FTC acts on telemarketing

CNN ^ | 12/18/02 | AP

[Slings and Arrows]

Regulators establish national 'do-not-call' list, to force Caller ID identification.

WASHINGTON (AP) - Federal regulators are creating new protections for people plagued by unwanted telemarketing calls, establishing a national "do-not-call" list that consumers can use to keep their phones from ringing with sales pitches.

[Slings and Arrows]

About d*mn time. At least it's a start.

FReegards,
Slings and Arrows

[Magnum44]

So where do you go to get on the list?

[agrace]

Local radio news tonight said that there will be an 800 number as well as an online sign up once the program is in place. I agree, it's a start. The telemarketers here in NJ are unbelievable in frequency, and half the time they are dead air calls - infuriating.

[upchuck]

We've had this in Kentucky for some time and it has been a real blessing. I heard the state attorney general has filed thousands of lawsuits against telemarketers who have broken the rules.

[Blue Screen of Death]

First step. Now lets get the spammers.

[Indrid Cold]

We in Minnesota have a "do not call" list, and it works just ducky. Our household went from 2-3 telemarketing calls a day down to zero. There's nothing better than replying with, "ARE YOU AWARE THAT THIS NUMBER IS ON THE NO-CALL LIST?" They're so darn polite when you do that.

[Old Professer]

Who am I going to talk to, then?

[templar]

Why don't they just establish an OK to call list? Let everyone that wants these calls register for them and make it ilegal to call anyone not on the list.

[passionfruit]

I sell Insurance. No telemarketing, my clients respond to a mailer.

This morning I met with a client in his home. During the hour I was there, he received three of those nasty predictive dialer calls. This poor guy is a senior citizen, and I believe that's why he is targeted for these calls.

[krizzy]

looks like another black hole for tax money to me.

[BlazingArizona]

looks like another black hole for tax money to me.

Much cheaper and more effective would be a total ban on telemarketing. Imagine the number of dinnertime hours we would be able to put back into our lives!

[KingNo155]

How do i get on the demcrap party's do not call list, those assholes call me and expect me vote for thier stupid asses. I want compensation for them tying up my private phone line and disturbing me.

[Revel]

"Telemarketers also can call consumers if they have inquired or applied for something during the last three months."

There is the way arround this one. We have all seen the emails that come with subjects like "The information you requested". Yeah right...Like we have ever even heard of them. This will be the loop hole. You prove that you did not inquire about something in the last six months. Why do they always right such bad laws ? Another thing I have heard about is that these telemarketers have started to call people on there cell phones. That end up costing the cell phone user for the call. What protections are there in this bill for that? If they are going to go through the trouble of writting a law about this then why don't they write one that will work?

[Bobby777]

First step. Now lets get the spammers.

cry "havoc" and let slip the dogs of war (on spammers) ... hehe ...

[Sonny M]

How the heck do they get the cell phone numbers?

[hunter112]

Tie 'em up, prevent them from making a few more calls. Best way is the "Wow, I didn't know that, and I'm glad you called. Oh, oh, gotta turn off the oven!" Then, just leave 'em hanging.

[Revel]

All they need is a prefix.

[RnMomof7]

I wonder if it counts for calls from other countries.,.could be telemarketing the last hope of the jobless will have to move to India too

[weegee]

There's nothing better than replying with, "ARE YOU AWARE THAT THIS NUMBER IS ON THE NO-CALL LIST?"

I think that here in Texas you have to pay to be on the "opt out" list (no joke) and must pay every so many years.

Everyone should just take to responding "Are you aware that this number is on the no-call list?"

Leave them afraid enough of making a violation that they have to research every number they call every time they call!

[OldFriend]

Guess who is not going on any federal list...........ME!!!