note of cautio to this news. In order for the law to have any real effect, you are going to have to include the PUBLISHERS of the directories accountable as well. That was not done in SC and the law is a joke.

The publishers claim that they only print the information given them, they don't check for validity or legality, so, the deceptive advertisers continue to place their ads time and time again. Also, the fines that are levied need to be hefty. When a deceptive company grosses in the seven plus figures or better, what is a fine of less than 100.00 to them?

Unless your Vermont law is worded in such a way to hold the publishers as well as the advertisers accountable and has some hefty, high, fines, then your law looks good, but has no teeth or bite.
 
RWK said:
As one of my last posts as a pro member before my subscription runs out........let me add a note of cautio to this news. In order for the law to have any real effect, you are going to have to include the PUBLISHERS of the directories accountable as well. That was not done in SC and the law is a joke.

The publishers claim that they only print the information given them, they don't check for validity or legality, so, the deceptive advertisers continue to place their ads time and time again. Also, the fines that are levied need to be hefty. When a deceptive company grosses in the seven plus figures or better, what is a fine of less than 100.00 to them?

Unless your Vermont law is worded in such a way to hold the publishers as well as the advertisers accountable and has some hefty, high, fines, then your law looks good, but has no teeth or bite.
Click to expand...

Ricky...take care!
 
Steve,

Minnesota passed a pretty good one that became law August 1 of this year. We did it in conjunction with lock-smiths believe it or not. They are victim to the same tricks as we are so if you can, find them or other retailers who have the same problem.

Just my two cents and congrats on getting things moving! As Cathy mentioned, DO contact SAF, they can and will help in this too.
 
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