Miss. AG: Georgia Telemarkers Fined

Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster says a telemarketing operation in Georgia that repeatedly telephoned people on the state's "No Call" list faces stiff penalties.

Koster said Wednesday that hundreds of complaints have been filed with his office against the VersaDebt and Debtsafe companies.

He says their telemarketers were making calls to lower consumers' credit card interest rates in exchange for a fee.

He said the operation has agreed to pay $300,000 in penalties to the state and stop making phone solicitations in Missouri. An agreement on the matter was filed in St. Louis Circuit Court.

A listed number for VersaDebt and Debtsafe, in either Atlanta or Marietta, Ga., could not be located to get comment.

(AP)