TELEPHONE CONSUMER PROTECTION ACT VIOLATION DEMAND LETTER

STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA

SENT VIA CERTIFIED MAIL, RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED
AND FIRST-CLASS MAIL

[DATE]

[DEFENDANT COMPANY NAME]
ATTN: Legal Department / Registered Agent
[DEFENDANT ADDRESS]
[CITY, STATE ZIP]

Re: TCPA Violation Demand - Unauthorized Telephone Communications
Consumer: [CONSUMER FULL NAME]
Telephone Number(s) Affected: [PHONE NUMBER(S)]
Approximate Number of Violations: [NUMBER]

Dear Sir or Madam:

This law firm represents [CONSUMER FULL NAME] ("Consumer" or "Client") in connection with your company's violations of the Telephone Consumer Protection Act ("TCPA"), 47 U.S.C. Section 227, its implementing regulations at 47 C.F.R. Section 64.1200, and applicable South Carolina state law. Your company has placed unauthorized telephone calls and/or sent unauthorized text messages to our Client, entitling our Client to substantial statutory damages.

Please direct all future communications regarding this matter to our office and immediately cease all telephone communications with our Client.

I. SOUTH CAROLINA-SPECIFIC LEGAL FRAMEWORK

A. Federal TCPA Claims

The Telephone Consumer Protection Act provides a private right of action with statutory damages of $500 per violation, increased to $1,500 for willful or knowing violations. 47 U.S.C. Section 227(b)(3). The statute of limitations for TCPA claims is four (4) years under 28 U.S.C. Section 1658(a).

B. South Carolina Telephone Privacy Protection Act

South Carolina has enacted the Telephone Privacy Protection Act, S.C. Code Ann. Section 16-17-445 et seq., which regulates telephone solicitations.

Key Provisions:

• Automatic Dialing Devices: Regulates use of automatic dialing-announcing devices. S.C. Code Ann. Section 16-17-446.
• Identification Requirements: Calls using automated equipment must identify the caller. S.C. Code Ann. Section 16-17-446.
• Time Restrictions: Places restrictions on automated calling equipment use.

Note: Violations of certain provisions may constitute misdemeanors.

C. South Carolina Unfair Trade Practices Act

The South Carolina Unfair Trade Practices Act ("UTPA"), S.C. Code Ann. Section 39-5-10 et seq., provides robust consumer protection remedies.

Private Right of Action: S.C. Code Ann. Section 39-5-140 provides consumers a private right of action for unfair or deceptive acts.

Remedies Available:
- Actual damages. S.C. Code Ann. Section 39-5-140(a)
- Treble damages (court discretion). S.C. Code Ann. Section 39-5-140(a)
- Attorney's fees. S.C. Code Ann. Section 39-5-140(a)
- Injunctive relief

Note: "Unfair or deceptive acts" includes any act which created a likelihood of confusion or misunderstanding.

Statute of Limitations: Three (3) years. S.C. Code Ann. Section 39-5-150.

D. Do-Not-Call Provisions

South Carolina residents may register on the National Do-Not-Call Registry. Telemarketers must scrub their lists against the National Registry and maintain internal do-not-call lists. Violations may give rise to both federal and state claims under the UTPA.

II. SUMMARY OF VIOLATIONS

Our Client's claims are based on the following categories of violations:

Autodialed and/or Prerecorded Calls/Texts to Cell Phone (47 U.S.C. Section 227(b)(1)(A)):

[ ] Calls made using an automatic telephone dialing system ("ATDS") without prior express consent
[ ] Calls using an artificial or prerecorded voice without prior express consent
[ ] Text messages sent using an ATDS without prior express consent
[ ] Calls/texts made after consent was revoked
[ ] Calls/texts to a reassigned number without proper procedures

Telemarketing Calls (47 U.S.C. Section 227(c); 47 C.F.R. Section 64.1200):

[ ] Telemarketing calls to number on National Do-Not-Call Registry
[ ] Telemarketing calls to number on company-specific do-not-call list
[ ] Failure to maintain internal do-not-call list
[ ] Calls outside permitted hours (before 8:00 a.m. or after 9:00 p.m. local time)
[ ] Failure to provide required caller identification information
[ ] Failure to honor opt-out requests within 30 days

Prerecorded Telemarketing Calls (47 U.S.C. Section 227(b)(1)(B)):

[ ] Prerecorded telemarketing calls to residential line without prior express written consent
[ ] Prerecorded calls that fail to provide opt-out mechanism at beginning of message
[ ] Prerecorded calls that fail to provide toll-free opt-out number

South Carolina Telephone Privacy Protection Act Violations (S.C. Code Ann. Section 16-17-446):

[ ] Use of automatic dialing-announcing device without proper identification
[ ] Failure to identify caller when using automated equipment
[ ] Other automated calling violations

South Carolina UTPA Violations (S.C. Code Ann. Section 39-5-20):

[ ] Unfair trade practices through unwanted commercial solicitations
[ ] Deceptive acts in consumer transactions
[ ] Practices creating likelihood of confusion

III. STATEMENT OF FACTS

A. Background Information

Consumer Information:
- Name: [CONSUMER FULL NAME]
- Telephone Number(s): [LIST ALL AFFECTED NUMBERS]
- Type of Number: [ ] Cellular [ ] Residential Landline [ ] Business [ ] VoIP
- Number Registration: [ ] National DNC Registry (Date: [DATE]) [ ] Company-specific DNC request (Date: [DATE])
- South Carolina Resident: Yes

Defendant Information:
- Company Name: [DEFENDANT NAME]
- Type of Business: [DESCRIPTION]
- Relationship to Consumer: [ ] No prior relationship [ ] Former customer [ ] Inquiry only [ ] Other: [DESCRIBE]

B. Consent Status

Our Client [SELECT ONE]:

[ ] Never provided any form of consent to receive calls or texts from your company

[ ] Never provided prior express written consent for telemarketing calls or texts

[ ] Provided limited consent that did not extend to the type of calls/texts received. Specifically: [DESCRIBE LIMITATION]

[ ] Revoked any prior consent on [DATE] by [DESCRIBE METHOD - verbal request, written request, opt-out text, etc.]

[ ] The telephone number was reassigned to our Client on approximately [DATE], and our Client never provided consent

C. Call/Text Log

The following is a log of unauthorized communications our Client received from your company:

[CONTINUE AS NEEDED - OR ATTACH SEPARATE LOG]

Total Documented Violations: [NUMBER]
Estimated Additional Violations: [NUMBER]

D. Evidence of Autodialer Use

The following characteristics indicate that your company used an automatic telephone dialing system (ATDS) or prerecorded messages:

[ ] Prerecorded or artificial voice message
[ ] Pause before connection to live agent ("dead air")
[ ] Identical or substantially similar message content across multiple calls
[ ] Generic messaging not specific to our Client
[ ] High call volume inconsistent with manual dialing
[ ] Calls/texts received at unusual or automated intervals
[ ] Simultaneous calls to multiple lines
[ ] Company marketing materials or website referencing automated calling technology
[ ] Other: [DESCRIBE]

IV. LEGAL ANALYSIS

A. Automatic Telephone Dialing System (ATDS) Calls - 47 U.S.C. Section 227(b)(1)(A)

The TCPA prohibits any person from making any call using an automatic telephone dialing system or an artificial or prerecorded voice to any telephone number assigned to a cellular telephone service without the prior express consent of the called party. 47 U.S.C. Section 227(b)(1)(A)(iii).

Following the Supreme Court's decision in Facebook, Inc. v. Duguid, 141 S. Ct. 1163 (2021), an ATDS is defined as equipment that uses a random or sequential number generator either to store or produce numbers to be called.

B. Prior Express Consent Requirement

For non-telemarketing autodialed or prerecorded calls, the caller must obtain "prior express consent." 47 C.F.R. Section 64.1200(a)(1). For telemarketing autodialed or prerecorded calls, the caller must obtain "prior express written consent," which must:

1. Be in writing (including electronic agreements)
2. Bear the signature of the person called
3. Clearly authorize the caller to deliver telemarketing messages using an ATDS or prerecorded voice
4. Include the telephone number to which calls may be made
5. Not be required as a condition of purchase

47 C.F.R. Section 64.1200(f)(9).

Your company lacks valid consent because [EXPLAIN WHY].

C. National Do-Not-Call Registry Violations - 47 U.S.C. Section 227(c)

Our Client's number has been registered on the National Do-Not-Call Registry since [DATE]. Your company had constructive notice of this registration and was prohibited from making telemarketing calls to our Client.

D. South Carolina UTPA Analysis

Under the South Carolina Unfair Trade Practices Act, your conduct constitutes an unfair or deceptive trade practice because [DESCRIBE HOW CONDUCT VIOLATES UTPA]. The UTPA provides for treble damages at the court's discretion and attorney's fees.

E. Willful and Knowing Violations

The TCPA provides for treble damages ($1,500 per violation) where the defendant "willfully or knowingly" violated the statute. 47 U.S.C. Section 227(b)(3)(C).

Your violations were willful and knowing because:

[ ] You continued calling after our Client explicitly revoked consent
[ ] You continued calling after our Client requested placement on your do-not-call list
[ ] You have been the subject of prior TCPA complaints, lawsuits, or regulatory actions
[ ] You continued calling a number registered on the National DNC Registry
[ ] Other evidence of willfulness: [DESCRIBE]

V. DAMAGES CALCULATION

A. Federal TCPA Statutory Damages Under 47 U.S.C. Section 227(b)(3)

B. South Carolina UTPA Damages

C. Combined Damages Summary

VI. PRESERVATION OF EVIDENCE

You are hereby directed to preserve all documents, data, and electronically stored information related to our Client and your calling practices, including but not limited to:

• All call records, including metadata, to and from our Client's telephone number(s)
• All text message records and content
• Consent records, including any purported written consent
• Do-not-call lists and opt-out records
• Calling platform data, including dialer logs and campaign records
• Vendor agreements and records from any third-party calling services
• Training materials for calling personnel
• Policies and procedures for TCPA compliance
• Records of any prior TCPA complaints, lawsuits, or regulatory inquiries

Failure to preserve this evidence may result in sanctions, adverse inference instructions, and separate claims for spoliation under South Carolina law.

VII. DEMAND FOR SETTLEMENT

To resolve this matter without the time and expense of litigation, we demand the following:

A. Monetary Compensation

Payment of $[SETTLEMENT DEMAND] within thirty (30) days of the date of this letter, representing:

• Statutory/treble damages for documented violations: $[AMOUNT]
• South Carolina UTPA damages: $[AMOUNT]
• Attorney's fees incurred to date: $[AMOUNT]

B. Injunctive Relief

1. Permanent removal of our Client's telephone number(s) from all calling lists, databases, and marketing campaigns

2. Placement of our Client on your company's internal do-not-call list

3. Written confirmation that the above actions have been taken

VIII. RESPONSE REQUIRED

Please respond to this demand in writing within thirty (30) days. Your response should include:

1. The identity of your calling platform or service provider
2. The source of our Client's telephone number
3. Any consent records you believe you possess
4. Your settlement offer

If we do not receive a satisfactory response within the stated timeframe, we are authorized to file suit in the appropriate South Carolina state court or the United States District Court for the District of South Carolina without further notice.

IX. CONCLUSION

Your company's repeated violations of the TCPA and South Carolina law have caused our Client significant annoyance, inconvenience, and invasion of privacy. We strongly encourage you to resolve this matter promptly.

This letter is written without prejudice to any rights or remedies of our Client, all of which are expressly reserved.

Respectfully submitted,

[LAW FIRM NAME]

By: _________________________________
[ATTORNEY NAME]
South Carolina Bar No. [NUMBER]
[ADDRESS]
[CITY, SOUTH CAROLINA ZIP]
[TELEPHONE]
[EMAIL]

Attorneys for [CONSUMER FULL NAME]

ENCLOSURES:
[ ] Call/text log with dates and times
[ ] Phone records/billing statements
[ ] Screenshots of text messages
[ ] Voicemail recordings (on USB drive)
[ ] Written revocation of consent
[ ] DNC Registry confirmation
[ ] Authorization to represent

cc: [CONSUMER NAME]
[CLIENT FILE]

SOUTH CAROLINA-SPECIFIC PRACTICE NOTES

[ ] Telephone Privacy Protection Act: S.C. Code Ann. Section 16-17-445 et seq. regulates automatic dialing devices with potential criminal penalties.

[ ] Strong UTPA Remedies: South Carolina's UTPA provides for treble damages at court discretion and attorney's fees.

[ ] Broad UTPA Coverage: South Carolina courts interpret "unfair or deceptive acts" broadly to include practices creating likelihood of confusion.

[ ] Attorney General Enforcement: Consider reporting violations to the South Carolina Department of Consumer Affairs.

[ ] Venue: Actions may be filed in South Carolina state court or in the U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina.

[ ] Class Actions: TCPA claims may be brought as class actions. Consider whether class treatment is appropriate.

[ ] Small Claims: For smaller individual claims, consider South Carolina Magistrates Court (up to $7,500).

This template is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Consult a licensed South Carolina attorney before use.