BEDMINSTER, N.J.—Verizon Wireless filed two new lawsuits related to customer privacy, alleging that three Florida-based marketing firms made hundreds of thousands of illegal calls to its subscribers. Both lawsuits seek injunctions and monetary damages; they were filed in state Superior Court in Somerville, N.J.
The first lawsuit was filed against All Star Vacations and Marketing Group Inc. of Miami and Travel and Tours Marketing Inc. of Orlando. According to Verizon Wireless, more than 500,000 calls were made to its customers in November and December alone on behalf of those companies. Verizon said the calls were made using auto-dialers and pre-recorded messages in Spanish, and told customers that they had won a trip to a resort. The recordings offered a toll-free number to call to claim the prize.
The second suit involves Cambridge Marketing and Financial Services Inc. of Deland, Fla., which Verizon Wireless claims made thousands of auto-dialer calls. The carrier alleges the company left multiple pre-recorded messages telling wireless customers that they had won a Ford Explorer and needed to call a toll-free number to claim it.
Verizon Wireless last year was awarded injunctions against San Diego-based Intelligent Alternatives L.L.C., which the carrier accused of placing more than 1.1 million calls selling time-shares; and Coral Springs, Fla.-based Resort Marketing Trends L.L.C., which made 280,000 calls selling time-shares in the Royal Atlantic Suites in Atlantic City, N.J.
