Telemarketers see devastating effect with national 'do-not-call' list

AP ^ | June 28, 2003 | Hilary Roxe

[sarcasm]

I'm plagued by calls from Disney World.

[PaulJ]

You mean these people might have to find honest work...

You know, it is (for the most part)honest work. Disabled,elderly and other "unemployable" people have found work, rather than welfare, by becoming telemarketers.It's a few bad apples that have ruined it for everyone. I feel bad for the honest, hard working people that will now be unable find a job, and I think this whole thing may end up backfiring; not just in the amount of tax dollars that are going to be used to support these people, but in other ways; like the increase we'll see in the number of door-to-door sales people knocking at dinner time.
But,like I said, it's the bad ones that brought this on and it's a shame.

[demkicker]

I'm not doing that. I now keep my cell phone number and email address out of circulation and out of databases as much as I possibly can.

Good food for thought... Do you know how often the public will be able to sign up for the do not call list each year? I'll be glad to hold off registering our cell #'s as long as I can add them later if the telemarketers start hounding us.

[kitkat]

Previous posts have said that there are exceptions to the Do Not Call list. One exception is for companies who say that they have "previous relationships" with the customer. So, I'm wondering:

Does this mean that if a clerk asks for your phone number when you make a purchase, you then have a previous relationship?

Remember, in any event, that they CANNOT insist that you give them your phone number.

[Joe Boucher]

Sstop it, tlelmarketers have been a royal pain in the butt for a long time. I don't care if they go belly up. It would be fair payback for the annoyance they've caused.

[sarcasm]

I always give the clerks a phony telephone number.

[zarf]

I registered with the Tennessee No Call registry and the telemarketing harrassment has come to a dead stop.

What a relief.

[Jeff Gordon]

a new national do-not-call list would have a devastating effect on business.

Now that is what I call GOOD NEWS!

[tdadams]

I would imagine you can add a number to the list at any time. It's not like a 401k where you can only sign up four times a year.

[tdadams]

Does this mean that if a clerk asks for your phone number when you make a purchase, you then have a previous relationship?

I'm still more than slightly amuzed any time a cashier asks, "Can I have you telephone number?" and I bluntly say "No". Without exception, it always throws them off.

If I feel like being a smart ass, I'll reply, "I'm flattered, but I'm dating someone."

[demkicker]

I would imagine you can add a number to the list at any time. It's not like a 401k where you can only sign up four times a year.

Cute, but since the law goes into effect Oct 1st, I doubt the telemarketers will get new lists each day thereafter of new folks signing up. I'm sure there will be some sort of deadline, or designated times of the year one can sign up.

[Citizen of the Savage Nation]

If you go to the website to register your number, you'll find that the don't call list doesn't apply to everyone, some are exempted...like long distance phone companies!! You'll never be rid of their calls...credit card companies, too!!

Muahahahahahaha...

[KneelBeforeZod]

there are tons of exemptions, and they seem to be the companies that do the most telemarketing anyway.

one way to take care of it on your own is to simply hang up if you hear dead air.

several telemarketers use a system that automatically dials. when someone answers, the call gets dumped to a person. thats why you've sometimes notice a lag before someone repsonds when its a telemarketing call.

[tdadams]

I wasn't trying to be cute. I was answering based on my knowledge of the similar law in my state.

[sarcasm]

Finally got my confirmation:

REGISTRATION COMPLETE

You have registered the following telephone number in the National Do Not Call Registry:

xxx-xxx-xxxx

This registration will be effective until 6/29/2008.

Please print a copy of this page for your records.

[Gorzaloon]

I always give the clerks a phony telephone number.

Radio Shack used to demand an address and phone number.

One day I had an inspiration. I have an overseas address on my passport.

"OK, Here. 011-44-4895-#####"

"But.But. There are not enough SPACES on the form!"

"Well, let's try the address, then.."

Serves them right. The clerks expression said "This program encountered a fatal error and will close".

[demkicker]

So your state has a daily ongoing sign up opportunity? That's remarkable.

[TC Rider]

Link-- ( signed up already... they brought it on themselves...)--

You got that right. It was bad enough they called at dinner and were just plain annoying, then they got tricky and blocked caller ID, went to computer dialing, etc.

Let 'em suffer. (besides the USPS needs the business)

I just registered, got right through

[tdadams]

Yes, you can go online and register with the do not call list anytime.