New regs outlaw some robocalls
Filed under: Ripoffs and Scams, Consumer Complaints
New rules to be implemented by the federal government could result in less dinner-time indigestion for millions of Americans frequently disrupted by automated phone calls offering time shares, extended product warranties or any manner of other products.The Federal Trade Commission said Thursday that beginning next month, such calls will no longer be lawful unless the telemarketer has received written permission from consumers who express interest in receiving such offers by phone. The provision is known as the Telemarketing Sales Rule, or TSR. Current rules block such calls only if the consumer adds a home or cell phone number to the federal Do Not Call registry.
"Starting Sept. 1, this bombardment of prerecorded pitches, senseless solicitations, and malicious marketing will be illegal," FTC Chairman Jon Leibowitz said in a statement. "If consumers think they're being harassed by robocallers, they need to let us know, and we will go after them."
Unauthorized calls can be reported to the commission online or at (877) 382-4357 (877-FTC-HELP).
Telemarketers who violate the new rule are subject to fines of up to $16,000 a call. The ban prohibits automated calls regardless of whether the consumer has done business with the seller. Calls placed by humans aren't banned, unless the phone number is on the national do not call registry.
Those involved in marketing directly to consumers say consumers won't notice much of a difference. That's because the ban has been in the works for some time and telemarketers have planned for it.
While the ban prohibits many calls, don't expect the phone to stop ringing altogether. The new rules don't, for example, prohibit calls that provide information, such as flight information or appliance delivery times -- or even debt collectors, so long as the calls do not promote the sale of goods or services.
Also exempt are calls from local charities, politicians, banks and -- Holy Jerry Seinfeld! -- those from telephone companies.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 8)
8-28-2009 @ 8:10PM
Monica said...
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Reply
8-29-2009 @ 5:49AM
JDL said...
The Do Not Call Registry has created the HIGHEST UNEMPLOYMENT RATIO's in American history. We used to have 25 telemarketers, whom kept 60 SALESPEOPLE with a full schedule of appointments, whom in turn kept 40 TECHNICIANS and 10 OFFICE PEOPLE busy 6 days a week. That's 135
people! TV, Radio, Newspaper, or those silly yellow pages do not
generate nearly the same amount of business that telemarketing did, so now we've gone from a staff of 135 people working to 12 people! It's the same everywhere. Anti-telemarketing registry is the biggest reason for higher unemployment.
8-30-2009 @ 8:07AM
rcwcfa said...
I am so glad this law creates unemployment for telemarketers. The simple fact is no unemployment is caused by this law. The people running these scams take billions from people annually. For instance, have you noticed, the car warranty people. They offer nothing for $399 down and thousands to complete warranty on your car. They need to go the way of the Nigerian bank scams and the European lottery scams
File suit on the jokers who continue to call you.
8-30-2009 @ 9:23AM
rufus said...
you may look 35, but you really have the mentality of a 6 year old, because you sue spam, you're just a lowlife cum snorting slut.
8-30-2009 @ 11:36AM
janni stewart said...
this is a site for comments on unwanted telemarketing calls, not anti-aging creams
8-30-2009 @ 2:26PM
Christina said...
Don't try to tell me this will put telemarketers out of business, that was done when they started using machines and outsourcing telemarketing to other countries. All this is doing is putting machines out of business in fact it does say calls from actual humans are allowed in most cases so this will INCREASE employment, if you actually read correctly.
8-28-2009 @ 8:22PM
g said...
I am so glad about this new rule.
Though I am on the 'do not call registry' list I get a tremendous amount of calls especially from telebots.
Now, these telebots frequently give you a chance to 'opt out' by pressing a key#
..but, since I am never home, I can't opt out so they can keep calling. There idea was that I would be removed from the list if I hit the appropriate Key#.
B*****ds!!
Now.. How about a law that makes businesses that leave flyers on the front door responsible to come back and collect all those unwanted flyers!!! I am sick of thousands of those things monthly covering my lawn and garden and blowing down the street.
Leave a flayer?? Then come back within 48 hours and pick them up dammit!!!!
Reply
8-28-2009 @ 8:48PM
wayne said...
Do you know what you can do when a company leaves a flyer on lawn or at your front door? It a lot of work but here's what I do: I call the number the on flyer and ask them not do it anymore. Then, hang up, get online and report them to the Better Business Bureau for harassment and poor business ethics. You can then explain to the BBB that you have to spend time cleaning up after their carriers drop them and that you've asked them to stop. I guarantee that it will greatly reduce the number of ads you get on your lawn or door. One time, I collect about 20 of those stupid 'Local Value' coupons that were delivered and then I re-delivered them to the address on the mailer along with a written request to stop sending them me. WAY over the top I know, but I really, really hate unsolicited ads and mail.
8-29-2009 @ 12:01AM
Debe said...
and what about junk faxes?????
8-28-2009 @ 10:45PM
Kim said...
You people are nuts! Wasting all your time on "getting back" at people who leave flyers - why don't you invest in something worthwhile that would be of benefit to someone? Hey - how about recycling the paper??? Or, as annoying as the calls are, just hang up and don't let it ruin your day. I don't like them either but to act like a nut is ridiculous.
8-29-2009 @ 3:28AM
Tony said...
Tear them in shreads and toss them on the grounds of the business that sent them. If someone is fined for littering it'll be them since it's their trash. I have one rule and that is I stop doing business with any company that markets aggressively. Sure wish other's would follow this lead and put them out of business.
8-29-2009 @ 4:02AM
lordgreystoke422 said...
thousands?each month? WOW..you musta been nasty to somebody..and now they target you for being suck a prick...
That or you are just entirely full of crap
8-30-2009 @ 10:32AM
cher said...
thousands of flyers a week?? Where do you live under a bridge?
8-30-2009 @ 10:11PM
Jason said...
I agree. Put the unwanted flyer in an envelope and mail it back to them with no postage and no return address. They may get the message if enough people do this.
8-30-2009 @ 12:51PM
Steve said...
Yeah cus boy that flyer on your door once a month really is sooo strenuous to remove and discard. Go live in a shed like the uni-bomber if you need such isolation!!! Getting a coupon on your door is not that big of a deal and you make it sound like there are thousands blowing up your street...You should bitch more about the people flicking cigarette butts out there windown or used McDonald's wrappers.
8-28-2009 @ 8:42PM
JJ said...
First off, these spammers spamming the AOL message boards with useless work at home get rich quick schemes, yes I said SCHEMES, can stick those offers up their ass !!!
Now on to the topic at hand.
How come debt collection robocalls are exempt from the new laws ??? It seems to me that debt collectors are just as worse as telemarketers.
Cudos to our gov't for cracking down on telemarketers but I think this law needs to go further and include debt collectors. I'm tired of being told by a machine to hold for an important phone call or a machine to tell me to dial a number immediately for an urgent message or regarding a personal matter, do they think we are stupid, to find out it is a stinkin debt collector.
Extend this law to include debt collectors.
Reply
8-28-2009 @ 9:13PM
SAM said...
You can get those calls to stop, too. What you have to do is send them a letter, requesting that they DO NOT CALL YOU and that anything they need to communicate with you about be put in writing. Most people don't know this, but that is the Law. After sending that letter to them, which of course you will date, etc and keep a copy.... they can be prosecuted for harrassment if they continue to call. BUT YOU MUST SUBMIT THAT REQUEST TO STOP CALLING you in writing. Hope this helps.
8-28-2009 @ 9:21PM
Bill said...
pay your bills and that won't be a problem. I never get them.
8-28-2009 @ 9:49PM
Jim said...
Don't go in debt...idiot
8-28-2009 @ 9:56PM
Helen said...
Had our attorney call to stop one cc co. calls even wrote a letter and they still call. Out attorney states hackers can get credit reports and have a field day pursuing even those that pay their bills. Yes, some still scam.
So to the other joker who tells you to pay your bills, wait til he screams when they call him.