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

AP ^ | June 28, 2003 | Hilary Roxe

[sarcasm]

BOSTON (AP) To many consumers, calls from telemarketers are unwanted intrusions. But for the industry, those calls are their lifeblood and many of them were predicting that a new national do-not-call list would have a devastating effect on business.

Keith A. Fotta, president and CEO of Norwood, Mass.-based Gryphon Networks, which developed a technology to help telemarketing companies avoid calling homes that have registered, said the Federal Trade Commission's new rules which impose penalties on companies that call people on the list could be ''absolutely devastating.''

[garbanzo]

apparently they usually burn out in about six months

I've kind of imagined it as a job for people with no skills or self-esteem. Prostitution is probably held in higher regard than telemarketing.

[sweetliberty]

Actually, it appears the FCC has joined in and the do not call list will now also include long distance companies and banks. Here is a quote from an article yesterday:

"The Federal Communications Commission voted 5-0 Thursday to add its authority to the U.S. do-not-call list, blocking telemarketing calls from within a state - the FTC could only police interstate calls - and from industries whose calls the agency regulates, including airlines, banks and telephone companies."

LINK

[agrace]

From Their FAQS

No. Placing your number on the National Do Not Call Registry will stop most, but not all, telemarketing calls. Some businesses are exempt from the national registry and still can call you even if you place your number on it. Exempt businesses include:

long-distance phone companies

airlines

banks and credit unions; and

the business of insurance, to the extent that it is regulated by state law.

However, many telemarketing calls are placed by professional telemarketing companies, and even if the company whose goods or services are being sold is exempt, the telemarketing company may be covered.

Hopefully that will help to weed some of the exemptions out. And I want to know - why those exemptions in the first place?

[sweetliberty]

See my post #82.

[annieokie]

Don't give them your correct phone # or zip code.

[kevkrom]

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!!

That's because those companies are not FTC-regulated. However, the FCC, which does regulate both of them (and trust me, I have no idea why banks are under the FCC) just voted unanimously to add FCC-regulated companies to the list on Thursday.

Only charities, political campaigns, and surveys should be exempt now...

[djf]

That clerk-phone number/zip code thing always gets me. I tell em to just make one up. If they hesitate in the least, I just say I think I can get the stuff cheaper at XXXXXX...

Out this way, Safeway has a preferred cust card, that gets you discounts. But you had to fill out an app that wanted your phone number, mother's maiden name, etc. Albertson's came up with one where you didn't have to give that stuff, so I got one. Pretty good deals sometimes.
Then, I usually get fake stuff in my mailbox that looks like checks. Car dealerships, etc. They're really just some stupid certificate, of whatever. Open up one the other day and it says PAY To The Order of: me Amount: $4000.00
The real thing. Some loan company decided I was so worthy that they'd just send me a loan, if I feel like cashing it, I open an account with them. Didn't like this one at all, as there is alot of mail theft in our neighborhood, last thing I need is to have to pay back money to some blood sucking loan shark because someone swiped something from my mailbox.

[Sacajaweau]

"The real issue is jobs".

BS...If I'm not buying what you are selling, your time is a waste of "productive" time and you've taken "productive" time from me, also.

Get off your butt and go find a REAL job.

[madison10]

Same here. Sorry to say it's the Republican Party of some species or another and charities. I don't really have a reason to get on the DNC (Hmmm)List until they take care of the other categories.

[Clara Lou]

I registered yesterday morning, but as of this morning I still haven't received my email.

[Brytani]

I registered my phone numbers last night but still have not received the confirmation e-mail.

Has anyone else experienced this problem?

[Brytani]

I should have read the thread all the way through. I still haven't received mine either. Typical of a government program, making promises then not delivering. :-))

[ijcr]

I give them the number of the STD clinic.

[djf]

Good one. Or the Coroners office...

[Woodman]

I did it this morning and received my confirmation emails within 90 seconds.

[YourAdHere]

You know, I'm finally starting to agree with all these people who say that Bush is responsible for so much employment. I mean look, he just put millions of telemarketers out of work!
: )

[Ben Chad]

It has gotten to the point where I no longer have a home telephone. That's funny cause I too got rid of my land line at home for this very reason. I'll bet that whoever got my old number feels like they've been chad. LOL

[FITZ]

Good riddance, scum! Just don't go on the dole or get a government job.

Hey ---we're now a "service industry" economy ----people need these service jobs, the government has exported the manufacturing jobs to China ---so where are they to go for jobs now?

[djf]

Lotta people are dumping home and going cellular. I'm just about ready to. My base phone charge is 12.50 a month. By the time they get done adding in fees, surcharges, excises, and funds for umemployed-mimes-who-live-under-bridges-and-don't-have-phones, I'm up to something like 36.00 a month. Hell, go cellular with the rollover minutes, no long distance charges, 50.00 a month flat, and I'd be set EXCEPT for internet connectivity.

[PatrioticAmerican]

The Colorado law seems to be working just fine. No doom-n-gloom to report here.