Is the Bumper Man franchisee responsible for any costs associated with transferring the telephone numbers to Bumper Man?
Bumper_Man Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
- (d) Disassociation in Communication Methods. Franchisee will, at Franchisor's option, assign to Franchisor (or its designee) or cancel any electronic mail address, domain name, search engine, website, or Social Media account that associates Franchisee with Franchisor, the Bumper Business, System, or Marks. Franchisee will notify the telephone company and all telephone directory publishers of the expiration or termination of Franchisee's right to use any telephone, telecopy, or other numbers and any telephone directory listings associated with any Mark, authorize the transfer of such numbers and directory listings to Franchisor in accordance with Exhibit G, or, at Franchisor's direction, instruct the telephone company to forward all calls made to Franchisee's telephone numbers to numbers Franchisor specifies.
- (e) Other De-Identification Obligations. Franchisee will promptly make such alterations as Franchisor specifies in the Manual or otherwise to distinguish the Bumper Business clearly from its former appearance and from other Bumper Man businesses so as to prevent confusion therewith to the public (e.g. remove Bumper Man vehicle wrap). Within 30 days from the effective date of expiration or termination of this Agreement, Franchisee will deliver to Franchisor all Brand Property (including without limitation the tablet used in connection with the operation of the Bumper Business and Bumper Man tools) and all other signs, vehicle wraps, advertising and promotion materials, forms and other materials containing any Mark or otherwise identifying or relating to a Bumper Business and allow Franchisor, without liability to Franchisee or third parties, to remove all such items from the Bumper Business. Franchisee will be responsible for all costs and expenses it incurs in complying with this Section 19(e) and furnish to Franchisor, within 30 days from the effective date of expiration or termination of this Agreement, with evidence satisfactory to Franchisor of its compliance with the foregoing obligations.
Source: Item 23 — RECEIPTS (FDD pages 45–180)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to the 2025 Bumper Man Franchise Disclosure Document, the franchisee is responsible for costs associated with transferring telephone numbers. Specifically, upon termination or expiration of the franchise agreement, the franchisee must notify the telephone company and directory publishers about the termination of their right to use any phone numbers or directory listings associated with the Bumper Man brand.
The franchisee is then required to authorize the transfer of these numbers and listings to Bumper Man, or instruct the phone company to forward all calls to numbers Bumper Man specifies. The FDD stipulates that the franchisee is responsible for all costs associated with complying with these obligations, meaning they will bear the expenses of transferring or forwarding phone numbers.
This requirement ensures that Bumper Man maintains control over its brand identity and customer communications after a franchise agreement ends. By making the franchisee responsible for these costs, Bumper Man avoids incurring expenses related to the termination or expiration of a franchise. This is a fairly standard practice in franchising, as it ensures a clean break and prevents confusion for customers who may still try to contact the former franchise location.