Consumers can sign up to stop telemarketing calls (Texas)

Houston Chronicle ^ | Dec. 22, 2001 | JANETTE RODRIGUES

[Buffalo Bob]

It costs $2.25 to register for three years.

In a perfect world, the telemarketing companies should pay this fee, not the consumer. Yet, this is a terrific step in the right direction. I'll be calling myself and will pay the fee, gladly.

[ml/nj]

Why are these calls legal at all, anywhere?

ML/NJ

[yoe]

Telemarketing does have its place after all!

http://members.sigecom.net/theclan/Taliban.html

[SubMareener]

We are paying $5.00 a month to block all "unknown" calls. It is wonderful! Since our day starts ar 4am, a 9pm call from a telemarketer really messed up a good night sleep.

[Noslrac]

Missouri did it for free. They just sue the telemarketers who keep calling, like that stupid woman that has a tv commercial every 5 minutes and claims she can read my mind, but isn't smart enough to know I don't care.

Noslrac

[poopsie2]

I recently purchased the TeleZapper mentioned in the article. On the average there are 8 computer dialed calls a day to my home (we have two unlisted numbers on one line) with no one on the other end of the connection. Add to that the 4 or 5 human beings that say, "Hello! Hello! Is anyone there?", and I'm crazy to get this stopped.

Since installing the TeleZapper (online about $50, Wal Mart about $45) I have had no calls for 4 days. It seems to be effective. Hope this information helps someone out there!

[Buffalo Bob]

Thanks for the info, how does the Zapper work?

[ikka]

Unlisted phone number. When they call, immediately ask "is this a solicitation?" While they hem and haw, quickly say, "please put me on your do not call list" and they go away.

[Buckeroo]

"This company would call every couple of weeks," said the Clear Lake woman. "Every time they called, I would tell them to stop calling. They said they took me off their list, but they kept calling." -- article

Her tactic is all wrong.

When I am annoyed by any business for any reason, I let them know, "Please hold, I have an important call to take, I will be right back." I have seen some salesfolks hang on for half an hour or so while I go about my normal life. They rarely call back.

[Dallas]

Now if they'd just outlaw junk faxes.....

[JediGirl]

they're getting something like that here in Louisiana also

[dhuffman@awod.com]

I have enabled "Anonymous Call Rejection" and subscribe to Bell South's "Privacy Director." The few that get thru, notably "Triton PCS," have apparently subscribed to some premium BS service since when I try to block that number I get the response "blocking service is not available on that line."

My satisfaction with this arrangement may be evident in my very public use of my home phone number. Harassers are quickly dissuaded.

[Ben Ficklin]

Considering what an idividual has to do, a $1000.00 fine is nothing. As for what the FTC says, thats a crock. They don't do anything.

There have been some class action lawsuits won on faxes. The Dallas Cowboys last one just a few weeks ago. A Hooter's resturant lost one a while back and declared bankruptcy.

It is possible that the class action suits could be applied to phone calls but the company doing the actual calling never has assets and usually the company hiring the telemarketer has no assets.

[_Jim]

I have enabled "Anonymous Call Rejection"

Doesn't cost you something per month?

I had four hang-up callers yesterday in a 2 1/2 hour period -which I suspect to be telemarketers- that CALL TRACE did not work on ... I don't mind talking to some of those people - it's the 'hang-up' calls that are REALLY annoying.

To make a long story short, I FINALLY got a number out of SWB for a group within SWB that is supposed to track down such calls that CALL TRACE won't work on ...

[austinTparty]

My problem is that I receive a lot of overseas and cell phone calls from family and friends, which show up as "unknown"... I wish it could distinguish between the real harrassers and those not actively trying to block their number. I do have a feature on my answering machine which allows me to record a special announcement for "anonymous calls", however, and so I have a message which tells the caller that I do not accept calls from those who block their numbers. But, unfortunately, most of the telemarketers use "unknown" numbers. Argh.

[The Truth Will Make You Free]

Telemarketing is a $668 billion industry

Can't be right.

[dhuffman@awod.com]

ACR is bundled with a bunch of other premium services that are a small price to pay for peace of mind. "Privacy Director" is additional and I do resent it a bit. When the telemarketers get the idea then I'll cancel.

[_Jim]

ACR is bundled with a bunch of other premium services that are a small price to pay for peace of mind.

I was 'steered' down that path by the SWB business office folks - but I repeatedly asked them why *I* should pay for a service when it was someone else that was calling me! And *I* couldn't get CALL TRACE to give me a 'positive response' that the number was able to be 'logged' for any potential 'action' that I might be inclined to take ...

On top of that - who is to say that it's not a 'switch' malfunction that randomly 'rings' numbers throughout an exchange?? Or my area code?

Bottom line - I don't mind taking these telemarketer folks - I usually find out what part of the county they are calling from and what the weather is like - the events on 9/11 make for a *wonderful* conversation starter ...

My big complaint is with their 'gear' (telemarketers, maybe the telco itself) that may be malfunctioning and dialing 'hang-up' calls ...

[AlaskaErik]

I had four hang-up callers yesterday in a 2 1/2 hour period -which I suspect to be telemarketers- that CALL TRACE did not work on ... I don't mind talking to some of those people - it's the 'hang-up' calls that are REALLY annoying.

Some telemarketers use the barrage method, which is to simultaneously call a certain number of targets. So there may be four or five phones ringing, all associated with one person's station. As the first person answers, the others disconnect. That is why the number of incomplete calls has skyrocketed. For years now I have been telling any telemarketer who calls to remove my name and phone number from his list. Seems to be working, as I hardly ever get hang ups or even a live person. I have excellent credit, so they're not avoiding me for that reason.

[_Jim]

Some telemarketers use the barrage method, which is to simultaneously call a certain number of targets. So there may be four or five phones ringing, all associated with one person's station.

I want to 'attack' this problem from the telco end - and find out which TM agencies utilize this practice, since, I surmized sometime back and you seem to confirm, that they use such practices.

This squeaky wheel (me) just decided to 'squeak' to this aspect of the problem ...