Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Telemarketers Held Accountable ... In Theory

Posted by Hemos on from the we'll-see dept.

str83dge writes "The House of Representatives just passed H.R. 90 which amends the Telecommunications Act to prohibit telemarketers from circumventing caller ID. People can file suit against the telemarketers for minimum damages of $500. Privacy.org has a story here. Question: if they circumvent caller ID, won't it be difficult for the average person to determine who actually is calling them? Let's just hope they take this a step further and apply it to spammers. :)"

2 of 22 comments (clear)

  1. Re:That's too bad by Michael_Jarvis · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Currently, whenever a telemarketer calls me, the caller ID reads "Unavailable." So I don't pick up the phone. It's very handy.

    A lot of times when a telemarketer calls my home, the caller ID box reads "No Data Sent". Maybe that will stop if this law passes.

    What I wish is that there would be a law that requires them to reveal where they got your phone number. I have an unlisted phone number, yet I still get telemarketers calling.

  2. Residential ANI by Happy+go+Lucky · · Score: 3, Interesting
    The 800/888 numbers have a feature called Automatic Number Identification, which gives the number from which a call originated. And ANI is basically unblockable. The telcos have realized that toll-free operators, who pay for incoming calls, should be able to know who's calling.

    And I'd give my left nut to be able to get that on regular residential service:
    "Hi, I'm from the Fernwood Chicken Shack and Long-Distance Telephone Service, and I'd like to..."
    "You'd like me to immediately place me on your do-not-call list and.." *CLICK*

    But with ANI, I have the callback number. I can finish the do-not-call demand, and if they disregard it, then I know where to send the process server.

    I think that's why Qwest isn't offering it. They make too much money from their telescammers.