Attorney General's News Release

September 9, 2004

California firm making telemarketing calls to offer point spreads on sports events ordered to pay Missouri $15,000

St. Louis, Mo. — A California business that offers tips on point-spread betting on sports events must pay the state of Missouri $15,000 for making telemarketing calls in violation of the Missouri No Call law. Attorney General Jay Nixon obtained the court-approved assurance of voluntary compliance today in St. Louis City Circuit Court against Marc Meghrouni, of Irvine, Calif.

Nixon says his office received more than 60 complaints from Missourians on the No Call list about telemarketing calls they received from Meghrouni's business, Jack Price Sports.

"Thanks to complaints we received from No Call team members, we were able to crack down on these telemarketing calls that should not have been made," Nixon says. "The money Jack Price Sports is paying will be put right back into the No Call program to further help protect Missourians from unwanted telemarketing calls."

In addition to paying $15,000 to the state, Meghrouni has agreed to not make any more telemarketing calls to Missourians on the No Call list and to abide by other provisions of the No Call law.

To date, Nixon's office has obtained $1,198,000 in judgments against businesses that violated the No Call law. More than 1.6 million residential phone numbers in Missouri are on the state's No Call list.

Missouri residents not yet on the state No Call list may register their home telephone number at no charge online or through a toll-free number at 1-866-NOCALL1 (866-662-2551). Complaints about No Call violations also may be filed by submitting a complaint form or calling the same toll-free number.

Inquiries from consumers should be directed to consumer@ago.mo.gov or 1-800-392-8222 (from within Missouri) or 573-751-3321 (outside Missouri).

All media inquiries should be directed to Press Secretary John Fougere.

E-mail      Phone: 573-751-8844         Fax: 573-751-5818