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ABC Ads Target Answering Machines?

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the it-was-only-a-matter-of-time dept.

Nerftoe writes "ZDTV an article about automated phone calls to promote its Friday lineup of shows. The odd thing is, ABC doesn't want to talk to humans. They just want to leave their message on your answering machine. What if I real person answers the phone, you ask? That's right, the automated system simply hangs up." I'm not in one of the markets that is doing this, but I have a personal policy of boycotting any business that tele-solicits me. (course the only show on ABC I actually watch is Who's Line is it Anyway, but since Comedy Central airs the much funnier sans-drew English version several times a day anyway, I don't consider that a huge loss either).

9 of 247 comments (clear)

  1. Isn't this illegal in some states? by tytso · · Score: 5

    In some states, it's illegal for telemarketers to simply drop the line after someone picks up. After all, it can be quite threatening for someone's phone to ring and then to suddenly drop the connection. For all you know, it might be someone checking to see if you're in before deciding to break into your house.....

    1. Re:Isn't this illegal in some states? by Mark+F.+Komarinski · · Score: 4

      I got the same thing in MA. However, the phone company gave me the address for the direct marketing association and send them a letter to quit calling me. Hasn't really worked much.

      Some areas where Bell Atlantic are offer anonymous call rejection, where callers that don't identify themselves via caller ID get a message saying that the recipient of the call is rejecting them. Of course, it's not available (yet) in my area...

      --
      -- Ever notice that fast-burning fuse looks exactly the same as slow-burning fuse? I didn't... (Edgar Montrose)
    2. Re:Isn't this illegal in some states? by WNight · · Score: 4

      There was a funny story of vigilantism in a community newspaper a while back (East Vancouver paper, dunno which one, 'bout a year ago.) where the manager at a telemarketing firm was kidnapped after work, driven out of town, dumped out and beaten senseless.

      Supposedly he was told while it was happening (he was blindfolded and tied) that it was because the office he managed kept call the person (the assailant) back and being rude when asked to not call in the future.

      They told him that if the office didn't shut down, they'd break his back the next time.

      Was a bit hunt for the guy, didn't hear that he'd ever been caught, or anything about the telemarketer.

      Can't say I feel a lot of sympathy... When I was just out a school I worked, for two days, as a telemarketer. The boss was dishonest, they sold magazines and no matter which ones you picked, they sent you (and billed for) the same ones. They instructed people to harrass people on cell phones to make them buy, because many people would pay just to get you off the phone, no being strong-willed enough to hang up.

      I quit that and never looked back... anyone making money in that business is a crook, plain and simple.

  2. Illegal in the entire U.S, and they won't do it. by seebs · · Score: 4

    alan.cohen@abc.com already confirmed that they are *NOT* doing this.

    You see, prerecorded calls are *ILLEGAL*, in general, under the TCPA. The prospect of $500 minimum statutory damages *PER PERSON* probably stopped them.

    Anyway, this is old news, it went through the TCPA lists a few days ago, and it's already dead.

    --
    My blog: http://www.seebs.net/log/ --- My iPhone/iPad app: http://www.seebs.net/seebsfrac/
  3. Telemarketers can be a source of entertainment! by Izaak · · Score: 5
    One day I was watching Highlander and was interrupted by a telemarketer trying to sell me life insurance. I promptly told him I that, being immortal, I had no need to for life insurance. I then tried to sell him the secret of immortality. After a few minutes, he became very flustered and hung up. I laughed for about an hour.

    Most recently, MCI called trying to sell me long distance. I acted amazed at hearing another human voice, and revealed that I had been 'hiding in my Y2K bunker for the last 7 months!' My roommate even got in on it and began shouting in the background about 'cracking open the airlock'. It was a riot!

    Other ideas I have tried:

    1. If they are trying to sell you a newspaper or magazine, insist that you are psychic and do not need their product, then become disgusted by what they are thinking at that moment.

    2. Act like you are in the midst of hostage negotiations. Play the cop side of the conversation. "So if I agree to subscribe to that magazine, will you release some of the hostages?"

    3. In an agitated and paranoid voice, ask them how they got the number. Insist that they are lying and are really 'part of the conspiracy' or 'one of them'. There are endless possibilities with this one.

    There are also some really great things you can do with a prepared tape of sound effects.

    Have fun!

    Thad

    --

    The Bolachek Journals

  4. Re:Is this even legal? by PD · · Score: 5

    Here's your answer from the relevant US laws:

    From Subpart L - Restrictions on Telephone Solicitation

    a.2.Initiate any telephone call to any residential telephone line using an artificial or prerecorded voice to deliver a message without the prior express consent of the called party, unless the call is initiated for emergency purposes or is exempted by sec. 64.1200(c)

    section c says this:

    c.The term "telephone call" in sec. 64.1200(a)(2) shall not include a call or message by, or on behalf of, a caller:
    1.that is not made for a commercial purpose,
    2.that is made for a commercial purpose but does not include the transmission of any unsolicited advertisement,
    3.to any person with whom the caller has an established business relationship at the time the call is made, or
    4.which is a tax-exempt nonprofit organization.

    So there you go! ABC is giving out $500 checks to everyone who is lucky enough to get a call! Make sure you save those answering machine tapes, boys and girls. The small claims court judge will want to listen to them. While you're at it, go over to www.junkbusters.com and print out a copy of the legislation for the judge. It should be a very easy case to win.

    --
    If tits were wings it'd be flying around.
  5. Is this even legal? by crow · · Score: 5

    With normal telemarketing calls, US law says that I can tell them to put me on their do-not-call list, and they have to pay a $500 penalty if they then do call me (assuming I'm willing to go to the hassle of taking them to small claims court).

    With this, they hang up before I can ask to be put on that list. Does the law that requires them to honor such requests allow this?

    And what about bans on computer calling? Or do they have a real human talk to the answering machine (talk about a boring job)?

  6. They have already caned this plan by jon323456 · · Score: 5

    According to the NYTimes, they killed this plan already: "ABC has backed away from a controversial plan to use sitcom stars like Norm MacDonald to promote its fall lineup by leaving taped messages on the home answering machines of viewers. The decision came after the network, known for aggressively seeking ... July 22, 2000, Saturday "

  7. Re:Federal law applies to ALL states by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5
    According to the Federal Trade Commission this would be an "Abusive telemarketing acts or practices" when a telemarketting person or devices doesn't provide the required oral disclosures aren't provided.

    The details are:

    (d) Required oral disclosures. It is an abusive telemarketing act or practice and a violation of this Rule for a telemarketer in an outbound telephone call to fail to disclose promptly and in a clear and conspicuous manner to the person receiving the call, the following information: (1) The identity of the seller; ...

    Since the ABC telemarketing device (and I believe advertizing television shows still falls under telemarketing acts) will purposily fail to identify itself, I believe this is an attempt on ABC to intentionally conduct an "abusive telemarketing practice."