Do-Not-Call List Could Be Opened For Phone Spam

Wick_7654 submits a link to this story at the Chicago Sun-Times, which begins "The agency overseeing the national Do Not Call Registry is considering opening a loophole to allow companies to deliver 'pre-recorded message telemarketing.' The effort is being organized by Allen Hile of the FTC's division of marketing practice. Be sure to let the FTC know how you feel about it." The proposed change specifies that recorded calls would be allowed only when an "established business relationship" exists, but provisions like that tend to be stretched to absurdity.

Comments

Re:Pre-existing Business Relationship

[Crazy Man on Fire]

So, you've got a business relationship with me yet you don't know my number? Right...

got ya

[frovingslosh]

Now your unlisted number, that you went ahead and put on the do-not-call list to protect yourself from callers who just selected numbers randomly, will be given to the telemarketers as a number that is fair game for them to call. Your tax maney at work.

Are you insane?

[nordicfrost]

What the hell is going on over there? Has the entire USA become a free-for-all (big business that is) annoyfest? I'm on an European do-not-call-list and have recieved two calls in four or five years one was a mistake, that didn't help I reported them anyway.

The other was from a company I already do business with (I yelled at them anyway and moved my business to another company that don't anoy me at work). They used the pre-business loophole so I told them what my opinion was with that and talked to everyone I could reach in the company. I also reported them to the consumer ombudsman, since they are abusing their power grid monopoly in Oslo to justify pushing sales calls.

From an outside perspective, it seems like the only ones enjoying freedom in the US are big, bug business. They can trample the freedom of private citizens quite easely, it seems and bother them at will while the government drags its feet. And counts its money, I presume. We have the loophole too, but we are at least working on closing it, not opening it more.

Re:Are you insane?

[SuperBanana]

Has the entire USA become a free-for-all (big business that is) annoyfest?

No. In fact, ever since I added our phone number to the federal do-not-call list, telemarketing calls have in fact stopped.

The exception is the occasional charity, but even those have pretty much ground to a halt. When they do call, the conversation goes something like this:

"Hi! This is the Save Small Kittens from Cancer fund, will you give us money?"

"We're on the federal do not call list."

"We're a non-profit charity, we are exempt, sir".

"And, given that we are a household that has registered as not wanting telemarking calls, what genius thought calling us would be a good way to get money from us?"

"Uh...well...er...um..."

"Did it occur to anyone that, in fact, by calling a household listed on the do-not-call list, you would in fact generate substantial ill will, and virtually guarantee we'd never send you a dime, even if we might have been planning to do so?"

"Uh..."

"Don't call us again." [click]

It's very simple- any time you get a telemarking call from an NPO and you're on the do not call list, tell them that, by calling you, they've been crossed off the list of charities you donate to. Particularly if you've already donated to them- they can see this on their screen- it will be HIGHLY effective.

Well, that and (I believe) under the new laws, even an NPO can't call you BACK if you tell them to piss off...they have to honor the request, at least for a few years.