posted on July 29, 2003 07:56:56 AM new
U.S. National - AP
Telemarketers Sue Over Do-Not-Call List
Mon Jul 28,11:44 AM ET Add U.S. National - AP to My Yahoo!
By DAVID HO, Associated Press Writer
WASHINGTON - Telemarketers expanded their legal challenge to the government's do-not-call list, suing a second federal agency over the call-blocking service for consumers that the industry says will devastate
business and cost up to two million jobs.
The free government registry for blocking telephone sales pitches has grown to more than 28 million numbers since it was opened June 27, according to the Federal Trade Commission, which operates the service. The FTC has predicted registration to grow to 60 million numbers by next summer.
The American Teleservices Association, an industry group that sued the FTC in January to stop the list, asked the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals(news - web sites) in Denver on Friday to reject new regulations set by the Federal Communications Commission (news - web sites). The FCC (news - websites) added its authority to the list to close regulatory loopholes and block calls from certain industries, including airlines, banks and
telephone companies.
"This truly is a case of regulatory overkill," said Tim Searcy, ATA
executive director. "The FCC ignored its obligations under the federal law and the Constitution to carefully balance the privacy interests of consumers with the First Amendment rights of legitimate telemarketers."
People who sign up this summer should see a decrease in telemarketing calls after the FTC begins enforcing the list Oct. 1. The service will block about 80 percent of the calls, the FTC said.
The telemarketing industry estimates the do-not-call list could cut its business in half, costing it up to $50 billion in sales each year. Implementing the list could also eliminate up to two million jobs, the ATA
said.
The ATA also asked the FCC on Friday to stay enforcement of its rules until the court can review them. No court date has been set for the case against the FTC, the group said.
Similar lawsuits brought by other telemarketers are pending.
There are about 166 million residential phone numbers in the United States, the FTC said, and the wireless (news - web sites) industry estimates there are more than 147 million U.S. cell phone numbers.
More than a dozen states with do-not-call lists plan to add their lists to the national registry this summer, the FTC said. Consumers on those lists need not register again.
Beginning in September, telemarketers will have to check the list every three months to see who doesn't want to be called. Those who call listed people could be fined up to $11,000 for each violation. Consumers would
file complaints to an automated phone or online system.
Exemptions from the list include calls from charities and pollsters and calls on behalf of politicians. A company also may call a person on the no-call list if that person has bought, leased or rented from the company
within the past 18 months or has inquired about or applied for something during the past three months.
People can register for the service by calling toll-free at 1-888-382-1222
or visiting the Web site http://www.donotcall.gov
___
On the Net:
National Do Not Call Registry: http://www.donotcall.gov
posted on July 29, 2003 07:59:15 AM new
Hurray for the blocking! I can't tell you how many times I have told someone to remove me from their list and do not ever call again only to be ignored. The worst offenders are mortgage companies. We used to get five or more a day trying to get us to refinance our home.
Don't call us. . .we'll call you.
Cheryl
Power to the people. Power to the people, right on. - John Lennon
posted on July 29, 2003 08:02:30 AM new
The first Amendmant serves a political purpose not a commercial purpose. Commercial speech does not enjoy the same level of protection as expressions of belief. The current administration however may reverse that as they seem to unitedly bow at the alter of commerce.
posted on July 29, 2003 08:26:25 AM new
Hey, I should feel guilty because I may be taking food out of a bottom feeder's mouth.
I had a jerk call a couple weeks ago from Washington state, an opinion pollster. He was extremely rude and hung up on me when I said I didn't want to hear from groups like that and had signed up for NO Call. Apparently they are not considered exempt and will be able to continue interrupting our work, etc.
A few minutes later someone from another state called, and it was the same group. Someone had gotten their lines crossed. This happened to be where the main office was located so I was able to speak to a supervisor who was going back into their records to find who called at that date/time. I wouldn't have been able to report him if I hadn't gotten the second bottom feeder call.
Unfortunately we may get more Spam as they move from phone calls to emails.
posted on July 29, 2003 08:28:09 AM new
I don't think that blocking telelarmeketing calls is any more a vioiolation of free speech than banning liquor and cigarette ads from TV, or now in Cal, Cigarette billboards too.
I for one will be glad when the list takes effect. The only downfall I see is that a lot of the companies that former relied on that method are going to jump to spam and direct mail. It will however weed out a lot of the scam ops.
~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~
If it's really Common Sense, why do so few people actually have it?
posted on July 29, 2003 08:55:38 AM new
I betcha there's at least ONE person reading this thread who works in a call center. C'mon, let's hear from you
___________________________________
What luck for the leaders that men do not think. - Adolph Hitler
posted on July 29, 2003 01:48:10 PM new
Any non-profit which I assume would include medical insurance and hostitals that say non-profit after they build a 50 million dollar wing with a perfectly straight face. The Red Cross for example also.
posted on July 29, 2003 05:37:42 PM new
The industry brought this upon themselves... they should of regulated themselves so the FCC wouldn't of had to.
posted on July 29, 2003 07:20:33 PM new
too bad there isn't a "do-not-email list" we can sign up for so we don't get so many darn e-mails wanting to "enlarge things by 3 inches".
[ edited by nharmon on Jul 29, 2003 07:21 PM ]
posted on July 29, 2003 08:23:53 PM new
I have often wondered to what depths a person would have to sink before taking a telemarketing job. Intentionally bothering people in the sanctity of their homes in order to sell them something that, if they really needed or wanted, they'd be out looking for. That ought to make you feel really satisfied at the end of a shift. If you are a telemarketer and are reading this, it's time to change careers. No, it's way PAST time. Good riddance.
___________________________________
What luck for the leaders that men do not think. - Adolph Hitler
posted on July 30, 2003 09:43:03 AM new
Here's more of David Ho's article abouth the telemarketers.
"....The FCC added its authority to the list to close regulatory loopholes and block calls from certain industries, including airlines, banks and telephone companies...Exemptions from the list include calls from charities and pollsters and calls on behalf of politicians. A company also may call a person on the no-call list if that person has bought, leased or rented from the company within the past 18 months or has inquired about or applied for something during the past three months."
The one's in the business pf email spamming make BIG bucks. They invest in the equipment and software and all they do is to push a few buttons and they make a comfortable profit.
Congress is cracking down on the spammers. On one occassion I heard on Congressman say that the post office loses money when spam business use the emails.
posted on August 6, 2003 01:02:49 AM new
Love it. No phone calls at 9 pm. We have a no call list in Wisconsin and the only calls we get are from the Democratic National Comittee. Now if I could figure out a way to get rid of them we would have no phone calls. They are always asking for Money. I bet we get at least 2 calls a month and letters every week. It's a waste of their time and money as no money goes to that group from our house.
posted on August 6, 2003 04:06:06 AM new
I used to get calls at 8:00 a.m.! Even on Sunday morning! Talk about annoying. Once a telemarketer called at 7:56 a.m. After the tongue lashing I gave him, I never heard from his company again.
Cheryl
Power to the people. Power to the people, right on. - John Lennon
posted on August 6, 2003 09:53:28 PM new
I must admit I WILL miss goofing on them when they call. They call a lot for my wife, most of the credit cards are hers... I like to answer "she died three days ago", and wait for their response. Or shouting "SHE DON'T LIVE HERE NO MORE, AND IF YOU SEE THAT B!TCH YOU TELL HER TO BRING BACK MY REE-MOTE CONTROL!!!"
___________________________________
What luck for the leaders that men do not think. - Adolph Hitler
[ edited by nharmon on Jul 29, 2003 07:21 PM ]