Author Topic: OT: Anti-Telemarketing (Read 5051 times)

pendragon · « **on:** June 27, 2003, 06:52:59 AM »

The new Anti-Telemarketing system is now open for registration.

Register on line at http://donotcall.gov or call 1-888-382-1222

Now, if only such a system existed for spam...

Harv

Dreambird · « **Reply #1 on:** June 27, 2003, 06:58:48 AM »

Thanks Harv... I'm going to point this site out to my MP... I'd love to see that here!

I "know" people are just looking for jobs... but these calls can drive a person up the wall some days...

Paddy · « **Reply #2 on:** June 27, 2003, 11:15:54 AM »

If you live in Massachusetts and have already signed up at the state's "do not call" site, you will be automatically registered on the federal site. Don't know what other states are doing - if you've signed up in another state, you might want to check.

DB, Oregon started this about 10 years ago or more - it is nice. It annoyed me no end that I had to do without it for my first 5 years here in MA. However, you will still get calls from charities etc, as they are not prohibited from calling.

I just wish a few of my friends wouldn't insist on blocking their phone numbers on caller ID, because then I could just give up answering anything that said "unknown caller". The other problem is when my husband calls from work it comes through as "unknown caller"!

Paddy · « **Reply #3 on:** June 27, 2003, 11:40:36 AM »

NPR just reported that the federal "do not call" site is getting 100 sign-ups PER SECOND!.

Yikes - that's 360,000 PER HOUR! (no wonder the site hasn't yet loaded in over a minute!)

If I was a telemarketer, I think I'd find another job - fast!

pendragon · « **Reply #4 on:** June 27, 2003, 12:14:56 PM »

Thanks Paddy, Now I know why I have yet to receive the confirming email.

Harv

Dreambird · « **Reply #5 on:** June 27, 2003, 12:37:03 PM »

If I got "only" the charities Paddy! That wouldn't be so bad, but sometimes I'll answer the darn phone several times, usually in the morning only to have "carpet cleaning" or some other service pitched at me... it is annoying...

I also have callerID so yeah, people who block their number don't help, unfortunately it's a trick they've learned here real quick... when I have a day where I just don't want to deal with telemarketers, the phone doesn't get answered if it says "blocked" or "unknown", if I'm in a real snit I skip the "privates" as well.

Next year's phone book I've requested "unlisted" in hope it'll help...

gmann · « **Reply #6 on:** June 27, 2003, 01:23:08 PM »

I found it interesting that Safari would not show enough on the page to register. I switched to IE 5.2.3 and registered with no problems.

pendragon · « **Reply #7 on:** June 27, 2003, 01:57:45 PM »

I had no apparent problems registering with Safari v1.0 and got as far as page that says a confirming email will be sent in a few minutes. But still the confirmation has yet to arrive.

If nothing is received today, I may try reregistering tomorrow with IE.

Harv

Dreambird · « **Reply #8 on:** June 27, 2003, 02:32:41 PM »

I wish I had somewhere to register... my MP's office said basically "Tough... hope the unlisted number works, we can not tell people not to phone you!"

Mayo · « **Reply #9 on:** June 27, 2003, 03:54:05 PM »

When this no-call list takes effect I think I may cancel the Caller ID on my two lines, saving around $16 per month...

sandbox · « **Reply #10 on:** June 28, 2003, 01:11:51 AM »

Just speculating here, but I smell a RAT.
The Law has loopholes large enough to drive a Mack through, starting with the Infamous Politicians, political groups, and charities. I’m sure the Police Benevolent Society will still call every year for their donations as well.

OK, ScewU Home Improvement Company may not call as much, but you can bet that list will be in every Charity, Politician, and Corporate Office.

Hello I’m calling from the Dead Poet Society, could you send us your first born, oh and by the way, Ford will give you a discount on your next Car or Truck purchase, and this months special is, HOrizon’s DSL for free if you donate NOW!!!!

If you don’t speak English press 1
if you don’t hear English press 2

This is a RECORDING

That could be one slippery list............________ 0

And now that folks in America can’t call, what’s stopping folks from around the world?

Bill · « **Reply #11 on:** June 28, 2003, 01:37:53 AM »

Have to agree with SB.
Way too convenient on such a large scale.
Something smells in the political pipelines.

pendragon · « **Reply #12 on:** June 28, 2003, 06:00:50 AM »

The confirming email was finally received, not exactly in the "few minutes" as advertised, but 14 hours later.

I too agree that it will not stop all telemarketers (as SB noted). I just hope it will stop most of them.

Harv

Paddy · « **Reply #13 on:** June 28, 2003, 07:15:13 AM »

In Oregon, it DID stop most of them - IN-STATE. Those who were calling from out of state didn't have to abide by Oregon's do-not-call list. So, of course, I did get a few credit card offers etc. from out of state, but the overall volume of calls was reduced significantly.

The spectre of overseas telemarketers isn't a pleasant one, but one hopes that the cost would be a deterrent!!!

You've got to wonder about a world where a roundly reviled bunch of telemarketers and spammers still manage to make a living. EVERYONE hates them...so why do they still exist? Someone, somewhere is taking the bait, or they wouldn't be doing it. How many does it take? One in a thousand? One in ten thousand? Just who are these idiots who buy vinyl siding over the phone anyway?

That, my friends, is where the trouble is. Somebody out there IS buying the stuff. Scary thought. I cannot imagine buying something like siding or windows (two commonly offered products around here) over the phone! I recently hired a painter to paint the exterior of our house - after getting numerous recommendations from people I know and trust, and observing the painters working in two cases and looking at the end results. I did NOT hire the cheapest painter - I hired the guy who does the most incredible prep job (the most important thing in painting) AND did a superb job of the painting. I certainly didn't hire the people who keep sending me glossy brochures every week....don't know 'em from Adam.

What we really need is consumer education. An alarming number of people in this country haven't the foggiest idea of what it means to be a smart consumer. How else to explain (for instance) the number of cars on the road that performed poorly in crash tests and have terrible repair records?

Hmm...I'm ranting here

...but it all comes back to knowing how to evaluate things and make informed choices. Telemarketers thrive on the complete lack of that ability. And the throw-away quality of so many things is a testament to our failure to demand better.

RobW · « **Reply #14 on:** June 28, 2003, 10:43:50 AM »

We've got a "do not call" list in Pennsylvania. I signed up when it came out some time ago, and I have noticed a significant drop in my junk calls. (It's one of those observations that just hits you one day during an uninterrupted dinner.)

Harv, I signed up for this national one yesterday, and received my confirmation email today.

-Rob

News:

Author Topic: OT: Anti-Telemarketing (Read 5051 times)