Employing the broker’s main telephone number

The Rules and Regulations published by the State Real Estate Commission require associate brokers and salespersons to include the business name and telephone number of the employing broker on all advertisements. A licensee recently called the Hotline because when she called a co-operating agent’s employing broker’s telephone number, she was connected to a disembodied voice that recited: “To send a fax, press 1; “ to leave a message for [_____], press 2.”

There were a few other choices but at no time did this voice ever identify that the caller reached ABC Realty. In fact, there was nothing about the telephone call that let the caller know she correctly dialed the employing broker’s telephone number. Does this meet the requirements of the Real Estate Commission or could this setup lead to problems for the broker?

The purpose behind the requirement of providing the employing broker’s telephone number is to allow a consumer (or anyone else) to contact the broker. The consumer may never meet the employing broker but there may be occasion when the consumer needs to speak with someone in charge. The employing broker’s telephone number is intended to provide that avenue. In the setup the caller described, that purpose was not met. Although a caller would obtain the number from an advertisement that relates the number to the real estate brokerage, the call itself provided no such identification.It’s also possible that such a setup could lead to a charge that the employing broker is not adhering to the standard of practice as required by the licensing act — or that perhaps that the broker’s advertisement is misleading.

In short, the purpose behind requiring associate brokers and salespersons to publish the employing broker’s telephone number is to give others access to the person in charge. If the telephone number fails to meet this requirement, the broker is at risk for being prosecuted.