Doane asserts that he received multiple unsolicited calls in 2018, despite being listed on the Do Not Call Registry. He further claims the calls came from spoofed numbers that could not be returned. Suspecting Benefytt was behind the calls, Doane said he feigned interest to identify the callers. He was told by live agents that he had requested information, that he was speaking with a licensed insurance agent, and was pressured to provide personal information.
According to the lawsuit, Doane requested an application to identify the company behind the calls, but he was required to provide additional information, including a credit card number for a supposed enrollment fee. He then received an email with the application, which he did not sign. The calls persisted, and Doane claims he was insulted by an employee using a homophobic slur and vulgar language after revealing he was trying to identify the callers.
Doane said the harassment continued for several weeks until he sent a demand letter under Massachusetts’ consumer protection laws. The lawsuit notes that in January 2022, Benefytt’s counsel disclosed that Health Benefits Group was the independent telemarketing firm responsible for the calls.
