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Fighting Telemarketers with Technology

Posted by michael on from the if-only-the-etherkiller-worked-long-distance dept.

prostoalex writes "According to an MSNBC story, 104 million telemarketing calls are made daily in the U.S. alone and technology is on the way to fight those special offers and incredible credit card rates. Zenith EZ HangUp, The Phone Butler, TriVOX VN100 and ScreenMachine are quoted in the article as new gadgets that allow phone owners to avoid the plagues of telemarketing."

32 of 527 comments (clear)

  1. don not call list by alexc · · Score: 5, Informative

    an effective CHEAP way of eliminating telemarketers is saying "PLEASE PUT ME ON YOUR DO NOT CALL LIST." By law, telemarketers are not allowed call ppl on this list. It has worked for me.

    1. Re:don not call list by Surak · · Score: 4, Informative

      I worked for a telemarketer in the IT department. It depends on the state you're in. There is no federal law that I'm aware of requiring telemarketers to have a DNC (telemarketerspeak: DNC=Do Not Call list). Many states require telemarketers to have a DNC but some do not. So check with your state government if you're not sure.

      --
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    2. Re:don not call list by dschuetz · · Score: 5, Informative

      There is no federal law that I'm aware of requiring telemarketers to have a DNC (telemarketerspeak: DNC=Do Not Call list).

      There certainly is! And they're REQUIRED to put you on it IMMEDIATELY! (none of this "it'll take a few weeks to get your number into the list" BS).

      Of course, most of the calls we get today are either from organizations exempt from the laws (political candidates, banks or phone companies, surveys, charitable organizations), or they're simply recorded messages (which are, actually, illegal as well).

      I've got "put me on your do not call list immediately" as part of my answering machine message -- one of these days I'll start tracking the messages that people leave me and sue them for ignoring my request (if they can leave me a message with an automated machine, I can request to be put on the DNC with an automated message).

      Unfortunately, even having state-sponsored do not call lists won't help. As I've said before, laws are only as effective as their enforcement. Until we decide to actually give some police organization real authority to prosecute these people, unscrupulous telemarketers will just ignore whatever "opt-out" laws there are and call you, anyway. What have they got to lose? Maybe .01% of the people they piss off actually haul them to court, and half those cases they get out of on a technicality?

      Anyway, I'm rambling.

      So, yes, there is a federal law requiring telemarketers to maintain a "do not call" list, but telemarketers' adherence to the law is spotty, and consumers' recourse against people ignoring the law is cumbersome. So they prosper, and we fume.

    3. Re:don not call list by Greyfox · · Score: 5, Informative

      The FCC would seem to disagree.

      --

      I'm trying to teach myself to set people on fire with my mind... Is it hot in here?

    4. Re:don not call list by Scutter · · Score: 5, Informative

      What about the Telephone Consumer Protection Act of 1991 (Public Law 102-243 (1991), which amended Title II of the Communications Act of 1934, 47 U.S.C. Section 201 et seq.)?

      No person or entity shall initiate any
      telephone solicitation to a residential telephone subscriber

      1. before the hour of 8 A.M. or after 9 P.M. (local time at the called party's location), and

      2. unless such person or entity has instituted procedures for maintaining a list of persons who do not wish to receive telephone solicitations made by or on behalf of that person or entity.

      --

      "Tell me doctor, with all of your defenses, are there any provisions for an attack by killer bees?"
    5. Re:don not call list by kidlinux · · Score: 5, Informative

      If you're in the US, I bet half (or more) of the calls you get are from Canada. I have several friends who were telemarketers for summer jobs, and they only called the states.
      The telemarketing companies may operate here because a) cheaper labour, and b) the laws in the US don't apply. But IANAL, so I could be wrong.

      I find the first link above rediculous because their DNC list requires a payment and subscription fee. I recall my friends saying that they have to provide instructions on how a person can be removed from telemarketing lists (or files, as they called them, I guess.) There was no charge for being removed from said files.

      --
      -kidlinux.
    6. Re:don not call list by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative

      You are correct, there is now a federal law which went into effect just recently that puts many restrictions on telemarketing companies. They also are required to put you on their DNC list immediately, however the company can screw up twice and call you before you can press any kind of charges.

      A lot of people blame the "plague" of telemarketing on the people who are calling, when in reality it is the company whose products they are peddling who pay them VERY well(in most cases) to call you. So if you really have a problem with it, try not to take it out on the guy who is calling, call the company and complain!

    7. Re:don not call list by rikkards · · Score: 2, Informative

      Actually Canada has similar laws (ontario at least). I used to get called once a month by both the Ottawa Sun and Ottawa Citizen asking if I wanted to get a subscription. I told them to take me off their list. Haven't been called since.

    8. Re:don not call list by damiangerous · · Score: 3, Informative
      I want a telephone that recognizes an anonymous caller ID and automatically plays back a message saying "Sorry, not accepting anonymous calls. Call back with the * feature to disable anonymous calls."


      I have that. My phone company calls it Privacy Manager, others use different terms but it's offered all across the country. When CallerID can't determine the number the caller gets a recorded message asking them to press 1 to record their name, or to enter a code to bypass Privacy Manager and ring my phone. If they press 1 my phone rings with Privacy Manager listed as the caller. When I pick up I hear the caller's recorded name and I can choose to answer or send it right to voicemil. Unwanted calls never even get this far though, since most telemarketers are use automated dialers and couldn't get past the Privacy Manager menu if they wanted to.

  2. Privacy Manager by Frank+of+Earth · · Score: 5, Informative

    I use my phone company's Privacy Manager feature. Since we started using it, we hardly get any spam calls anymore. It's definately worth the 4 bucks a month.

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    1. Re:Privacy Manager by mosch · · Score: 5, Informative

      I've found that using the Junkbusters anti-telemarketing script helps quite a bit as well. It's a little bit annoying for the first few weeks, but after that, the calls drop off quite dramatically.

  3. Easy fix by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Informative

    I didnt read the article, but you could insert the first tone of a telecom's disconnected line signal on your answering machine, and automated systems will delist you.

    1. Re:Easy fix by sehryan · · Score: 3, Informative

      Autodialer dials number from read-only database

      The database is read only for the most part from the agent point of view. However, there is a field at the end of each record that states the last disposition of that number. When the dialer (or an agent) hears the disconnected tone, the dialer adds its code for DISCONNECTED to that field for the record (usually some string of numbers, a la 404 for web).

      Upon pickup, it picks the next available agent, your info shows up on their computer terminal via application bridge from the switch to a computer on the LAN.

      The dialer is smart enough to recognize an answering machine, busy, all kinds of different things, including a live human voice. The amount of busies, disconnected or answering machines that get through to the agent is minimal. Otherwise you are paying your agent to do what your expensive dialer should be doing.

      If you hang up, agent gets dialtone, and they hit a button to flag they are available for the next call

      At this point, its up to the dialer admin what will happen to that number. He would have programmed the dialer's reactions to the codes when building the campaign. Usually that means deciding how long you are going to keep a number that is continually marked as busy or answering machine in the loop. We usually marked them out after 6 tries.

      DNCs do have to be flagged manually, but thats only so that if the number slips into another campaign, the dialer filters it out. Assuming your admin has coded DNCs right, they shouldn't be called again within that campaign, and won't be called again by that dialer once he adds them to the master DNC list.

      So in the end, TeleZapper can work.

      --
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  4. Bloody Telemarketers by T-Kir · · Score: 5, Informative

    My brother & family moved into a nice new house last year... and as soon as the phone was set up, BANG! Telemarketers left right and bloody center.

    He ended up installing this system (I'm not there so I couldn't tell you what it is) that will reroute all calls without Caller ID to an automated system so calls can be screened, callers have to give their name or business name and then the system literally calls the house itself to say "person or company x" is calling.

    The number of telemarketing calls went through the floor, mainly because most didn't want to go through the screening check. They get the odd call now and then, but mostly by those who do persevere with the screening system or those that have valid Caller ID tags.

    Originally he did have the system completely rejecting calls without ID, but since the rest of the family live in England, there isn't any ID transmitted - so we couldn't get through for a while, until we got a call from him wondering why WE hadn't called!! DOH!

    --
    Are you local? There's nothing for you here!
  5. Opt-in vs. opt-out by e8johan · · Score: 3, Informative

    It is really silly that you need to opt-out to try to get away (and you still get calls even then). If there would be an opt-in it would probably kill off the whole telemarketing business, which I feel would be a good thing.

    This problem is just as bad as spam, fax-spamming and all other broad adverticement methods. I wish that one day you would not get more ads than you ask for (i.e. 2-5% of todays load of shit).

    For you people living in Sweden I would like to mention the Nix register, it is the Swedish opt-out register.

  6. Do not call Registries by Trashman · · Score: 3, Informative

    Someone pointed out that there is no Federal "Do not Call Registry". However, Some States do have them. Find your state and Sign up.

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  7. Doo-doo-doot gadgets also stump public libraries by vaxer · · Score: 4, Informative

    I work for a group of public libraries that uses a computer to call and say "Someone at this telephone number" -- we won't say who, because if you use a public library we consider it your own damn business -- "has an item waiting to be picked up at the So-and-So Public Library".

    Unfortunately, if you use one of those gadgets that sends a "this number has been disconnected" message, the library's computer takes that at face value. You miss picking up the book, and then the library staff asks you to verify your phone number the next time you're there.

    So, yeah, it works, but sometimes a little too well.

  8. Re:Why? by jhunsake · · Score: 2, Informative

    "Would I be right in assuming that it's a side effect of the free local calls you guys get?"

    No, most telemarketers call from out of state. They do however get deals from the long distance companies.

  9. Excuse me... Are you paying for this?? by nordicfrost · · Score: 3, Informative

    I often compare living in teh US to living here in Norway, Europe. It seems that we can learn a lot from each other, this time it is your turn to learn... ;)

    So. WHAT?!?! Are paying for hardware and services to stop telemarketeers? Aren't they obliged by law to check if your name is on a do-not-call list? A friend of mine in the US said that he had to pay to be on a do-not-call list, operated by the telemarketeers association. That is nothing short of insane. Paying people to not bother me? Hello; it's not very difficult to operate such lists.

    I'm on the Norwegian goverments do-not-call list. There are three levels: 1) Any call accepted. 2) Commercial calls not allowed. 3) Neither commercial nor charitable calls allowed.

    I'm already a member of the chartiable orgs i want to, so my do-not-call entry lists me as option 3. This is a free system, no fees. Any company that calls you even though you're on the list will face fines if you turn them in to the Consumer Council.

    I think this system is

  10. Telephone / Mail / Fax Preference Services by Martin+Spamer · · Score: 3, Informative

    In the UK, you can register on-line with the Telephone Preference Service to avoid telemarketing calls.

    http://www.tpsonline.org.uk

    Similar services exist for Snail Mail

    http://www.mpsonline.org.uk

    and Fax.

    http://www.fpsonline.org.uk/

    The Data Protection register monitors these, and operates enforcement, so you can expect good results.

  11. Re:I have a cell phone by transient · · Score: 2, Informative

    I've heard that it's actually illegal to make telemarketing calls to a cell phone. Something about how you are paying for the call. In fact, I've received one spam call on my cell phone, and as soon as I said the magic words "cell phone", they apologized profusely and hung up.
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    irb(main):001:0>
  12. Unlisted numbers DONT HELP by Lord+Ender · · Score: 3, Informative

    I worked for a market research company. Our company would pick the area code and first 3 didgits of the phone numbers in the area we wanted to research, then our computers would randomly pick the last four digits. If you are unlisted or on a list, it doesn't matter. It is random. When I called someone who was unlisted it always puzzled the hell out of them how I got the number.

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  13. Verizon's call intercept service rocks! by zerofoo · · Score: 3, Informative

    Info here.

    I used to get 7-10 telemarketer calls a week before this service, now i've got blissful silence. It is very worth the $4.00/mo. verizon charges.

    -ted

  14. Fighting Telemarketers by Larkfellow · · Score: 3, Informative

    I used to work as a telemarketer in the past (Don't mod me down because I needed a job...) and I've learned a few tricks to beat telemarketers.

    Do Not Call Lists: All telemarketing centers have a Do Not Call list. Two of them in fact. The first is required by law for the center to remove you from their calling list if you say the words "Put me on your do not call list" This information is entered by the telemarketer into the system and your name is then removed from the system for that Company.

    In many cases, A center will have multiple Companies that they do calling for. Requesting to be placed on the "Coperate Do Not Call List" will not only remove you from the list the telemarketer is calling for, but also any other company that the center does any telemarketing for at that time and in the future. That will help in making sure that the center does not call again in the future (Next time, try asking the telemarketer who they actually work for, usually it's not the one they're calling on behalf of.)

    As Well, in the United States, you as a consumer are protected by the "Telephone Consumer's Protection Act" (TCPA), which requires the telemarketer to give you the company name and telephone number where you can reach them. If they fail to do so at the end of the call (IE, if they think you hang up, and just don't say it even to dead air), then you have the right to sue the company for up to $10,000. Not all states fall under the same rules, so check out here for more info on it

    Some states also have what's call a no rebutal law, which should prevent the telemarketer from rebuting you (ie. saying "I understand your hesitation but..."), when you say "No" they have to end the call there. Check out your state laws to find out if you fall in this category as well.

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    -- Never monkey with another Monkey's monkey

  15. Re:Glad I live in Tennessee! by gotaltitude · · Score: 2, Informative

    Colorado recently instituded a no-call list - www.coloradonocall.com. It's gotten a lot of attention recently, especially since they are really going after non-compliers.

  16. But people keep buying their stuff :( by Rudy+Rodarte · · Score: 2, Informative

    The telemarketers numbers show that people buy the junk they sell. One of the people I work with has bought tons of stuff from them, including Direct TV, Carpet Cleaner, and weight loss stuff.
    So long as there are people like my co-worker, these guys are going to keep at it.

    As for me, I'm using the 3 tone way.

    --
    What, me Tweet?
  17. Missouri does also by Fastolfe · · Score: 3, Informative

    I have not had any telemarketing calls since signing up with it.

  18. The EZ Hangup link you provide is a scam by bobtroy · · Score: 4, Informative

    The link in the posting for EZ Hangup links to a site that's running a scam. Zenith's EZ Hangup is a $10 product--I have one. For $49.00, the site hangupnow.com is offering you one Zenith EZ Hangup device and a "free" listing on the "national do not call list" (a $39.00 value). On top of that, there is no national do-not-call list--they're advertising a private service that contacts telemarketers to have your number removed, and it is doubtful they even do that much (particularly since their FAQ highlights that you may still receive calls, and the service has no guarantee).

  19. InLine Plus also a scam by SethJohnson · · Score: 3, Informative


    Just an FYI:

    Inline Plus is an 'insurance policy' the phone company will always try to sell you (monthly fee of $3.95 or so). It's supposed to 'protect' you in case your wiring fails inside your house and needs to be repaired by the phone company. If you are a renter, then there's no risk of you bearing the expense of fixing telephone wiring, so there's NO NEED for inline plus. If you are a home-owner, it's highly unlikely that you'll encounter a (phone) wiring problem you can't fix yourself.

    When you sign up for phone service, the salesperson will inevitably automatically add this to the list of services regardless of if they ask you if you want it or not. When I realized what this was about after 10 months of paying for it, I called up customer service and told them to remove it from my account and that I had never authorized it. They refunded me my BACK CHARGES for inLine Plus. It was like $40 or so.
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    1. Re:InLine Plus also a scam by mesocyclone · · Score: 3, Informative

      Sometimes this is useful!

      I live in a desert area that has lots of pack rats. These critters love to eat the phone wire insulation, and are quite adept at getting into my attic and walls and doing so.

      I have thus had the phone company out several times to repair the wiring. Having previously done it myself, and also having paid someone else to do so, in this case the insurance is worth it.

      I am trying to keep the rats out. If after some months my attick remains pack rat free, I will probably cancel the insurance.

      --

      The only good weather is bad weather.

  20. National Listing of Do-Not-Call Lists by sonny317 · · Score: 2, Informative

    From the Direct Marketing Association's website:

    here

  21. Very neatly put by sbeitzel · · Score: 3, Informative

    The system you describe is something I'd like, too. Now, a quick Google search led me to look at Zeus Phonstuff over here. The price of this particular model is USD 249, but the device provides you a simple interface from caller ID box to PC (via serial cable). From there, doing the matching of the number against a database (perhaps even a shared database, much like spam blacklists) shouldn't be difficult. I just glanced through the online manual for this 2 line unit and it says that that unit doesn't do blocking (but this suggests that the 4 line unit does, since the switch is present, just not selectable).

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