Final answer:
An agent may contact a referred customer depending on industry and company policies, as well as privacy laws that might mandate prior consent. Agents must remain compliant with regulations like GDPR or TCPA when initiating contact.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question pertains to whether an agent can initiate contact with a referred customer, or if the agent must wait for the customer to make the first contact. Generally, whether an agent may contact a referred customer depends on the rules and regulations of the industry and company policies, as well as any applicable privacy laws.
In some cases, such as real estate or insurance, agents often do reach out to potential clients after receiving a referral. However, this must be done while ensuring compliance with privacy regulations like the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in Europe, or the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) in the United States, which might require prior consent before contact.
In conclusion, an agent must be aware of and respect the legal and regulatory boundaries governing customer contact and should obtain necessary permissions if required by law or company protocol before reaching out to a referred customer.