Telemarketing Industry Sues Over Do-Not-Call List

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[chance33_98]

Telemarketing Industry Sues Over Do-Not-Call List

POSTED: 1:52 p.m. EDT July 28, 2003

WASHINGTON -- The telemarketing industry is widening its legal challenge to the government's national do-not-call list.

The industry is suing a second federal agency over the call-blocking service, which telemarketers say will ruin their business and put up to 2 million people out of work.

An industry group had sued the Federal Trade Commission in January to try to stop the list. Now it's asking a federal court to reject new rules set by the Federal Communications Commission.

The FCC added its authority to the list to close regulatory loopholes and block calls from certain industries -- including airlines, banks and telephone companies.

The head of the American Teleservices Association calls the government agencies' actions "regulatory overkill."

Beginning in September, telemarketers will have to check the list every three months to see who doesn't want to be called. Firms could be fined up to $11,000 per violation.

The toll-free number to call to join the Do Not Call list is (888) 382-1222.

To register online, visit DoNotCall.gov

[Conservababe]

You are also losing the ability to take important calls. If you live in an apartment in Phoenix, and some jerk is leaving a 5 minute tapes message on your box, for winterizing your house, and your box fills up, making you miss a crucial call, it well frankly sucks.

I think the government should make a law that answering tapes be at least four hours long. Also, they should make a law that they be erased every other day.

See,this way the government will protect you and both fine you if you neglect to erase your tape.

I am laughing so hard.

[dogbyte12]

1. This again shouldn't be a government problem. The private sector regulates itself nicely as a rule. The problem is that this particular private sector business doesn't follow the rules of the others.

As I have posted earlier, people who spend alot of money, target their ads to their audiences as best they can. You won't hear National Review ads on during the Phil Donahue show. You won't hear the Nation magazine ads on during the Rush Limbaugh show.

Like junk faxes using your ink, long ass telemarketing messages do waste up your message box. This is not about deleting old messages. If you think it's ok for somebody to go to your house and dump on your front lawn, I suppose they have a right to do anything.

I had cleaned out my box when I left in the morning one day, and came back and there was just one message. A 5 minute pitch for a time share. My wife had just called, while I was on my way home to let me know that she blew out a tire after she ran over some glass on the highway. I didn't get that message, because the telemarketer had filled up my box. She was fine. She called AAA too, and they were coming to change her tire, but it pissed me off, because I didn't find out until an hour later, til she got to a phone again and I could pick up her call.

That is why we have an answering machine. So people can leave important messages. If I got a 4 hour answering tape, and the telemarketer read War & Peace to it, by tape, would that be ok too? I need to spend money for more time, just so my important messages can be recorded, in case I get 3-5 minute pitches from telemarketers too? If they need to do those ads so badly, they can pay me for the privilidge of upgrading to a 500GB hard drive on my answering machine.

[Badray]

Well, it looks like you, me and onedoug are the only ones who don't need the Federal freaking government to screen our phone calls. And I certainly don't want to add my names to any more lists, especially those with my email, phone number, and address included with my name.

I use my phones extensively for business and personal use. I have call waiting caller ID so that I know if an incoming call is more important than the call I am currently on. If an unidentified number tries to ring in, it gets stopped by my call intercept service. I only calls that I want to answer when I choose to answer them.

I don't need the Feds to do it for me. I'm surprised that so many here feel the need for federal hand holding. The theft of services claims are the most ridiculous of all.

[Conservababe]

I tire of CINOs.

I tire of "conservatives in name only" begging the government to rid them of an annoyance.

Limited government, my toot toot.

[breakem]

Please explain. How is some one stealing service by calling you on your home phone? Do you pay per incoming call? The phone was installed as a device to allow incoming and outgoing calls. Don't see how people calling you is "stealing" the service. Your time maybe, but not the service. I'm open to your explanation.

[honeygrl]

My favorite is to say "let me let you speak to the man of the house." Then, we hand the phone to my 2 1/2yr old son who loooves to chat on the phone.

[moehoward]

Then call it "unauthorized use" of my service.

I pay for the equipment and the service to make and receive calls from family and friends. I provide these friends and family my number to reach me. At no time is it my intention to pay for a service so telemarketers could bother me on my dime.

No I do not pay for incoming call, unless they call on my 800 number which does happen.

[rockfish59]

Since I don't get a lot of calls (except those stupid bastard/beggars) I shut off my ringer. Man, what a relief!!

If I didn't need the phone for my crappy dial-up connection, I'd chuck it out the window.

[Cronos]

We've got waaay too many lawyers in this country.

[garbanzo]

Conservatives have become crybabies who want to give more power to the government, it seems.

Government does have legitmate functions - one of them is to enforce contractual agreements. If I don't consent to be called, government can and should enforce my rights in the matter. Not to rude or personal, but I kind of wonder about the social lives of people who say they never go to the door or answer the phone - many people have families or friends they want to communicate with and they don't like being interrupted at odd times for no good reason.

[HighWheeler]

"At the end of the message, a female voice said "if you want to be REMOVED from the do not call list, enter your phone number now." It seems as though some telemarketers are hoping that you will misinterpret this message and inadvertantly remove your number from the list. BE CAREFUL!"

Just enter the phone number of the revolting, obnoxious, idiot neighbor down the street.

[Conservababe]

Not to rude or personal, but I kind of wonder about the social lives of people who say they never go to the door or answer the phone

I answer the phone or door at my convenience....not the caller's.

[garbanzo]

So if mom drops by or there's a family emergency or a friend is in town and wants to invite you to dinner?

[Conservababe]

I have this great new technology. Maybe you have heard of it, actually.

I let it go to my answering machine after two rings.

LOL

[Rome2000]

Gee, I'm glad they filed this suit, it reminds me that I need to sign up for the "Do not call list"!

[nutmeg]

I signed up the first day and am signed up to our State "Do Not Call List" as well. If an "Unavailable" comes on my phone, it does not get answered!

Same here! I love Caller ID... it truly makes life easier.

[garbanzo]

Bully for you. Now you can do your superior dance.

[breakem]

I don't recall the phone company limiting my calls to family and friends when I started the service. What plan do you have?

Since you don't pay for incoming calls, as such, no one is stealing. They are a nuisance for sure, but I don't see the theft.

[moehoward]

I refer to why I have home equipment and service. You may have a different reason for having phone service.

And I DO pay for incoming calls on my 800 line, and DO get daily calls from telemarketers. I also have an 800 fax line which gets spam faxes regularly. How is this not stealing.

[PhiKapMom]

Caller ID is a great invention IMHO! I would never be without it!