LendingTree Unlawfully Blocked Caller IDs, Alleges TCPA Class Action
LendingTree and its agents don’t check the federal Do Not Call Registry before making calls to sell its financial services, said a class action alleging violation of the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (docket 8:23-cv-00071) in U.S. District Court for Central…
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California in Santa Ana Friday. Plaintiff Paul Sapan, of Orange County, California, alleged he received 11 calls Jan. 17-March 6, 2019, from LendingTree representatives trying to sell its services. Sapan doesn’t have an established business relationship or personal relationship with LendingTree or people associated with the company, said the complaint. In the first call, LendingTree illegally blocked a caller ID name from appearing, and since he could not tell who was calling, Sapan answered the phone, the complaint said. The caller identified himself as being with National Mortgage Advantage, asking Sapan if he was looking to refinance his home. Sapan said he decided to “play along,” knowing such a company didn’t exist, saying he wanted to determine who the true caller was. Sapan said he didn’t request or agree to a callback but received one about five minutes after the call ended from a different number that also illegally blocked the caller ID name. The caller said he was a partner of LendingTree and connected Sapan to a LendingTree employee. LendingTree “knew or reasonably should have known” that its agents were making illegal calls to residential numbers on the Do Not Call registry, Sapan said. Plaintiffs seek an award of $500 for each violation of 47 Code 227, plus attorneys’ fees and court costs. LendingTree didn't comment.