Hang up on telemarketers -- for good

MSN ^ | Liz Pulliam Weston

[GrandMoM]

BUMP

[IYAS9YAS]

Beat them all to the punch...got rid of the home phone and well "like, totally cellular". Don't miss the annoyances a bit.

[bmwcyle]

bttt

[Provost-Marshal]

This article is very disturbing. What right does the federal government have to harass business enterprise in this way, just because it is "annoying". If you ask me, it's the government, and its totalitarian ideas, that is annoying. What next, ban television commercials? I'm sick of soccer moms lobbying to reduce the rights of business in this country. I'd much prefer that we ban soccer.

[Egg]

Don't miss the annoyances a bit.

Do you mean the annoyance of constantly asking "Are you still there?", or, "Can you hear me now?" ;)

I still have a telephone at home, but I won't be joining any federal nanny do-not-call list.

[budwiesest]

Anyone know if it's true that by replying to the 'unsuscribe' feature on spam you'll actually move up on a list as your address will now be considered a 'live' hit?

[Tamzee]

I support this... I joined PA's list and immediately about 90% of the obnoxious phone calls ceased :-)

[Egg]

There are technological solutions that don't require government intervention. Don't people get tired of asking government to solve their every problem?

[P-Marlowe]

What is your phone number? I'll give it to the telemarketers when they call me at dinner time.

[eBelasco]

Why does it take the federal government to do this? Don't the telephone companies realize there is money to be made by providing this service to their customers? Why not include a "telemarketer blocking" feature, just like call-return etc as an option for $5 a month or whatever?

[joesbucks]

Beat them all to the punch...got rid of the home phone and well "like, totally cellular". Don't miss the annoyances a bit.

Except when you sign up for a service and put the cellular number on your application. Loans and other necesary items that are purchased that require some sort of application such as loans require phone number. Put the cullular number down and suddenly your paying for minutes to be bugged.

[Fiddlstix]

Bump

[BJungNan]

This article is very disturbing. What right does the federal government have to harass business enterprise in this way, just because it is "annoying".

Give me your phone number and I will be sure and give you are ring just as you have locked the door to go out, just as you are sitting down to dinner, just as you have sprayed down the car to give it a wash...

Actually, I would agree with you if the same government that is trying to help out in this instance would allow me to see the telephone number of everyone that called. That way I could ring them back just as they have locked the door to go out, just as they are sitting down to dinner, just as they have sprayed down the car to give it a wash...

In other words, the government won't let me see who is calling me so the government better do something to stop these calls. God help anyone that lets me know there number once they have called me.

[budwiesest]

Oh, great. This will not be well accepted by my wife who prides herself in the task of 'unsubscribing'. Won't help much with her already computer illiterate self image. :^)

[Hodar]

I have to disagree. When a company uses my property (the phone lines in the house are mine, the phone is mine) and uses property I have leased (phone service, phone lines to my house and my phone number) without my conscent, I object. When they then use my property for their commercial gain, without my approval, I object. When they refuse to identify themselves while using my property, I object. When the phone rings, I do not know if it is a medical emergency, friends and/or family calling to say hello, work calling to inform me of an important update; or some person trying to sell me something. I should not have to pay to use a phone line, then be solicited at home against my will. Now, as you so strenuously object to this idea; I'm certain you won't be hypocritical and suscribe to the "Do Not Call List". However, I will.

[crazykatz]

I wonder if it covers survey calls. I made $100 doing surveys last month. Another $100 this month attending a "focus group" meeting about diabetes at a very nice office. They even gave us a lovely catered dinner. I was recruited by a telephone call.

Nice money for a retiree, if you asked me.

I am never rude to anybody who calls my home. One simply says, "I am not interested .... but thanks for calling."

Why be mean to anybody who is NOT really being mean to you. Answering the phone can be great EXERCISE!! hahaha.

I am with you about the national "nanny list". This list is just so UNIMPORTANT in the scheme of things, you know.

[HairOfTheDog]

Side topic of SPAM:

Anyone know if it's true that by replying to the 'unsuscribe' feature on spam you'll actually move up on a list as your address will now be considered a 'live' hit?

What I have heard is, that the company you unsubscribe from will remove you from the list, but that they can now sell your address as a verified live address.

I haven't seen it come true though. The few SPAM emails I ever get are things I actually asked for at some time, and when I tired of them, I unsubscribed without consequence.

I am not careless about where I give my address, but I am not overly paranoid about it either. I have had ONE email address for the past couple of YEARS and never recieved more than 5-6 pieces of SPAM that I didn't sign up for.

I truly don't know why others have this trouble!