OT - Telemarketers Legislation

[sabotai]

I remember while ago a bill going around congress that people talked about a lot. It would make it so if you signed your name to a list, it'd be illegal for telemarkets to call you and all sorts of things.

Has anyone heard any news about this? I get a minimum of 7 or 8 calls a day. It's literally driving me crazy.

[Craptacular]

Wisconsin just started a no-call list on Jan 1st. As far as I know, I've only gotten 1 telemarketing call. I hung up on them right away, then realized I should have waited to see who they were. There are exemptions to the restrictions, but I'd love to report a violator.

I also heard about a federal list a while ago, but haven't seen anything lately.

[Fido]

I know in Mass you can go to http://www.Mass.gov/donotcall and add your name. It went into effect on Jan 1 I believe.

I knwo Wisconsinstarted one back in November. Something like 11,000 people signed up in the first two hours, and 1,500,000 since then.

[kcchief19]

The FTC has started accepting signups for a national no-call list. The catch is that the list will not become active until at least seven months after Congresses approves a budget for the program. It's a good question as to whether Congress will approve it. The DMA is very powerful. With so many states passing their own no-call lists, there will be plenty of pressure to leave it to the states. Here's the link to the FTC list.

http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/alerts/dncalrt.htm

The DMA (Direct Marketing Association) maintains a voluntary list that you can signup for. It is honored by many bigger companies, but not by the most eggregious violators.

I've been signed up for the Missouri no-call list and it works like a dream. Even some of the companies prohibited from calling honor the list so they don't have to deal with complaints. We used to get as many as a dozen or so calls a day, but now we get virtually none. Occassionally one slips through, but then that's when I get to have fun and ask for their name and contact info so I can report them to the AG's office. :D

[JonInMiddleGA]

Here's a couple of links that might be of interest to you

The FTC's website page about the list
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/edcams/donotcall/index.html

A decent looking summary of the federal proposal written by the AARP
http://www.aarp.org/bulletin/departments/2002/consumer/1110_consumer_1.html

[Abe Sargent]

For those of you wondering about telemarketing protection , there is already a Federal Law, so here is what you do:

1). Keep a notebook next to your phone. Whenever a telemarketer calls, ask the name of the company and the person. Jot both down, along with the date and time of the call. This is your legal proof of the call.

2). Ask the telemarketer to place you on their "Do Not Call List"

3). If they call again, remind them that you have already requested to be placed on their DNC list. Log the call, time, and name of company and telemarketer again.

4). If they call you a third time, inform them that you have requested to be placed on their DNC list, but they have continuing to call, so you are now takig legal action. Log the call, then contact a lawyer. According to Federal Statute, you now have grounds for suit.



-Anxiety

[sabotai]

Interesting,

But the problem isn't from one or two telemarketers, it's like every call is from a different company. It's just a constant flow of incoming phone calls...they even call on Sunday nights...who the hell is working on Sunday nights?
'
I hope NJ passes a do not call list soon....