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Do Not Call List Under Attack

smooth wombat writes "Do Not Call. Those words are music to millions of Americans who have signed up for the list so they're not bothered by telemarketers. Not content to let things as they are telemarketers are now lobbying the FCC to have state laws which regulate the practice overturned. In April an ad-hoc group of firms ranging from the Direct Marketing Association to the National Children's Cancer Society filed a joint petition asking the FCC to declare that it has 'exclusive jurisdiction over interstate telemarketing calls.' The issue revolves around some states whose Do Not Call laws are more strict than Federal law and which prohibit telemarketers from calling anyone on a Do Not Call, regardless of an existing business relationship." Update: 07/21 18:42 GMT by Z : Official EPIC page, with contact info and background.

7 of 599 comments (clear)

  1. Re:This could be VERY bad by Shadow+Wrought · · Score: 4, Funny
    because now they have all of our numbers!

    Exactly. Which is why I think there could soon be a market for the Do-Not-Call-Air-Horn ! Get your now, before supplies run out!

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  2. Good Afternoon, How Are You? by Duke+Machesne · · Score: 5, Funny

    My name is Duke, and I'm calling from the Great American Do-Not-Call-List Giveaway to let you know that you're a winner in our one million dollar sweepstakes entry sweepstakes, and are already automatically entered to win! Isn't that great?

    On top of that, as one of our lucky winners, you're eligible to recieve outrageous discounts on subscriptions to all your favorite magazines! Exciting, huh? Which magazines do you like to read? Entertainment Weekly? Sports Digest? TV Guide?

  3. Re:I wonder.. by JonasH · · Score: 5, Funny
    What part of DO NOT CALL dont they understand?

    I think it's the "NOT". They seem to have no problems at all with "DO CALL".
  4. Calls aren't like emails at least by Hachey · · Score: 5, Funny

    At least my telemarker calls don't read like my inbox. I'd blush every time I picked up the phone if the person on the other end was trying to sell me dick pills.


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  5. Lobbying by loconet · · Score: 4, Funny

    Can someone start lobbying to make lobbying illegal?

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  6. Re:Simple Solution by Quiet_Desperation · · Score: 4, Funny

    I used to like the female callers. I'd immediately say they sound really cute, and ask them what they are wearing. Before joining the DNC list, I almost coaxed one into phone sex as she was incredibly bored and the last one in her office for the day. She bailed, though. :-\ Chicken.

  7. Re:I wonder.. by Anonymous+Cowpat · · Score: 4, Funny

    perhaps you should have a "if you are a telemarketer press 1" message (and all the other ones for various other call destinations). Then, when they press "1" you've got them!
    "Please hold while we transfer you to the call handling system"
    *cheesy music*
    "Please hold. You are in a queue. We value your call and it's potential to offer us a great deal.
    *cheesy music*
    "You are now connected to the incoming call system - please hold"
    *cheesy music*
    "If you would like to talk to a human being press 1"
    "Thankyou for you interest. Please hold while we transfer you to the call spooler"
    *cheesy music*
    "All call-lines are currently in use, please hold until one becomes open. We value your call"
    *cheesy music*
    "You have been transferred to the call spooling system. Please hold"
    *cheesy music*
    "You have been indentified as a telemarketer. Calls from telemarketers are prevented from direct contact to prevent abuse. Press 1 to leave a message"
    "Thankyou for opting to leave a message. We will now transfer you to the messaging system. Please hold."
    *cheesy music*
    "Welcome to the messaging system. To record your message press 1"
    "Please hold while we format the message-space"
    *cheesy music*
    "Please leave your message after the fifteenth beep"
    beep.beep.beep.beep.beep.beep.beep.beep.beep.bee p.beep.beep.beep.beep.beep
    (1 second pause)
    beep.
    "You didn't leave a a message. We are now transferring you to the call handling system"

    ad infinitum. If you can get a premium rate number, all the better.

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