[Sideshow Bob]

To avoid getting phone calls from solicitors, make sure you opt out with any business you have a relationship, but remember, they can no longer service or sell to you as they have in the past. This would include your bank, phone co, insurance, investments, internet, cable co, etc.. Next, have your phone company provide a caller id device, a service that doesn't allow blocked calls, and then have the phone answer with a message that you don't allow solicitation calls. These are not very expensive services. On your voice mail, say that you do not accept sales calls period and not to leave a message if that is what it's about. Be careful when you fill out forms, surveys, or registrations, these are most often used for solicitation. Use initials and slight changes to your name to catch folks that may violate this. When solicitors do call, get their name and company BEFORE you tell them to remove you. Should someone violate this, forward the details to the state AG. You may want to start by changing your phone number. Nearly everyone you want to call can be quickly contacted about your new phone number.

But why should anyone have to go through all these "simple" steps to simply not have their privacy invaded.

A no-call list is exactly like posting a "No Solicitations" or "No Trespassing" sign on your premises or having codes, ordinances or laws regulating that activity. Solicitors and others can still attempt to enter my private property uninvited, but are subject to the penalties or consequences of violating any existing tresspassing or solicitation code, ordinance or law.

[Crusher138]

A no-call list is exactly like posting a "No Solicitations" or "No Trespassing" sign on your premises or having codes, ordinances or laws regulating that activity. Solicitors and others can still attempt to enter my private property uninvited, but are subject to the penalties or consequences of violating any existing tresspassing or solicitation code, ordinance or law.

It isn't as obvious as a sign on the door. It a constantly updated list, one that they will probably have to buy or subscribe to, one that will probably have many errors on it, that they will then have to cross reference to their lists of customers to purge the "do not calls."

What about the poor telemarketing schlub who is a legitamate business man? He now has to spend his time updating the list of people he is allowed to call and, God forbid, he accidentally calls someone who signed up last week and hasn't been updated on his list yet. The least that will happen is he will have to hire a lawyer and fight it. At worst he could have to pay thousands of dollars of fines.

Then we have the yo-yo customer who says or thinks they are on the list and complains. What happens then? Is the complaint dropped or followed through on anyway?

I'm not a telemarketer, but just the thought of what a telemarketer will have to go through just to stay in business makes my head swim.

You get the feeling that they really want to put telemarketers out of business, but know that they can't do that legally, so they are going to regulate them to death instead.