ThePanelist.com - The National Do Not Call Registry

The National Do Not Call Registry

Written by Michelle Haimoff

Wednesday, 01 October 2008

We once reported on a company that prevents junk mail called GreenDimes, but equally annoying, if not as environmentally harmful, are telemarketing calls. For those of you who don’t already know about this, you can register your number on the National Do Not Call Registry to prevent these calls. And the registration never expires.
The bad news is that not all calls are covered by the registry. Political organizations, charities and telephone surveyors are still allowed to call first thing in the morning and launch into a five-minute pitch for contributions or research, as are companies with which you have an existing business relationship, such as your phone or cable company. You can however, sometimes request that they take you off their list too. If you’re friendly to the people on the other end of the line, they often become more accommodating.

The good news is, because the Federal Trade Commission (FCC) manages the registry, its violation could lead to law enforcement action. Thus, if you’re still getting calls and you mention the National No Call Registry, the telemarketer will likely back off immediately.

If only there were an equivalent for email spam.

Disclosure: If you’re crazy enough to want to get back on the telemarketer database, you can call 1-888-382-1222, toll-free.

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written by rick kane , December 29, 2008

Michelle -- Although I'm registered on the do not cal list, I've been getting an increasing number of sleazy business calls, you know the types -- making it sound as though your car warranty (not!) is about to lapse, or other dire things will happen to your credit, your "account," or something, if your don't return the call, which I never do. Maybe the increase in calls reflects desperation in our sad economy, or perhaps a decision among companies to make the calls now before that Obama fellow might promote some real muscle in the laws and even, dare I Hope, real enforcement?

But I did a quick web search, to see what can be done (I filed a complaint with the list, how futile that felt!). I saw quickly that the enforcement of the existing list is feeble at best, and came across your little article here ...

I have a suggestion, that I have no time in my life to pursue, but intuition alert, maybe you do!?

Which is, for someone who is sensible, socially conscious, and a tad radical, to help consumers accumulate ideas to fight back, legally, but effectively, on their own.

For example, in the area of spam mail --junk mail that poses as something it's not (one for insurance recently said "important information about your account, open immediately or risk higher rates") . . . warning that make you afraid to toss the letter without opening it. If any such letter comes with a postage paid return envelope, I return the envelope empty, or with a note that says "your envelope amounts to mail fraud and don't write me again."

The company that deliberately, with fear tactics tries to make you open their letter can then pay the bulk postage paid return fee, and just like I did, spend their time opening an envelope in which they have no interest.

Tit for tat, with the underlying fact that if a practice is not profitable, it will cease. I never do this for a letter that reveal on the outside the company it's from, and fairly enough, that it's an offer or ad, and not business.

Is there something similar consumers can do about phone calls, and how does the word about what to do get spread, so consumers know what to do?

I don't know if the Panelist would have an interest in that, encouraging support for responsible, truthful businesses, and proving consumers some remedy against the others?

The do-not-call list was a positive step forward, but there's got to be things consumers can do, effectively, on their own to stop the deluge of calls, letters, emails.

thanks,

rickkane@mindspring.com

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Michelle Haimoff
		About the author:
		Michelle Haimoff is a native New Yorker living and writing in Greenwich Village. She has written for Profile Magazine, L Magazine and Eyewitness Travel Guides.
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