The national "Do Not Call" list

12/10/03 | me

[LandofLincoln]

Back in mid summer I added my name to the National Do Not Call list. Thinking that this would be a great way not to be bothered by those pesky telemarketers. I am NEVER interested. What a great idea. Well along comes November 15th, and I am now NOT to be bothered by telemarketers.

I am starting to believe that the National Do Not Call list was sold to the telemarketing community. I have received my call in the last month than I have in the last ten years. My phone is ringing off the hook these days. I think we were duped into giving current information.

[So Cal Rocket]

I'm on the National Do Not Call list too... and the number of calls has dropped dramatically!! In fact, I used to get several calls a day where I'd pick up the phone and there was nobody there... I don't get those anymore, either!

[ironmaidenPR2717]

To our household, caller ID is invaluable. The message on our answering machine states: "Hi, this is ###. You've reached our answering machine for one of 3 reasons: one, we're not home; two, we're trying to locate the cordless phone; or three, we don't recognize your name or phone number. But if you're not trying to sell us something, we'd really like you to leave a message so we can either pick up or call you back later. Thank you, buh bye". Caller ID lets me know by the second ring who's calling. If it reads "unknown", I may have to ignore a few rings or listen to my own message, but telemarketers and/or their computerized dialing systems usually hang up before my message is done.

[trad_anglican]

I did notice a dramatic decrease in calls. However I never took the zapper off.

Same here. Occasionally we'll get a call. We just say we're on the do not call list and they hang up on us! It's wonderful.

[KarlInOhio]

My sales call volume has dropped to almost nothing. Before the do not call list I would have about 5-6 calls listed on my caller ID (almost always "Out of area") every day when I got home, and a few more I ignored in the evening. Now I might get 1 unlisted call every couple of days. It might be safe to answer the phone without checking caller ID again.

[Blue Screen of Death]

It has been working great for me. Love it.

[discostu]

But don't tell them you'll report them until you get the information. The TMs were notorious for having mysterious disconnections back in the days of the original private lists (the law said they had to give you the ability to get on their private do not call) and if you tell them you're going to cost them 11 grand they'll probably hangup on you before you get all the information necessary. I'd play along like I'm interested and use that to get all the information necessary, then bust them.

[txhurl]

I threatened one who had a 'hold for an operator' call-style.. with an 11K fine. They'd called about 6 times a day for two weeks - I quit picking it up after the first few calls.
After I threatened the live person, not a call since.

[MineralMan]

Works great at my house. No more calls. Dunno what happened in your case.

[azsportsterman]

I signed up for the list and hadn't had a call in months. I got a call the other day from a lady that only left her name and 1-800 number. I called back to get the name of the company; she refused to tell me, and was extremely obnoxious. She also traced my number back to me, then hung up on me. Twice. I was pissed, and I placed a complaint with the DNC registry. Then I went to work and traced her number. She works for the state of Minnesota. I live in Arizona. I still don't know why she called, but I filed a complaint with Minnesota, demanding at least an explanation and an apology. Want to bet I get neither?

[pabianice]

I am starting to believe that the National Do Not Call list was sold to the telemarketing community

That makes two of us. When a salestroll called me at 9:15 PM I unloaded on him. He hung up.

[.38sw]

We've had a telezapper for at least two years now, and it has been a wonderful thing. Almost no telemarketing calls, and we used to get from 3-5 in a typical evening. Maybe 1 every other month or so might make it through. Ahhhhh, peace.

[N. Theknow]

Didn't sign up for the National list as I was already on my state's list.

When it first started I would tell the telemarketers that the call was in violation of the list and could I please have their name and their company's name followed by silence or a click.

As God is my witness I NEVER had a telemarketer hang up on me before. Their secret weapon is that people don't hang up on callers.

The very rare call I get now I interrupt their canned spiel and ask their name and the name of their company and how to spell it. They try to continue but I interrupt again and ask the address of their company. They try to continue and I ask for their phone number. They try to continue and I hit them with their name, company name, address and phone number and tell them the call is a violation punishable by a $10,000 fine and they have made my day because I get a 15% reward.

The sound of a telemarketer hanging up on you is like angels singing your name.

[snarkpup]

I've only gotten one call since Oct. 1 that was in violation of the national do-not-call list. Before that I was getting about 3 per week - mostly long messages left on my answering machine during the day.

[Right_in_Virginia]

My phone is ringing off the hook these days

Sorry to hear that. The do not call list is working like a charm for me.

[netmilsmom]

HA!!!!
"We love our carpet sweeper,
We gave at the office,
We found Jesus and he loves us
Now go away!"

[steve-b]

I got a call the other day from a lady that only left her name and 1-800 number.

That's why God made banks of pay phones....

[Military family member]

I have a fax line that gets the most telemarketing calls. I starting fax back three sheets of black paper I have stored in my que for that purpose. Stops everything cold.