<p>Sitel Corp. officials announced they would lay off 120 call center employees here by the end of the year, citing a $3.9 million loss in the wake of a new federal law that curbs telemarketing.</p><p>Bill Sims, spokesman for the Omaha, Neb.-based telemarketing firm, said Thursday the company recently lost corporate clients for whom it provided telephone sales and customer service.</p><p>We hate to do this, of course, Sims told the Savannah Morning News for a story in Fridays editions. Were taking a role in outplacement and are making every effort to help people where we can.</p><p>Sitel, like other companies that offer telemarketing services, has been hurt by the federal do-not-call list that went into effect on Oct. 1. Designed to stop unwanted telephone calls from telemarketers to residents who sign up for the list, it has resulted a reduction in business for many call centers.</p><p>Legal challenges have left the do-not-call lists future in doubt, however.</p><p>In the third quarter that ended Sept. 30, Sitel reported an operating loss of $396,000 and a net loss of $3.9 million on $208.8 million in revenues. For the year, the company reported a net loss of $7.1 million on revenue of $607 million.</p><p>Sitel has 78 call centers worldwide. Its employees mostly do customer service, such as answering questions about a credit card account or someones new computer. About 10 percent of the companys business involves telemarketing.</p><p>Michael Toma, an analyst at Armstrong Atlantic State University in Savannah, said the layoffs are more a reflection of Sitels financial position than a reflection on the Savannah areas economy. Its not a local phenomenon, he said.</p><p>Toma said southeast Georgias economy is improving, with Savannah expected to lead the state in economic growth in 2004, he said.</p>
