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.

Comments

I wonder..

[Kjuib]

What part of DO NOT CALL dont they understand? I do not want people calling me trying to sell me stuff.. so DO NOT CALL me! hard to get much simpler.

Re:I wonder..

[jayhawk88]

Oh but see, you have an "existing business relationship" with them, since this one time you bought batteries at Target with your Bank of America Visa credit card, Bank of America sold your student loan and personal information to Wells Fargo, who sold it to Sallie Mae, who sold it's list of customers to Fannie Mae, who shares a database with several mortage companies, some of whom use cold calling to drum up business during the winter months.

How dare you not recognize the legitimate and in no way phony "existing business relationship". How do you expect Bruno's Mortgage and High Interest Loans to not communicate with you, their (possible, potential, maybe if they're drunk when we call, three times removed) customer?

Re:I wonder..

[eaolson]

What part of DO NOT CALL dont they understand?

You're the one that has it wrong. They understand perfectly. They don't want to obey your wishes.

Re:I wonder..

[fatcatman]

I do not want people calling me trying to sell me stuff.. so DO NOT CALL me!

Well, here's the thing, why do they even WANT to call you? If I were a telemarketer, I'd love do not call lists. Those lists would save me an awful lot of money calling people who are virtually guaranteed to not buy anything.

It's like, "Here, these people don't want to be your customers. They won't buy anything from you. If you call them, you will be wasting time and money." And the idiots whine, "Noooo! But I WANT to call them!!! Surely my slick salesmen can talk them into SOMETHING!!"

Man, I'd love a list like that. Talk about targeted marketing. These dorks don't seem to get it...

Re:This could be VERY bad

[DietCoke]

I doubt it. This doesn't mean that DNC would be abolished, just that it would fall under the less-strict regulations of the federal government. Not that a change like that is a good thing, but it wouldn't put listees at risk in the manner you're suggesting.

He obviously was born before it took effect

[Gamingboy]

"There is no evidence that (a favorable FCC ruling) will lead to large increases in telemarketing calls," he said. He, obviously, does not consider the fact that the large amount of telemarketing calls before the DNC list took effect is evidence that, without a list, that they would once again reach their old levels.

More Feds

[magarity]

Just what the USA needs. More Federal involvment instead of state by state.
/sarcasm.

Clearly for Federal Regulation

[sterno]

This law makes perfect sense being a federal law. Why? Because almost all telemarketing calls are crossing state or possibly national borders. Thus there's a natural complication when you have different laws in different states with different abilities to enforce those laws on others.

Better to have one federal law to simplify things.

And I still wonder, why do those telemarketers want to call me if I'm on this list. Seems like they are being done a service here. I'm not going to buy their crap so no sense wasting time on a call.

Incredible

[Rew190]

The worst thing about an action like this it is CLEARLY against the will of the people. The Do Not Call list is opt-in, it only applies to those who go out of their way to sign up. The only "victims" of something like this are the CORPORATIONS who are being denied the right to directly attack those who don't want to have their houses invaded by direct advertising. The people gain nothing from this sort of action, they only lose out.

How is it possible that a democratic governing body, which is supposed to be looking out for the people, is taking a direct stance against them? Which American citizens are rallying against the DNC list?

Yet more sad evidence that the government is more concerned with corporate interests than those of the people.

Re:Doesn't bother me anymore

[eln]

If the only reason you have the landline is so you can get DSL, then just don't hook up a regular telephone to it. The phone can't ring if the phone doesn't exist.

Attention DMA....

[Khyber]

The FCC is NOT a law-making entity.

The FCC has no power to overturn state laws or find them unconstitutional, this is the Supreme Court's job.

The FCC is not the way to go. Lobby Congress.

And watch how they laugh in your face as they think "I don't want these whiny bastards calling me everyday trying to get my money that I just weaseled from the taxpayers."